3
e.
V
DEATRKE HERON NiXWELl
sea
.iifTr--:
.T 111" 1111
" he said.
iniilmi-
Let
Hi: stnnd faring tin- sunset, h tinit lutili s-FfiT-i
1 1 lit I tVtirc. In her white dre-ss. with .i
till slmnf of rrlmsnn garden popples nl lnr
hIiV. and In hiT lifted right hnn.l a single
p.ippv bloom. In hi hiirn ti hi r eves itml the
slanting shafts c.f light thnt struck Into
tin-in.
I in- glow- of the 'lower and nf thi' s.m
wi it r. i 1.(1 ,,n tin- tra-ispsr.-nt w hid in ss nf her fni i
ini'l fli.' lnnki-il thr Incarnation nf llvlnu Mnme; run her
I rh't (. soft .-yes holding gleams nf Mm red In thrlr lm Id
depths.
Tin v h;i. miiv jit remind tin- outskirts nf Kruxtnn.
these two. (li nfTriv Paged nnd Hasll Hope', ami inn thin
1 i tiHrs.,111 n. hons.- standing Imrk fnnii tin- roadside,
with It h np.-n tr i t . m inviting t fi in to enter, thry wandered
"P tin- garden path, and mi rhnnrnl npnn thin vision.
'limy stood transfixed, and In Mini ninmi-nt nf sur
prised m il 1 1 1 1 ri 1 1 i ti sottu'lhlng rami' tn Geoffrey which had
Mi -vti' In f. ire tmir hiil hi prosaic inlml minii- sudden un-
1' rst. Hiding nf tin. rmtninr-p Unit l.nvi- mlKht bring Into
Tluo-s u irilin; some subtle pr. si-h nl sensr nf an Infinite
Joy ii iirl sadness to rutin-, st ti l thr glory which an Hbsorb
ir! pus-mit might bring Into a ciinimntit'laei- llf".
Sim lnnlo-l at th"ni without priikin. ami nnr nf thrm.
('a i lil r lit'tii lilshat nml tnl, I lirr that. being str.in r
'l tin- In ml anil tlrnl nft. r ii lm v day's bleye ling, th-y
woulil l.r Kind to ball n th" direct:.. tl nr tin- hnti I. She
p int. ci up tin- path to when a v. ran. la ullmnu nil through
lh trees, saying: "This In It." ami tiny pnssi-d mi luiv
(iir her standing with tin sumc rapt stillness of :-. 1 1 It ml.',
t .17.1m toward thr horizon.
IrotTlry . who 1 1 1 1 ; 1 1 1 - ilisronrsril frrrly nil thr lnr.
il.-nts nl tl,,. day. he-let his peace-, and his friend 1 spri ! d
his Kllriirr. In llii;.' vagm-ly that it v an prontptril hy some
stir nf hlddi n focllm;. 'l in y stayed nut only that night
h'lt the tn xt. making as tin- mini in for breaking tin- m
iiirtn ( nf th. ir lout thr necessity for a hunt I'i.lr t" wn''
l it i n k In thr distance.
Kin-tlnm and Geoffrey and llnsil wen- companions, fur
when thr friends tutm-d thr kry of their partiinnt In
thr r it y t.iry Irl't tluir work and thru- r. KpiiiiKlhllltlrH hr
hlnd tlni'i. and nml. I takr tln li- holiday with niHr. drvnld
..r ru r. 'I'hr. r wri k tiiorr of plritHatit w.indrrinn In thin
Koldni itiitiiiiin s.asiin lay hidinc thrm; and thr ipilrt nf
Ihln lit t li- Mtrp-IIHiilr VillaKr. Wllrll licit hrr Mil" tlor ril-
niors of wars scrinnl tn disiiirh thr placid ivirncrin of
harvest, plcasi d tln ni m II. I'ut ulnn tin- s. c md tilifht
had passed, and llasll hint, d at n inuvc
tlon vci t-rd to test, and a hum sannti r o
' Wp had a hard ride ymteriiny, Hanil
ii take a day off."
And hi" calncd his way as usual.
Vet when hi- irlni nril in thr nloaniim; he wdit a rcst
1, ss. .lissat iKtii d lool; -the look of nnr flio had failed In a
inn st; and his friend iiiK It. '..-i.lr.l to kn p silrncp
till lotlKrr.
"That win a straiiKi- Kill," lip hi mm. 'whom wp .saw
tin- tilwht we I'Htnr hrrp."
"The poppy ulrl," nuirimiri-d Orofrrry, ahm-ntly.
" Yi-k. Sin- looki d H If Fin- tnluht have n history."
" What hccaii f In r? Is sin- ntayliw at the h.iti I?"
" Apparrtitly not." liroffi'ey had coinr out or his n v
rry. and thrre wan an ttlrrtmss In his face that meant
a sinldrii n soliitlon. " Hut she IIvpm m ar In rr soiiu--whrrr.
thry say. though th odd thlnn Is that no imp
S'rms to know exactly when-. 'Over the hill yonder.' the
hi x ton thonijht."
The sexton' It seemed an InconKinons medium for such
a vision id llvlnu tire as the sunset hud presented.
Von have not pn-ii her since, 1 suppose? I wonder who
she was,'
" hy do you speak of her hi the pat-l tense? Whoever
slip wiih she Is still, I cxpiil."
Thrre was a transient hint of Itrltctlon In his voice,
'unusual In Geoffrey, lie took lire almost too placidly as
a rule.
' Yes. Hut I was ihlnkhiK of her In the past relatively.
Wp must he xcltliiR on tomorrow, llcoft. I wonder what
would l.i tin- hest rolito to KdsTconilw alley.
" There is no ' must ' " he answered. " We are free
a Renin. The. essence nf a holiday Is to b. happy-KO-lurky."
"Will, shall we ixplore this ncmlihorhnod a little
mure ."'
droit's jto'mI nature was not proof against his friend's
ready compliance; he assented amiably, and they sketched
i rtuiK'i plan of cmnpalKii, open to .iniendment, for the
eusuliiK day.
It whs In the haiy dusk nf a uray nay with a touch of
autumn chill ami dreariness In Its twiliRlit hour. thai, as
lliey skirted the brow i f the hill an evrnltiK or two Inter,
iVoffrey put his brake on suddenly, and d.scendlnB
with reckless haste at a precarious i oilier, exclaimed,
" There she IsV
opp dismounted more leisurely, an I rrti nrlng his steps,
umed down a stu-p hillside that led to the valley, and dis
cerned the faint Kleam nf Hume thing leu far hilow.
" How do you know." h asked ijuietly. " It mlRht he
a p ii-isol or n lint, hut II mlKht also he several other things.
. il surely cannot dislliiKUish form or tcalures from here "
" I know It Is she." ileolTrry npral d. untn ive.'. " I - t
i e ice, now, what landmarks are there t Kulde us. That
spur to the 1. ft Is Riddle Mount, mid the road winding away
to the light Is Hip one we came by this morning. It would
he easy to find the spot by daylight."
Hp essayed no explanation or excuse for his evident
'.termination to trace this elusive phantom of n girl once
s'-rn for the space of a single moment; rather did he take
vt s f r r r Mr w r sp t r s srs?
1 ! : Kii'tind tlist tl." i- ii 1 1 r as ii s-i. i". idem urn-. And
1 i filerd. knowing him. and then fore aware that his h--L.ivlo!
Was nlninrmal. said nothing, though later on he n -proiichril
hlmsilf for an acipilrsci nee that seemed Iniir
f. iislhle
1'or five days Hope scarcely saw I. Is holiday eimimnlon
at all; rneh morning' on th '.'rending In breakfast there
".iiuid hr a mrss.itr or a brief missive saying that (Iroffvry
ill I not feel up tn the hi. Vi Ii srrangi i.ieitt for that d.iv.
mil Would h'lf about While his f !. i -1 kept up to lie
liglnal plan urging thai it Would he u nily for ho; h to
miss srrlng tile vntious places of Intir.'Ki that Were within
tiding distance. Conduct lm xpllcaMp .1' i ny olln i lime,
hut that Trtiud striinmiy enough otdv a natural nut m"
of Wil li I .id gnite hefnr .
Hope, pott leg resolutely untile a di w iling nilsglvhig,
rarrird nil the written I'lio unwritten I'l-nrn of his ilefnult
htg frtctiil and w-cnt oflf nlnne on the Ion expi'dillnns that
i.ecupled him from minning until evening acceptltig wl'h nit
comment the licence of (leoffrey n ti his own ni.inner"
or spending the day. It eriin d Impossible that much harm
couli result from a w-"k's unsatisfactoiim ss In any r ise
Yet when, owing tn an in cident to his whn l. Hope fm tii
himself later hy three I, mils In getting back than he had
intend. -il, he went tr.ik:ht to (leofTrey s ruotn, an Inilertnlt
i.nxl -ly hastening his steps.
HeolTiry was not Ihne. m.r had nnv me st tin- inn s. .-n
I lm slurp the mnrnlng. Their usual dinner hour w is past
II wis beginning to gr iw datk. Huso fell his uneasiness
ili epi n. Hp dei tiled !o go and look f it 'leoffrey, and In
voluntarily turned his Mips to the hollow between Kiddle
Mount and the road I vnt before he rami up to 'hem 1 p
knew he should find them together, anti he guessed that
there would be soinrthlng startling to hum.
Thry were so ahiuirlird in full other that they never
evi n heard his approach, and. being within earshot before
he perceived this. Ilasll halted, uncertain whether to make
He presi nee know n or n tire, now that In- was nssured
of OcofT s sar. ty. She had a red cloak round her slender
11,'iue, and Willie with one hand she held It together, tin
other was yielded to Oi ofTrpy, who was pnssing It to his
hps.
" 1 could not come sooner." she was saying breath
lessly: "anc', 1 1. (Jeoff. I ought not to have come at all:
If I were missed- but I will not think of it. The one rea
son l solicit nt. (eolT -1 tnust roine no more."
"ilei.fT " a'.n uly! Those five days might as well have
b. . n 'jv -v. U .
" .Vatalie. my llitle love," Oeoff made answer with
tihibii d imtihasls. "Hi- Kreat reason Is none at nil. It
dors not exist for me. A hundred such reasons would not
iart us."
lie had taken her hands and clasped tln-ni round his
Perk; the rlonk slipped down unheeded; she was In his
arms.
In tla shallow of tin trees Hasll crept slowly away and
rclraciil his steps, ruim'm; as soon as he reached the road
again. In order to outdistance Geoff. When Geoff came
In there was a light In his eyes that transfigured him.
TIip hour had transformed him; he looked a god who had
wrestled wiih fair nnd Kilnrd the mastery, lb- came
straight up to Hope and said: "I want you to do two
tilings, old man: forgive me and congratulate me. Natalie
Trehernr has promisrd to marry me."
Hope held out his hsnd. and Geoff gripped It; then he
went away to Ills own room. They know each other well,
those two; words were never wasted between them. What
shadow of evil was it that haunted Itasil all that night
and turned his mind Into an abyss of doubts and fours
and questions? He strove In vain to shake it off. and still
so strong was Its hold upon his soul that when a glimpse
of dawn came he got up w'th feverish haste nnd went to
Geoffrey's room. The door was ajar, and he could see
his friend lying asleep, a happy smile on his lips; and at
his side, set in a glass, a poppy, limp and drooping. Its
flaunting freshness vanished.
The sight renssured him for a tlni"; yet still the thought
was urgent that seemed Imnelllns him to seek for an nn
swer to his problems, and as the day broadenpd he wan
dered down the garden path, where first they had seen
her and on to the bend of the road, where he loitered
for a spare trying to balance his mental attitude.
I'seless! The Impulse sent him on, and presently he
found himself near the place where they had met the
night before.
" My Ood!" The words escaped him unconsciously,
while lie hurried forward.
She lay Just within the fence that bordered a garden,
nnd had evidently been about to climb over it when a
hand from the back had struck her down. The rainbow
tints of sunrise touched her here and there, bringing out
the whiteness of her dress In the grass, the red folds of
her cloak, and the dull crimson of the popples she still
clasped In her hand, snnt-hrd at. as she fell; but In her
white, still face no Unlit of life or dnv dnwn found an an
swering ray; onlv the pale ashes of a fire that was spent.
Ib r auburn hair clung damply to her cheeks and throat,
nnd as Hasll. stooping, pat nn arm under to raise her. he
found that It was wet with blood, and sickened at the
sight. Hp noticed as unrnnsclotislv one takes In small
d' tails ut a crisis, that on the hand which held the pop
pies was Geoffrey's signet ring. It occurred to him that
It would be best to go for assistance before moving her.
and. vaulting ovpr the fence, hp made his way through
the garden towards a house that was almost buried In
thick trees.
An old man leisurely doing some garden work stopped
aghast at his appearance, and Basil said:
I :
i t .:'
X'.rp-r .i-'j"-
r.
M is iUi I
mm
V. - '. --
4 'itlAL,.,
"There Is a young lady who. I think, mu.o !iv 1
lying out there In the copse; and she has In i n hadl 'mi l
I am afraid "
He hrok" off, for the man r'.lii;. star,!-.! id. ,nu
would have fallen hut that Hasll eaujsht his arm.
" Hi n't cive way, man. You must ome and help me
to carry Let In. Who lives here?'
Kitt ti.r man speim d too spe.rlii ss with terror to in
twer, and minnwhMe 1'asil v is ' ma y tip I lm towards t ;,e
finer, though when the) riarhed II ic had to lift lite
r t !' nvr r: for Ills power, seemnl all :o have di set t d tiiin.
s la tioin-.l from doinj; tint he saw that some one was
1. 1 f.it'e hhn, some ..'ir wlio hint over the girl, chanting a
slaug '. wi ltd son.', and scitt. l ine popples round her head
with t 1 1 1 . r -1 i i a-- , ir i -.
"Its the yiiun: master" muttered the old num. "I
.-.Iwnvs thought how it would be."
And with his words the whole story sepn.ed to (lash
into Hn-il s mlnil-tlie sti ry as he heard It afterwards the
I roll e- waak 111 intclVct. hut too dear In the sister to be
tut in' -iy if m.ii: the shtrr devoting It-r life to hhn. and
uiving up all that her youth and loveliness demanded and
assiiM il fm lis sake, ti e diseovct y hy the lad tint Sotiv
i. tie li.nl gained her affei tlotis. and mig:v. ustiip his place,
and the terrible means he had taki n lo ptiM iit her deser
llon nt him.
Go you ami lean- us." said the old servant; "the
.Miug it aster will be more el and If he sees you I 11 carry
her In, and my wife will see to her."
" 1 Hiall go for the dm tor at once,' Mild Hope with a
stu n derision. " and u had better put that lad Uiuh r
lock ami ki lb- should not be at large "
And vaulting over t:.e fence he ran al lull speed towards
l.nntoti. It M-ennd I.) him an eternity before lie n ached
the hotel, and llndlng Geoffrey broke his Ii rrihlc lo ws: then
the tlui" hasluil by while they rode al full speed first to the
doctor s and on to Khhih- Mount The house was closed
and Inn ted. and for some turn no nolle' was taken of tluir
clamor fin i nuance. Inn finally the old man caullous'y un
linked and admitted the doctor alone.
Tnen came houis of suspense, and. at last, near even
tide, the ihiclof came out to them.
" Thci- Is little hope." he said; ' she Is badly hurt,
poor girl. 1 have taken the liberty." In added grimly, "of
putting In I brother under restraint. II- Iv an Imbecile, of
i nurse, and It was mistaken klmlm ss on tluir part, keeping
him with her. I am afraid via- will not la.-! oxer the night."
It was not until llm doctor had eiurned to lake his
place at hi r side again. Mid made a signal to them that she
still livid, that Hope iiduia il Geoff rry at last to go back to
the hotel for n st ami food Two hours Inter as they started
for Khlillc Mount again. I hi y met th.' doctor on the out
skirts of the village.
i not i.iIIkI lo another case." he sei.l " I was obliged
to it i e her: but sin- was qiille nncoiiMiotis 1 do not think
there wil' be any tiring" for some hums; and 1 fear that
thci" Is in t ii-. i. Ii chance of recovery.
They rode on in absolute silence: Geoffrey's gray, set
face showing that the Iron had etiti n-d Into his soul. When
liny rem lied the house thev wre MitptiMil ti. lind that
the door ii hit d to tluil touch, and thai no one opposed
theli inU inci. A deathly stillness r, him-it In the passages
M.d stalls, they mount, d slowly. In I'd plexlt y. n ting
nohiviv heating no sound. When I In had reached the
second landing the amazing truth Hashed upon them; the
house was empty' T'ii It search. I...th In tin house nnd
aroti'iil It. and then farther atirld in every dlrcilion that
sietiuil piohaole. was flultless
" Willi ought we to ihi"" soi.l Hop - when nt last they
in know h I'ged thmsrlvcs l.ialin. an. I returned to the hotel.
"Nothing" G--olTr.;, answer, d ih-cisli . ly. "They have
lived in obscurity by iter wish; and Hie o.i man has proba
bly acted under her orders I shall ib-vot-- my life to llndlng
Mime trace of her; but we have no tigh; t i make It all pub
lic property."
That was his Imal r. solve, and the slir caused in the
neighborhood a sliuhi one. for tin pri.pb- wire easy going
by the " (lilting " Hum .Mount Kiddle, waned and sub
sided, without any help from either Geoffrey or Hope.
The two friends returned to the city; one of them
graver nnd sadder for his friend's trouble, and the other
aged by many years, and with all his light-hearted con
tentment In life vanished and dead.
II was a whd. wet i veiling in late November, and
Geoffrey, newly returned from our of his wandrrlngs,
stooped at the outer door of his apartments to pick up
something lying on the mill, and carried It Into the sitting
room a small oblong parcel bearing nn Italian postmark!
Willi a transient cuiiosilv he cut the siring and removed
tin- lid of llic box; then sat staring at the contents, with
out a vestige of coh.r In his face.
" What Is It?" asked Hope solicitously, coming towards
him.
Guiffriy pointed mutely lo the box. It was full of
H'tirh t popples.
" It would be a miracle," he said brokenly. " It Is not
possible yet. Hasll who else In all the world would send
them?"
" Any letter with It?" asked Hope.
Gioff s eager hands lirted the lowers out and caught
nt a little slip of foreign paper.
" If you would care to see nie-come; If not. take these
us a retnenibrancc only of a lost friend. "
The weight or years seemed suddenly lllied from him,
and he slootl Illuminated In a majsc of confused Joy.
Three days later. In a sunny garden, against a back
ground of crimson blossoms, he held her in his arms again,
his love come hack to him from tin- grave.
" I did not like to write to you." she told him, " until
my poor hoy. my brother, died. Wr wife orphans. Gooff.
;.s you know, and he had no on.- but mi and old MallhrW.
When he had Ills bud iicchlent and lost his mind. Matthew
and I made up our minds In keep him Willi us. Wp could
not bpar him to an lo stnin--i is. II. came to himself Just
berore the end and prayed my forgiveness, and blessed us
for It."
" Hut how Is It that you are alive? And how did you
Kit awav from Kiddle Mount?"
.. it ...... il... Innii siren saved me. When Matthew
found thnt I was better and knew that my brother Was
-iiing to he taken from us he contrived our Might. He
bribed a band of gvpslcs to lend us one of their wagons and
take us on with them. He knew no one would guess that
we were tin re. Hn we got away.
" And my poor boy Just drooped nnd faded away. The
last thing he nsked tin- was that I should write you; he
knew the whole story then and understand."
And. clasping her In his arms. Geoffrey felt that all the
suffering wns atoned for by this perfect moment.
ll9slS"'IW-S'Wtftfl-
KING LOVE BY TRANBY ELLIS. J
OXGVIl.I.U'S healthy enough 1
reckon, if you fighti ihy of the
Octopus."
He w as a w eatln r tanned Ti xan
sillier of about five and fifty who
K.ive this advice. His companion was quie
a young man. In Ihe f ill strength and glory
i f ;ifi.
Tin two men had met on the mail t:ik.
some distance out of the town, and had
tit uck i.,' a quiet compnniotiahlp.
"And of what nature Is this dreaded octo
pus?" the young man inquired.
" That ain't un easy quettlon to guess,"
fail the other thoughtfully. "Chaps have
hi Id as how she ai an ar.gel, but I reckon
h y ve finally concluded he ii Old Nick
ehlir s.sti-r. They all docs. Shea a nlect
i f the in i-s of the Kisin' Star, an' she's rick
.-ii. -i tht I undsomest woman that ever come
mi: ive.i!"
" 1 1 ov came she hy the nickname Oo
tc. -is?"
" Ueca ise she catches the boys. 1 reckon.
Once sin teU im lovin' her she laughs at
m an' drivis em mad. I've known men
ipiiie as Ki.d as juu blow out their brains
because if 'er. Maiilke you've come out
for pleas ire; if so, do 'ge 'er."
"1 hm. an aji.H in. ment In Longville. M
name Is Unison '
"The Judge? Then jou've come to keep
ordi r, ch ?"
" Among other tl. lugs yes."
"Thiii l.undlt Octopus out of the town
first and get out home from Lor.gvllle ntxt.
Thai's try advice."
"Thank i, " said Mr. I Unson quietly.
The an val of H e new JmiK' in l.oiigvllle
cau-fd a sulfation In the ii;sliict. Never
had the ttate authorities s. wantonly of
fended the l.r.gvil ians as l this move of
st ti ling e'..-w n a " call Juiio Thus it hi fell
ll..r on the i vi r.i a nf Mr. 11. nson's arrival
In tie ti-wn the s..l n was tn t i-nly crowded
hul an overflow nn - ung Wat- hi Id Ulldt I the
ix.insivt awning that stii'.chcd out into
ihc load from the front of the lintel. And
the advent und future of thi new jutig. was
discussed und dti alrd In words und tunes
lit ri 1 1 St- of polite .
The lasi puson to l expected in the midst
of such a social ga.l.ii ng was Mr. lienscn.
and. true to li e la.uin. i.e made It l.ls busl-Ilt.-.-
In p. .S3 that .i. Hi sul d- III und
called for a n ire shiny draft Talk wns
topped instantly und every i)t was tlx. J
upon hi in. Now, il chanced that 1 tfon the
gla-s h.iil been put Into Mr. ll.r.soi.'s I , Hals
his i is Ii 11 upon li e face of u young Wi nn.fi
w i. i calm r und H i c i lit r i f tl'.e I olil i.s
if .i.iiiohiig lo Join the throng i.ndtr tl.i
uwn.i.g. Instinct told linn she was the
octopus. In h n instant he apDieclated what
a power such a woman could be In such a
place. If sl i wns i;s hud ss she was beauti
ful rrime roiild have no hound for her.
Her eyes nut his. dilated, and quickly
contracud Into an fxprevslcn of thought
fulness and htr lips curved slightly. Again
their eis nifi-hls In a c Id. ealculatir.g
kind tf way; here half p'.aj fully, half ad
miringly "I biliive j-n are ihe Octopus?" hr said
quietly 't alsing his hat as he stepped towards
htr
" I bi Hi ve you are the t.ew Judge?" the re
spondtd. And before he could riply she
added: "I don't think yuuil like toiig
vllle." He was about to reply, when he realised
how closely the men wire watching I. tin.
tn a quirk undertone he asked her her rial
name.
' Nina Itralne." she said liesllailngly.
lie turned around and held his glass aloft.
"Hoys." he said, with a quick glance
around him. " hire's health to Miss Hralni !"
Not a man stirred or spoke; not a glass or
mug went up. And Mr. Ilenson was right in
guessing that to him. not to the woman, was
the Insult shown. Hut it had showed him the
attitude he mikht expert In the men, and to
learn that had been the motive of the toast
It was war. Without changing hla expres
sion he turned his back upon the men. and
resumed hla conversation, with the Octopus.
rresenily a tall mat:, with a niigh voles
and evil ficr. forced his way up to Mr Hen
son, and. with a bow of mock respect, said:
" Mister Judge. I lias the honor to introduce
to ou m self the worst bud man in Iong
vllle." " In that case." replied Mr. Ilenson quiet
Iv. looking the man over, " w e shall probably
meet again In another place where It wilt
not be necessary for ou to introduce our
self." The mun shuffled back Into the crowd
" You gave him the right unswer," the
Octopus whispered to Mr. Hensvn " Now
go'"
lie realised that the advice was sound, fin
Ished Ids drink, and stepped out Into the read.
In three weeks Mr. Henson established him
self firmly In l-orgvlik. and in the bitter
hatred of all who romml ied crimes ha
bliuallv or Incidentally, which practically
embraced the er.tlre pipulailon rf the dis
trict. Officially and pr!vte! . the m w Judge
had tnude enemies by the score. His worst
olhVHI crime whs his not i f forestai irg Ihe
"bi" in a I nulling ii ITh It
1'rlvately Mr. llen-en had given (he ut
most offense by ben y n-spon-ihle for a gn at
change which had come over the Ovupus.
She was no longer ready to laugh and flirt
with the roughest, or accept each nnd every
present and enmp'.lnii nl nffeied her. From a
laughing, chattering tlirt, she had changed
Into a quiet, sober, tiioiiphtful woman.
Om dark night Judge Henson was wnlk'ng
on the outskirts of the town when a figure
rose up before him. He put his hand to his
revolver and strode towards the figure. It
was the Octopus.
" I guessed you were out this way. sir."
CSCCS5SSSCSS
she said. " Dun't go back to the tow n. til "
"My good ghl." exclaimed the Judge.
" what's on your nilrd ?"
" Trouble," sin repli.d. " Trouble for you
and nil who love you. I ran t tell yon what,
hut d m I go back. I haven't risk, tl nothlu'
to warn you."
" Warn me, eh?" he said, mote srtiously.
" M itt) thanks. Miss llraine; but I am not
defenseii ss."
"Hut J ou don't know how main tl m-
tgaihsl you!''
' What have 1 dene to make myself
GONE TO THE BAD.
Li Y MAU
al was close upon nnuiugi.i wntn
Miss Hathaway, satchel in hund.
stood on the platform and looked
down Into the street; but her
hrotl er. wh was usually there lo
escort her heme after t lie concert
practice . was not to be seen.
Not fi e ling the least fear, she alighted. As
she stepped at the curb-to gi t a better hold
on her dress, a figure emerged from the shad
ow nnd caught her by the throat, then i.s
suddenly released her.
iSl-.e fell in a heap, half (aiming, a cruti
mouth, with a scar In the corner, hi lug Im
pressed upon her consciousness. Then she
allowed herself to be lifted by some i ne. w ho.
talking to her as soothingly as If -he were a
child, brushed ihe fpow from her dress,
straightened her hat. fastene d I er fi.i ci liar,
and collected her scattered beau cirgs as
di ftly as a woman.
"It's a beastly shame to have filghtered
yr U so!" he said, as she sobbed orci r I wire .
"There, lean on me! I thli 1. yru ere more
frlphlenrd than hurt. We'll walk slowly
un'll yen fee! better. Do yru go straight
abend?"
She nodded and they started.
"You den't remember rre. do yru. Mls
Hathaway? I'm Johnnie K ntpte r ."
" Indeed. I do remember you." ? I.e said,
brightening a little " You were thr gre-ates t
little rr gue I ever snw! Ore tiny stock
siorles Is incut 'he white mice you put It, rry
desk. Pear rre. I was frightened when 1
rnened the 'iwer srd saw them runrlrg
u r. und !"
"Yes." stild he. laeth'pg hentilly, " I'P
ni ver fm get tho Jump yi; " ve enel the run
you made for the do' r. Hut you n Id n e- i
put them In the tlrawc". you know "
" Yes: but I nevu 'bought they were i.il
mice. a:.i' w her. I suw 1 1 em runnlrg aroui.ri I
Ingot nil my niwly acquit d ijgi,it and
I an."
"And tie. juu it member the day I got n
Y VA ALL.
black eye anil a tooth kiuckid out. lighting
the boy w ho was In that yellow haired tun h
i r's room, because hi said she was prettier
than you?"
Miss Hathaway lauglnd again.
" You bad boy! You made me a perfect
laughing stock ! You k i ew she w as a be auty,
and I on:y n plain little-everyda; gill!"
"If Mm wan-plain I'll like to I. now win re
thi I'.iul their j t city girls." he said i iierget
ieally. " You were as pretty as a picture, and
vim haven't changed, illhrr. I km w you the
minute I saw e.u."
" O." - a 1.1 she. thinking of h. r Ii igl.t. "how
lui ky that you came along' I suppose your
ci mlng frightened the wretch away I shall
I i ver vi ii t lire nut al me again, a'.i! I have al
ft a s in e-n hi hi ave!" he nu aned. " I0 ou
live in Kdgewaier. Johnnie?"
" No. n.a'nm . I live i n th- west side. Iain
Just visiting."
"Well lui ky. Iiuli . d. Ii Is for me! Hut
v. lint ni e you ih-lrg. John? 1 feel sure you
i.re one of our ' e-ciu- g nier," bieaus- ou
w a re such a lit I Ir stecn e nulne. Kve ryttiii g
had Just lo K i your w-i.v."
" I-I worked al d.lTtriiit things. My
n ml lie r died. Y..u kn m I It ' ; school a lit th
later. I cou!i!r.'t stand Hat next teacher.
an-1 she couldn't stand me. Anyhow, I lift.
I in not lining iniiiii row. but I ixptrel a Job
S.I. .11."
" Well I rre we are Come up tn tee me,
Johnnie, .nd It " me a!l about yc-uts. If. Such
a gallant tilth hami !on. nnd unit a fii n e
lit tie f.fh'.er a. oil ue! Si tue i . : t ou
wa.- always u-.; u; n bamlngr-s i'.iiking
w th you tr.ukes me tn 1 our g n i it- tl at Is.
n hen I ei m't I ik nt you '
And sin- lo ii. ii up. nn. ling.
''hr e'li tiir I ght b ,,zi d op mil '- t Iv ri
s. r un,, at the i i lie of his n.i-u' I. i. I,:'i
,.i wi - li l...o i. 1 : i i ,1 -1 s If 1. 1 . In i . n
M-iiUi to . Cut .i is Unit lc-i lible s. v. i i ii
the t-rue i :inge l .- had i lutein d In . .... .at.
n i lie1
" Why'
o disliked?"
" Yoa stopped the light, sir," said the
woman, earnestly. "You Interfered with
the gambling at the Star: you lined Hill
Kvans, nnd"
" Yes." he replied, smiling " Hui surely
(hat Is no; n!'?" IP paused al d looked
Hernly Into I.e r bt aut il'ul face. "To ttl! yell
tie triiili. Miss Hraiiie. tin re is no one In
I.oiigvUli whom I mistrust more than I do
you. I should no! have- half the enemies
I I ave. nnr ha'f the trouble if you wire mil
hi :e "
I have risked more than you ran ever
guess to Wa'n iou " she said, sadly. "And
are you mud " she added, passionately. " to
mistrust me?"
" Very well. I will be on my guard, and If
I itienunter dai ger 1 will thank you in my
In art."
Nevel Un less he kepi his eyes open and his
mi s pricked until he ri ached his house, arid,
encountering no one. his suspicion of Ihe
woman liu-r. use d. However, even she had
slip pi il his mind in foi e lie put nsiile ills book
nnd we nt to bed About miiltigli lie awoke,
di'iiul a hand upon his mouth, und saw thu
tig1. ne ul a man.
" yuicli! L'p un' dn ss un' be quiet!" wins
I i i eel tin man In a sol t, almost tender, voice.
II. si'Wii.K f ! Hi i the bed. He had been
i- . p.ng il. 1..S i holies- u hold! he hud UC
quirid sitae he harm. I how deep was the
l-.i .il iiijutiict i-gan.M him. He seized th.
man hy I he lln nut . ami in gaspe d his arms
fe II l,n.i iy lo his siui s again, for it was the
soli, supple '.hum; of a womun ht bud.
crushed In his grasp.
' lis un , sir!"
" Nina! " he cried.
"Ah. then you think of m. as Nina, th?
The Octopus ? Tin ii 1 am happy!" Iln tonti
was a ennss. " Ymi must be quick! Find
your horse, and get away b the Silver pass!"
" Vh ?" he askid sternly, the old sus
picion in I. is mind again.
" Hi cause you un in danger. I went to
warn you tonight I. cause I Land your life
was in peril. I conn to sum moi because t
know you are in peril. O. Judge, don t hesl
tatt an ih.ubt me! Nina, (la woman Nina,
who ivouM live and lh- for you. Implores you
to believe In r!"
There w siie-h at .until ring In her voice
that he I- In-ved lo r.
" Wlia is this t:ui.gi 1
" M l.tave I " si i
t Ii 1 1 i.e. I. .he v. Ii.elo w. "
S I I - gi fe I n s w i ri
t la:.-1 it : hi prili I
. ' llli.il g 11.- 1:
Ti e win.afi tuck (I.e Juilge s hand and
.'" he lniulri d
nxii. ed. polnilng
lis tl.eie!"
I. inyh g from hush
u it hi ut f i u s i f
led him fluin the loom. The y passe d down
a passage, out of the open door, where a
horse stood.
" Don t go around fur your n wn ; taki this !"
she whispered. "I ll ride behind un' direct
you! Quirk! quick!"
She threw herself behind him with his
help, and the horse started e-IT at a gtilh p.
As they turned from l tie- almost barren Hat
into tl.e track through the wood a shot rang
out. thin another, nr.d another.
The Joilge thought he heaid tie woman
groan.
", Ate . u lit ?" lie died.
" I don't think so. Go en! Goon!"
The y rode on for some miles.
"8, op. an' I must get down!" said the
woman.
" You ran't go back." lie replied in surprise.
" O, yes. I can!" she said feebly. "They
would not hurt the Octopus. I must get
down."
lie- pulled up and helped her to blight.
" You're tired." he said, notlrlng she stum
bled a little. " You must take the horse.
Uesldes. it la not mine."
" I give it to you. Judge," she responded, In
a weak voice. " I must not waste time. Rids
over the hill, an' you will reach Tomstown.
an' there you'll lit safe. Bay you thank me
in your heart!"
Hhe Ii in. id up against the horse and looked
up Into the man's face
" Indeed, In my heart I thank you," he said,
holding out his hund.
Sue took 1. betwien the palms of her own.
" Then' say ' Nina ' again," she whis
pered Intensely.
" Nina Nina, my real friend, forgive my
doubting you!" ht said, earnestly.
" What Is your name, Judge?"
" Robert Nina."
"Robert! Robert!" she muttered. "Ride
on sir "
flhe turned away, and In a moment was lost
In the drep shadows
Hhe heard th horse break Into s canter
and quicken Into a gallop. Then nil was si
lent but for the sound of he r stumbling fe et
For a long time she labored nlopg the lonelv
track, mujterlng row nnd then, and moaning
frequently. Her weakness and puln were
grow ing on her. She put her hands be hind
her back and felt the pain.
"Ills wound!" she muttered. "Robert!"
she whispered, after a pause.
Hhe let herself sink down to rest, sihe
would fee 1 In iter, set ri lige r. and less faint fur
the rest, she thought, fciu threw her head
back upiii (he gi.uritd Hunk, und fixed her
glass e es up. oi a turner of tin moon w hhii
pe e-pi ei between the htaiie-hes of the trees.
And lei ij.lnls i losd i nr that weakening
gaze as her life's blood ebbed away.
i '
4
