Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-05-19
CHAPTER XVIII.

most instantly, Tor she cOmprehended
that she was pOwerless to contend with
the detective.
Il don't know what you mean. I
don't understand. Release me, 1 say!"
she cried, while her venOmOus eye
| flashed with the light of rage.
You know what has become of Ma
rion Oakburn. Tell me where to find
her, or as have said shall place you
under arrest, and take you TO prison..
Its a liel know nothing of Marion
/ Oakburn, retOrted Judith.
She was regaining her cOmpOsure, and
she had instantly decided upon the
course she would pursue in dealing with
| the detective. She had resolved TO be
defiant.
Paxton read in the expression of her
! hardened, cruel face that she had de-
| termined upon silence at any cost, and
he eOmprehended that his ruse had
failed.
The detective had not estimated Ju-
| dith Kredge's character quite correctly.
/ She was woman of more force and res
/ olutiOn than he had supposed, though
/ he had given her credit for cunning and
/ unscrupulOusness.
! The detective. of course had no au-
thority to arrest Judith, and compre-
bending that it was useless 10 waste
words with her, he suddenly released
her and turned to go.
He paused in the door, and said in an
! intense voice:
I give you one warning, Judith
| Kredge: If Marion Oakburn is harmed
/ in any way, you shall suffer. Hear my
/ words, and so inform your cOnfeder-
| ates.
Judith's answer was a moeking laugh.
Paxton closed the door behind him with
spiteful bang, and ran down the steps
/ to the street
| He had not walked block when he
/ came face to face with a man, at the
sight of whom he started and involun-
tarily recoiled, while his hand dropped
upon the butt of a pistol in his hip
/ pocket.
In the man whom he had thus unex-
| pectedly confronted Paxton recognized
| one Saul Hedden, desperate burglar
| and safe-blower whom he had hunted
down and sent TO prison for a term of
years.
In open court, at the time of his con-
| VictiOn and sentence TO imprisonment,
| Saul Hedden had vowed that If he lived
to regain his liberty he would have his
revenge-that he would kill Paxton on
sight.
The detective remembered the des-
| perado's oath, and he believed that the
wretch would not hesitate TO attack him.
Paxton did not mean 10 be taken at a
disadvantage. and he was ready to draw
his pistol at the first hostile movement
on the part of the other.
Paxton the detective!" exclaimed
Saul Hedden.
Yes, you have recognized me; but be
warned, Saul Hedden, 1 am on my
guard, and 1 have not forgotten your
threat, answered the detective.
He knew Hedden's time had expired,
and that he had been legally discharged
ut
tempt his arrest.
Paxton expected every moment that
the eX-cOnvict would hurl himself upon
him.
But he did not do so.
Instead, the desperate extended his
hand in friendly manner, and he said:
I take back my threat, Paxton; l
mean you no harm, and there's my hand
on tiff you'll take it.
Paxton was completely surprised.
But an instant's reflection caused him
to suspect the reason for this friendly
advance on the part of the man who had
sworn to take his life
Paxton knew that there were reasons
why the ex-cOnvict should feel grateful
to him, but he had not supposed the des-
| peradO capable of entertaining any OF
the finer feelings of humanity.
The detective gave Saul Hedden a
searching look.
The other met his gaze squarely, and
Paxton shook hands with him.
4 swore to kill you, Paxton, and
meant it at the time. But my wife has
(; told me since I came out of prison, how
; she and the little one, the baby that was
born while was in the jug, were starY-
: ing, dying of misery and want, when you
{ found them in the attic where they lay
deserted by all mankind; you saved my
, wife and the baby, Paxton, and. Grim
l inal though have been, I've got human
feelings in my heart. I'll never forget
what you did for these helpless ones, anC
7 if you can put me in the way Of doing
you a good turn, I'm your man. AND
mark you, I'm on the square now, and
mean TO be honest. I did a heap o.
thinking in the prison, and I don't wan
e my little boy to grow up and find Ouf
that his father is a criminal"
] Thus spoke Saul Hedden.
l There was a sort Of rude eloquence il
1 his words and manner that carried con
viction with them.
Paxton was sure that the man was
perfectly sincere in all he said
He knew that previously to the time d
| his imprisonment Hedden had been ia
miliar with all the resorts of the metro
! pOlitan bandits, and an idea suddenly en-
l tered his mind, that if this man would
consent to serve him, he might succeed
/
met only with failure.
1T is possible You can do me a grea
a favor, and at the same time profit your
self. Come with me to my office, and
will explain my meaning.
Hedden hesitated.
IF it is in the way of betraying oil,
4 friends, old pals of other days, it's NJ
use for me TO go with you. 1 can't sci
out them as you know used to be hant
e and glove with me. I've shook them
o one and all, but I can't turn Judas, h
said, resOlutely.
L 1T is not that. You misapprehend me
Come with me, and permit me to ex
plain, answered Paxton.
Hedden followed the detective as h,
moved forward thus speaking.
All right, If it's anything I can d.
without betraying old friends, he said.
Paxton did not reply until his Offic,
was reached, and he knew there was n,
possibility of being overheard by an,
one who might make adverse use Of hi
= confidence.
4 Then he said:
You have heard of John Oakburn'i
a murder. Very good. I want to find tn,
assassin, whom I suspect is hiding il
the city. He Is a novice in crime, un
, known to the police, and therefore
stranger to you VIII you help me
+ You can go unquestioned into secre
: haunts Of the dangerous classes wher
: my men or myself could never pene
trate. Through you the cowardly slay
q er Of poor old man may be brought Z
: justice.
g I don't like the work, but I want t
Q prove my gratitude to you and I'll IN
dertake it," answered Saul Hedden afte
st a moment Of reflection.