White Oaks eagle. (White Oaks, N.M.) 189?-190?, 1897-11-18

ing. And they take vantage of his
goodness, they do. Now, if Master Jack
hadn't turned out a scoundrer-here.
being a dcyout Catholic, she crossed
herself and mused mournfully upon the
doctors secret sorrow.
Master Jack" was Paul Mayland's
youngest brother, his junior by Is
years, who had been left as n sacred
trust by their dying mother to the
elders care. Some seeds of depravity
perhaps sown in long generations past
early developed in young Jack. After
rushing through various vicissitudes of
gambling and drink, he devoted the re-
naming part Of his sodden intellect to
the criminal science Of burglary.
His distracted brother for several
years grieycd for his sacred trust" as
thing lost TO him, until one night
Jack had appeared craving protection
from the law. For the sake Of his dead
mother. Paul had shielded the boy,
who, when the danger was over, broke
loose again, and in the course of time
his dcNtcrity earned him in the Grim
nal world the sobriquet of "Lightning
Jack"
At Lavender court in the room where
! his patient lay. DR.. Maryland found the
Little Gray Lady knccling by the
tucklc Led on which consumptive
| child was dying.
81 sent for you," she said. Il knew
you would come ii YOU possibly could
She had puzzled him from the first
| her absolute loneliness and her reserve.
There We're moments when he won
dercd if she were firing Of her chari-
! table work, so obvious to him had been
| her troubled mind sometimes. To-
night, walking beside her through the
busy streets, he abruptly put his fancy
! into words.
Yes, am very tired" she answered.
Il hate the work. l hate it."
But it isn't compulsory" he ex-
claimed. why do yCu do it?"
because | must" she said, bitterly.
Paul Maryland vas not a rapid think
er, and not until they had turned into
the street where she lived had he come
to some sort Of conclusion. Perhaps
she was performing deeds of charity in
/ eXpiation Of some tri1ling sin, Vmagni-
! fled by her tender conscience.
Yes, he loved her. She had guessed
it long ago, 1t was III that moment
when he had once uncOnsciously re-
yealcd his secret that her work had
become suddenly hateful to herself.
Don't go in yet he said. Il want
to tell you something. Let us walk
back to the end of the street"
II love you, Hester. | love you" His
low voice penetrated through the traf-
fic Of the street 81 am not young
man, but my feeling for you is deep
and strong enough to last my lifetime,
even unto eternity" He caught the
sharp sob that was choked in her throat.
Hester" he cried, "look at me! @, my
darling, what is it?"
81 am so happy" she said. THAT is
all"
How long they walked up and down
the pavement neither knew. They were
jerlled back to the reality Of things
BY a faint, hoarse voice that seemed
to have sprung out of the darkness
beside them:
paul, for Gods sake, save me! It
is the last time l shall trouble you"
60 to my house by the back door.
l will join you in ten minutes"
And, catching at Testers hand, he
hurried her along.
You are trembling, dearest. That
man has frightened you. He meant no
harm. He is my brother"
Your brothcr?" she gaspcd, Light
ming Jack your brothcr?"
what do yoQ know of lightning
Jack" Who are you?"
Come with me to my lodgings" she
said, family. 81 can't tell you here"
Hester Moore sat with her arms
stretched across the table, her head
bowed on them in spcechless, fearless
misery. The confidence which she had
withheld so long had been Wrung from
her at last.
She was no angel of charity, but q
person sent from Scotland Yard tc
trac'; the burglar, lightning Jack"
$50 this is our Little Gray Lady! y
human bloodhound paid to hunt down
fallen wrctches.'
Every word lashed her like a whip
In the distress Of that hour he was
blind to her pain, blind to justice, blind
to his very love for her.
"Wcll, your victim is ready at your
hand" he said, bitterly, to the trcm.
bling representative of Scotland Yard
"Of course, you will do your duty"
lie walked from the room without
a backward glance. For an instant She
remained thus spiritlcss and da4ed
Then a gradual indignation worked its
) way through her clouded brain.
What had she done TO evoke con
, tempt, or forfeit happiness? Born oI
q detective father, she had been care
fully trained by the clever parent il
ccrtainiutricacics Of the profession, anC
since his death the work had been tc
! her q means Of livelihood.
The cheap clock on the mantclpiect
struck H. and she raised her face a
last, a wondcrous pity looking out o
her burning eyes. His seeming cruelty
had been but the outcome of fear fol
: the safety Of his brother!
When the dawn showed through III,
chinks of the bliid, she threw open tn,
( v.in1pyv md Ion nod ont b,t f,,, l., : "a