The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-29

ment, he caught hold Of an iron bar and
| let go his grasp of the rope. Then as soon
as he had got rid of the water that had
been choking him he broke out again:
"Murder. murderl Help, helpr'
Then once more turning to Cashelo:
"Puu me out and I'll give you pony"
luckily for him, Cashelo did not hear
this offer. He had been thinking fast and
| bad made nm his mind that he could not
leave even this miserable wretch to drown.
So he flung the rope again and wound his
end round post
Very slowly and clumsily Compton
scrambled out on the pier and stood drip
ming. shiyering and cursing.
"You didn't pull me out" he said,
thinking of the pony"
| But Cashelo, unconscious OF the offer,
made no reply and turned upon his heel.
suddenly the other clapped his hands to
his face and gave an exclamation Of dis
may.
II can't 90 back like this" he cried.
"Wbere are my--oh, there it isl say, sir,
would YOU mind taking of your things
and getting that-that black thing over
there for mes I'll make it worth your
while-on my word of honor will" And
he pointed to the tangle Of black hair
floating few yards Off
Casheloe turned round in fury.
"Don't S1dAdknow mes" he shouted.
"I'm Ralph. Cashelo, whom you swindled
and did your Best to ruin, like the id
villain you always were. wish I'd let
you Drown likeyarat. IT,
AS he spoke lie strobe away. He heard
Compton calling after him.
Don't go. l can explain everything,
but can't go back to the hotel like this
it's quite
The next word was lost, for he had
turned the corner of the steps that led to
the upper pier.
As he walked along he felt comfort
able glow of magnanimity.
"I'm glad fished him out, the BEAST"
he said to himself Vengeance is mine
that's right He'll get it hot some day.
Fancy my saving his life, though It's
like a story book / wonder what Katie
would say Funny thing how different
women are The brute killed her-I wish
I'd let him go under-bus dom believe
she'd have hurt hair of his head That
was a rum thing-that false hair. He
wasn't faxed up like that for nothing.
Been. up to some of his little games and
going abroad for his health's sake, ex-
pect. All, well, it's to be hoped shan't
get the chance a second time. don t
know what would happen. What's thiss
By 10 she police stationt Shall I? No,
l won t-yes, I know by the look Of him
he's been up to some, villainy-I'm not 60
ing to hush it ups" ~
He had left the pier crossed the parade
and turned down bystreet Now, lift
ing up his eyes, he saw Immediately in
front of him plain stueco fronted build.
ing with the words ''Polioe Station" over
the entrance.
The door stood invitingly open. He
took couple of steps toward it, then stop
ped.
"Vengeance is mime" he muttered.
eyes, that's all very well, but this isn't
vengeance; it's duty. Anyway, I'm not
going to let him off SCOT free. Seeing him
browns another matter. Besides it's
Providence. OF course. it is. I wonder
how should feel if / let him off. know
what I'll do"
If the inspector, who was within, ruling
lines in large, official looking volume,
had happened to step into the doorway, he
would have been astonished to see sober
looking, well dressed gentleman tossing a
penny into the air with all the dexterity
of a schoolboy.
"Now, them said Ralph Cashelo,
"heads I go in, tails I go on" And he
spun the coin in the air.
Many years before he had been shown a
trick by which you could insure the result
you wished without fear of detection. 1t
was a deft little movement of the third
finger as the coin shot up in the air. 1t
was certainly ages since he had used it.,
but now as he tossed-involuntary, SO he
would have said--the finger caught the
coins edge.
- Nevertheless he looked eagerly as he
draw back the covered hand.
"Heads it is'' he cried and walked in.
Paul Newman in Minneapolis Tribune.