The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-21

In that brief instant Bob took in every de-
| tail-the deadly peril, the rope and stone,
| Loucks's demoniac laugh.
Then with one bound Bob was swarmIne
up the aqueduct path.
| Seetns him coming, Loucks whirled the
l girI ON high and hurled her into the river
below.
Scarce had he done 90 when Bob Bless
| inks revolver spoke.
With shrek Loucks ciasped both hands
to his head and plunged headlong from the
| aqueduct, to be dashed to pieces on the
rocks below.
Blessing, casting aside his useless revolt
yer. caught up the sheathknffe Loucks had
dropped, put It between his teeth and dived
from the great height into the turbulent
waters that had swallowed the woman he
loved.
There was but one chance in a hundred
Of being able to locate her. to cut tho rope
and bring her safe to shore
"Brster Middleton had stopped at the
Gates cottage to take ''Gramma'' and Angie
vollmer to the dedication.
There he found all IN confusion.
Ora had disappeared. taking with her the
one horse the Gates family possessed
Angie was sent to . neishbors to borrow
smother stesd: and Gramma went 10 her
own room to dress for the great occasion.
Buster. lsfs alone in the sitting.room. was
disturbed By . knock at the eutss door.
Come in!" he called.
An elderly. weIl-dressed man entered
"Fatherr' cried Buster. WHIST are you
doing hsrer'
IT came on the noon train" answered TIE
older man. They told me st he hots, ia
hnd you herA BesidsA wanted to come
for another reason
But how did you nnd your Wayr"
Il ussd to come here ysars ago Long
before you were born Before married
your mother
I Then maybe you met Thomas Jones. the
sooundrsl that Gramma Gates b always
talking about. II seems he ma1T5ed Gram.
mas daughter and desertsA her be6ors Ore
was born
"Ysa. met him. He
An inner door opened a1A osanna oassA
gorssouay aDparslsd for he celebration,
came into the room.
At the Asht Of Mr.. lNdMseon. shs stoppsa
snort - though she had sssn sAesl
Thomas Jonssr' she sasDsl
SHE'S got that name % her 1fsin ..
msr.. whispered Buster.
mo. no. MrA 0ates.' h NJ alooa
This Doesn't happen to - Thomas JonsA
This Il Mr.. Middleton, my fathsc..
your fathsrr cried the ED WOMAN
~Xsa Why notf Il wasn't my fault, Jon
know. Every ONES got 10 have ssss sort Of
. father
Hes osa's ntnnr declares osamma.
"E0-"
"waitr' commanded M. lnaAsssn, breaH.
Ing in on his sons protest what she says
is true. I am ora's fatha. Hse mother
was my wife. married her under ne name
Of Thomas Jones. am here . make
amends for my desertion."
"'Whati' shouted Buster. IN amasomsnf
TT 10 trusi And now. whsss - my chrdr
4 cheer from outside the cottage was his
reply.
Bob Blessing hurried N
''1fr. Middletoni" he sxn1Aamsd.
Yes. he's come back to make up b ora
for desertin her mother" exclaimed Gram
ma. joyously.
where ID or.r asksl -. lgsdalssen,
eagerly.
':she II being carried Asso "a the ahouIdsfs
of the grateful crowd" answered Blessing.
This day she he's Avad cur Fsputatiou e
the risk Of hsr own HfA"
Ora ran Into the room q DoA sDokA
She was dressed IN gay clothes 6osrowsd
from the wives Of some Of the italian labor.
era Save for . slight paiior and Weakness
she was little the worse for her naSrow -.
cape.
"oryr ssfed the GA woman, .Inomas
Jones has come hack Your fathers here"
The words were caught NJ ~ tAs crowa
At the door.
'Ta2hrr' murmursd ofa, lapeurousiy.
Thsn she shfank hack from the outseretched
arms, whispering. hut Why "a - DESERT
NOR
Il w.s . esward.. M N. Middleton.
hut less Of Q knsvs man you may thlak.
After married your mother wrote honSA
ana told my wealthy parents what ha6<
dons. They cut or my allowance and vowed
70 disown me. I hurried hesno 70 aEyuo with
them In pereon. On my arrival fell III
with brain fever. FuP months lay delirf.
Gus. at the point Of death. when rscov.
cred they showed me Isee0 Il forgery, -
I know now). telling me ny wife and child
had both died. could not 0saf - return
to the place whore had besn - happy. So
I strovs 70 forget I bsiisvsd osa dead untl
last week. received blessings lsease telling
me she was 'stin alfvA Ny child. can ysu
forgive ms?'
Ora's only Response Was - thsUW her arms
about hsf fathers neck and bury hae face n
his shoulder.
well. Bob." rsma1ksd Busese. II seems
you aren't going out Of The family after
air. CHE 11dl