Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-03-30


been-how happy they both had been
sweet scent of the clover; the melody
of the thrush's song in the hedge, and
until that winter she had visited in
the great city, and became intoxicated
with its glare and its gayetieS.
Then she had wearied of him, and
he, crushed, heart-broken, desperate,
had cursed her and drifted away
drifted on the wild pillows of reckless
ness that had tossed him this way
and that, until He looked at his
rags and his filth and his degradation
God! Was llis the end?
He struggled to his feet and stag
gered out of the alley into the sub
dued yellow glare of the street. A pa
trolman passed and the Tramp in
stinctively crouched in a darkened
doorway and watched the retreating
figure.
Suddenly a thought flashed through
his still half-clouded brain, and he
fastened after the officer, but
checked himself Who would believe
him? Who would heed any warning
that he might give? He would be
locked up as a dangerous tramp, and
that would be the end of the matter.
And after all, had not she caused
own folly now placed her life in jeop-
ardy? What call, then. for him to at
tempt to interfere with the inevitable
laws of life and death?
But-ah, the memories of those old
daysl
Weak and trembling the Tramp
dragged himself UP the flight of stairs
in the rear of Number 16, Carleton
Flats. Oh, God, was he too late? Sup
pose-but no; the door was still un-
locked.
He entered the narrow hall, and for
moment f1attened himself against
the wall. Then he crept on-on to the
last door on the left, an listened. He
could hear the heavy, regular breath
ing of a healthy sleeper.
He placed his knuckles against the
panel of the door, thinking to knock
and warn her of her danger, but he
refrained. He would fight for her, he
| thought; out there in the darkness,
alone and unarmed, he would battle
| for her life with desperate man with
| a deadly weapon, and she need never
know who her defender was.
| And so, with his back pressed
| against the wall and one arm extend
ed protectingly across the door like an
4 IL
seemed to him.
Finally, to his straining ears, there
| came the sound of footsteps ascending
] the stairs. and presently the silhouette
| of a short, thick set man appeared in
bold, relief in the open door. The
Tramp, still holding his arm across the
. door. calmly awaited the mans ap-
| proach, and when he had come so near
he could feel upon his face the mois-
ture of his breath he clutched him
suddenly by the throat, and down upon
the floor they fell together.
There they struggled and straine1
and cursed until. of a sudden. the dark
ness was pierced by a red tongue o.
flame and the silent hall reverberatet
with a sharp report
Then the Tramp, c1utching jagged
reddening hole in his breast with hi,
nervous fingers fell upon the threshold
he had protected with his life, while
shadowy form sped silently through
the darkness and was gone.
Presently came two blue coated OH
GERS and lifting the pulseless form o
the Tramp carried it into The room
And Belle Sibley, hurriedly robed in
mantle of pale blue satin trimme,
with silk. cast one quick gla -ce at tn
! drawn features stamped with dfssipa
ton and frowned.
"a drunken braw1. no Doubt sh
i said. irritably. How annoying +
, have it occur here Take tie fello,
t away"
|