Cañon City record., 1902-01-30
CHAPTER ~.
THE EASY WAY.

Nl the indignity OF hand
IN E(6M cuffs. but he k,.pi n
IfCSZSSxl firm hold on Alden's
NH left arm just above
the elbow as they left the house. Al
den seemed to br entirely indifferent
TO this attention When he reach.J
the sidewalk. he paused. bringing his
captor to halt. The cab In which he
had come was beside the curb. and Al
den. using his free hand helped Bren-
da into the vehicle.
II Is not customary for New York 20
hcemep To daily while their prisoners
perform the gentle courteslcs OF polite
society. but Alden's deadly cnlmness
prevailed In this instance.
"HomcT' he asked.
est. winifr.d's.'' replied Brenda.
please tell him to drive fast"
Alden gave the order and then. al
dressing the young woman. said: Il
shall be there soon They dare not
hold me"
Brenda would have spoken. but the
horse suddenly started under the whip,
and the cab lurcbed on the rough pave
ment The last glimpse OF Alden MT
ing his hat while the huge policeman
gripped his left arm remained with
Brenda like a persistent nightmare that
survives the da wn The conventional
courtesy stuck ia her mind. II was
little picture Of the old days. the time
of small pleasures aud easy living. 50
sbarply brought TO an end Every
thing In iifc had suddenly hccoine dir
fcult Words must b- weighed and
ones conduct guided 10y plan. not left
to mold itself Into the forms Of mere
usag. Aud thus She came to think of
what she should do and say ar the hos
pitai How meet fhp emergencies that
might arissl Had Elsie rrgnincd her
scnscsl Had SHE spoken. or did she lie
dead NJ that moment In some small.
bare room.. watched 10y n stoIid .nursr
who yawnrd aud stretched herself n
the days work drew 10 u closer Aior
trait In velvet frnm. Elsie's mot Ter
beyond doub, n..'iirred sharply to
Brenda's memory. aud she shnddercd
II had stood on The dressing iable-R
woman not yet old: a pretty, smiling
face. Il was dreadful 10 thlnk of that
face smiling thrrc all thni arirrfioon.
the eyes looking. y,i seeing nvihlng.
the lips unable To utter cry.
Il must put II out of my mind" said
Brrntia to hrr>.'if
Al th. hospital thcrr was little to be-
learned: nothing TO b, done Al elder
ly msn who s,.-nird TO be IN authority
said. ''rh. child is stiil living We
cannot predict the ultimate result of
the injury aE yet You cannot see her
nor send any message Leave your ad-
dress and we viii communicate with
you In accordance with the event.
whatever II may be. II win he useless
To wait If you are able TO see her at
all. there viii be- no great pressure Of
time"
Brenda rode to her home. and as the
cab drified through the clamorinR
whiripoois of the Avenue she was
th.itking that the white haired man
had spoken almost tenderly OF Elsie AZ
'',Ec cni,,l"
There was no mother In the Maclane
mansion. She had been dead ten
years. There was an aunt. an amiablc
old lady for whom Brenda entertained
no little affection. but In the serious
Affairs OF life she would as readily
have taken counsel with her brother.
who was not yet IL. Her father. for
80 strong n man rs lie was IN the
world OF finance. was weak man at
home. He had no gift OF sympathy. n
deficiency which mny have accounted
for both the strength aud the weak.
ness. Brenda told him the story OF
her adventures ms II has been here set
forth. and he received II with painful
surprise and lively alarm.
why did you 20 thoreY" he cx-
claimed. what possible interest
could you have In this wrctchcd girlT'
My dear father" she replied. with
an excellent counterfeit OF smile.
let me remind you that my affection
for MIR. Alden has been the one SIN
eerc emotion OF sadly artificial life.
When ! saw that terrible story. the