Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-05-21
GREATER LOVE
HATH NO MAN
BY JAMES BARNES
Copyright, l9ob by James Barnes.

1t was no use He paid no attention
to me, looking out of the windows
from side to side, and boiling out of
the carriage into the places where he
thought he might find Roach, with n
"Wait here, I'll be back" and slam
of the door.
Two or three times i was tempted
to clear out and leave him in the
lurch, but for some reason l did not
do so.
From the last place he entered he
shot out on n run.
Hes been there!" he shouted. "Back
to the hotel. Drive, drive! You lazy
devil" he screamed to the man on the
box. "Drive quickly"
On the way he apoiogized for his NIB
straction. He spoke in high, excited
voice could just hear what he said
above the roar of our fast driving.
He wanted to hear everything about
me, he said. But just now he must
find Roach. Tonight he'd tell me
everything-wcd have an old time
powpow.
/ tried to smile and nodded as we
swung sharp about corner and pulled
up at the hotel. 1t was well we stop
ped. The horses knees We're trembling
and their heads pitched forward.
Pearson glanced ut the clock and gave
sigh Of relief. He paid the fare in
small change fished up from various
pockets and was somewhat short of
the amount. 1t was quite pitiful to
see his fingers searching fruitlessly.
He blushcd like schoolgirl when l
handed it to the driver, but made no
comment.
The rocking horses were slowly
driven off, and turned to Pearson.
"How Longs it since you have seen
Roach?" asked to relieve the silence.
"Three years-we split, you know"
"But you were making money!" l
half inquired.
"It's all back in hole in the earth.
blew 1t into the place it came from
fast as we made it," Pearson answer
ed. at was the gambling desire, l
| suppose. There is no other excitement,
except, pcrhaps-well, fighting"
looked at him in establishment. He
probably OWNED my thought.
"Oh, no; not that" he said quietly.
Roach knew. He trusted to my luck.
| was Just fool l wanted to get
rich, and quick. But, Tom, old chap,
my luck's gone and worse, too, !
fear" He stopped and bit his teeth
into his lower lip, which was trem
bling.
"Look here" he went on nervously
1--WE been praying lately. Think OF
that! And dye know, I'm going away
soon-back to little place where mos
people have forgotten me. There's al
old man living there whose heart Ivt
broken, and-and he'd die happy If
knelt down beside him. I'm going t.
do 1t, lad, God willing, and God helI
mev'
Could this be the old courageou:
Fearson-this man whose eyes were
filled with tears and whose voice broke
weakly? l found myself studying his
face attentively. Before knew wha
was coming he had slipp edit. the ., G9ls
saying, Keep 1t, Tom; not for luck
dear boy, but just because want yol
to-"
AS took 1t l noticed that Fearson'
palms were calloused and the insid,
surface of the ring was scratched ant
dented. / balanced 1t in my hand, AM
for the life of me could not think o
l oy,H. or1 r., tel, 10
arm about him and comfort him; but
of course, | could not do SO then, an,
we stood there silent In the lobby
Pearson glancing up and down til,
street and back into the long corrido
of the hotel.
Don't think me inquisitive, pra,
don't" said Mt last, "but why are yol
so anxious to find Roachf''
! He looked Mt me.
Tommy" he said, "if 1 don't flint
him before somebody else does some
thing will happen; mark my words"
"WhyW said l.
Its all on account of woman" h,
said; "but what under the sun maj
like the Rajah can see in creature lili,
that put me out of 1t, and yet Mt noe
of her head-and 1t isn't even prett,
one-I believe he'd go to hades. It.
strange. strange"
II don't exactly understand" said.
well, the situation is this, son." sal,
Fearson, speaking slowly and pulling
vt his long mustache. do you remem
Der the pictures of the Dance o
Death IN the library"
l recalled at once the drawings O
Itolandson-the skeleton armed with
dart about to attack some unsuspectin
person in the midst of happiness or con
tentment
yet do not exactly understand"
said. Speak palmer"
Pearson appeared to look over m,
head, but he answered slowly and dis
tinctly:
There's some one looking for Roach
and Death is with him." he said
Something will happen here take Il
In the next few minutes if''- Sudden
| ly he about faced and walked slowl
into the hotel lobby. He was breathing
loudly and trying hard to swallow, Xix
a man whose throat is parched witt
thirst. Standing close to the elevate
were man and woman. The man
knew By sight. He was dressed in
long black coat, his hair was gray, an,
his eyes, small and narrow, glittere,
evilly like q hawks. His name wa
Terris. l remember having heard !
said that in the old days the vIgllante
had overlooked him. The woman neve
took her eyes off his face. The pain
ON her lips, drawn tight across he
teeth, was blotched. and her mouth ha,
4 blurred appearance. Her frightene,
hands rubbed against the side of he
skirt. l saw all this from followin,
Fearson's eyes. The elevator slid dow
and stopped softly. The man graspe,
the woman by the arm and went In
side. But before the boy could clos
the door Roach stepped quietly aroun,
the shaft, coming from some side en-
|