Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-18
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER John Harkless, fresh
from college, buys the bankrupt Car
low County Herald, at Plattsville, Ind
and starts in to reform things. His
first triumph is to compel Rodney Nc
Cune to withdraw from the candidacy
for congress under pain of exposures
He reclaims drunken college pro-
fessor named Frisbee and takes him on
his staff. Gossip tells him of strange
young woman named Sherwood who Is
visiting the daughter of Judge Briscoe.
II-Miss Sherwood deeply Interested
in HAIRLESS. She hears of the White
Caps, a. Six Crossroads, whom he mas
attacked in the Herald. They threaten
vengeance. and the editor is sladowed
every night by PlattsYille friend. on
guard uI--Harkless gets a vague
hint thru F'dsbee that he may have
met Miss Sherwood at Winter Harbor
in his college days. He goes at night
to call on her, followed by William
Todd, his guard. Harkless ds fired on
at Judge Briscoe's door. Miss Sher-
wood rlshes out and refuses to retire
until he does. He carries her indoors
Visiting on bench in Judge Bris-
GOES garden, Harkless and Helen Sher-
wood talk sentiment in the moonlight,
but barely break the ice of acquaint-
ance HAIRLESS jokes at the White Caps
but thanks Helen for saving his life.
with Helen and the Briscoes Hark-
less views the circus parade. He res
cues Hartley Bowlder another drunk
ard reformed by his efforts, from the
clutches OF two skin gamblers, and
aided by Eph Watts. a gambler he has
driven into honest courses, gets the
pair arrested. He is again assailed by
White Caps. VI-Harkless and Helen
discover that they have met and danceu
together years before at Winter Har-
Dor. She Is the cousin of Tom Mere
dith. Harkless college chum- AT night
Harkless sets out for Judge Briscoe's,
accompanied by his guard Lige Will
let's the beau of Minnie Briscoe
The same flash swept brilliantly be-
fore Helen's eyes as she crouched
against the back steps of the brick
marine of big waves, the tossing tops
Of the orchard trees, for in that second
the full fury of the storm was loosed.
wind and rain and hail. 1t drove her
against the kitchen door with cruel
force. The latch lifted, the door blew
open violently, and she struggled to
close it in vain The house seemed to
rock A candle flickered toward her
from the inner doorway and was blown
out.
"Helen. Helen!' came Minnie's voice
anxiously. rs that you? We were
coming to look for you. Did you get
wet?'
Mr. Willetts threw his weight against
the door and managed to close it. Then
Minnie found her friends hand and
led her through the dark hall to the
parlor, where the Judge sat placidly
reading by student lamp.
Lige chuckled as they left the kitch-
en-. II guess you didn't try too hard
to shut that door, Harkless," he said,
and then when they came into the
lighted room, why, where is Hark-
less?'' he asked. Didn't he come with
us from the kitchen?'
NO" answered Helen family. Hes
gone" She sank upon the sofa and
put her hand over her eyes as IL to
shade them from too sudden light.
Comet" The judge dropped His book
and sat staring across the table at the
girl. .Gone! WhenY'
Ten minutes--f ve-half an hour-I
don't know. Before the storm com
menced."
"Oh!" The old gentleman appeared
to be reassured Probably he had