The daily tribune., 1905-12-15


whole stock. The man guaranteed It,
and il 1t Isn't tender I'll take 1t back"
Mrs. Janschowski knew little of
Jim, seeing him only In the mornings.
But her motherly heart went out to
Alice. so different from her own dirty
faced. sturdy-legged brood; and 1t was
for Alice's sake that she had agreed
to cook the dinner. Alice gave valiant
assistance, and promptly at one
o'clock the beautifully Drowned bird
was brought to their little table.
If Jim had any premonitions Of his
rapidly-approaching finish, he weS too
happy to give them more than a pass
ing thought. He was in his gayest
mood. He told Alice stories of the
sea, and described royal dinners in
foreign lands. When they had eaten
all they could, Alice slipped down from
her chair and climbed up in his lap,
saying, "Now, tell me really fairy
story, papa" And Jim began slowly
"Once upon time there was n great
big giant-."
Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall.
The door opened suddenly, and a
broad-shouldered man wearing black
hat and overcoat, entered the room.
With cry of alarm, the picture of
the giant fresh in her childish imagi-
nation, Alice slid to the floor and took
refuge behind her father. But Jim
leaped to his feet, with staring eyes,
and face as white as a sheet. The
visitor looked at him curiously.
Hello, Limpy. It's you, is it?"
Jim had but one thought-that Alice
must not know. Into this crisis of his
life came his old-tifne. splendid nerve.
He extended his hand, and the color
swept back into his thin face. "Glad
to see you, Cap. You're just In time
| for dinner. Too late for the blessing,
but there's plenty of turkey. Sit
down and have bite. Thought you
\ were still in York"
There was q mute appeal In Jim's
| eyes that went to the detectives
| heart. He took of his hat and sat
down by the table.
"Oh, I've been here for a year or
| two" he said carelessly, smiling at
Alice. I'm on the eforce-plain-clothes
man. Didn't expect to see you,
though" Then, with meaning empha-
sis, mo monkey business. The jigs
up. 1t won't pay, you know" for Jim
had measured with his eye the dis
chances. "Who's the kidF he went
on. "Reminds me of one lost a
couple of years back with diphtherla
Pretty near broke my wife's heart Sil
down, Jim. I'm in no hurry"
Jim gave a long sigh. Yes, the jii
was up. This man knew him like q
book This man ran him into Sing
Sing years before. This man was his
Nemesis.
| They understood each other now
and for the time restraint was at III
end. The captain made himself mos
agreeable. He had a pleasant face
with deep-set. twinkling eyes, and tn,
heartiest laugh Alice had ever heard
She thought him almost as nice as
her papa. He sampled the turkey ant
the cranberries, and tipping back his
chair crupched n long stick OF celery
I'm his strong, white teeth, talking
briefly to Jim in words Alice coult
not understand.
.F'ine turk, Jim, but an unluek,
pinch. Just happened was in th'
store getting one for myself. Pipet
your lay. and would have landed II
hadn't slipped on the ice. Neye
thought of old Limpy Wilson till
saw that trail in the snow. Good GOV
er you've got, but the old lady put mi
wise. Unlucky leg, that, Jim"
Presently the captain rose. "Gues
we'd better get along, Jim," he SAID
briefly.
Jim put on his coat and hat ant
turned to Alice with wlstful smile
"Tve got to go out for n while, littl'
sweetheart" His voice trembled, bu
Alice did not notice it. "The captain
has come to offer me a tob,a iin'
place that will fix us up alright. III
be back soon." A desperate hope wa
in his mind. He gave 1t voice as the.
reached the street. "Cap." he salt
pleadingly. "wait few days till / cai
place the little girl. She's all alone.
can put her somewhere so she'll b
taken care of and won't know. Fo
Gods sake, Cap. help me out. Sh
thinks her daddy's straight as
string"
The captains eyes were full Of pity
mo friendsr" he asked.
Not one, except old Mrs. Jan, an
she's got seven of her own"
Its tough proposition, Jim." II
was silent for some time. His han
was on Jim's shoulder. the slack o
the coat In his flrm grip.
"Tell you what I'll do, Jim. Yo1
can take your choice. I'll give you
year to brace up, and you can sta
right here and keep the kid. That
one side; here's the other. There
nve thousand dollars for me when.
deliver you over to New York head
quarters. I'll take the kid and Civ
|
her education. My wife would trea
her like q daughter. Wen tell he
you've got Job in New York. an
that she's to stay with us till yo
send for her. When she's old enoug
to bear 1t we'll tell her you're dcat
as you will be long before you serv
, all your time. Now I'll let you go. n
/, l say, and II you turn square it'll b
alright. But I'll watch you like
. hawk, and II you trip up again. 8
help me! you'll take your medicine
child or no child. And you know, n
well as do that you're too old a do
to learn new tricks. Speak up, now
I'm wasting good time"
| And Jim spoke quickly. As muc
as he loved liberty he loved AlIc
. more. He could not hope much longe
to keep from her the awful secret o
his life. Better That be should give u
now. and spare her the disgrace.
II guess you're right, Cap. III Civ
in"