The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-08
CHAPTER XII.
A Desperate Expedient.

A Desperate Expedient.
The position of Nellie Hubbick in
Judge Gordon's house was anomalous.
to say the least That il was also eX-
eeedingly unpleasant may be inferred.
For wears she had been welcome there
as the guest and companion Of Alice
Judge Gordon himself had often declar-
ed her to be the finest girl in Montana.
Mrs. Gordon had been eager TO show
her the motherly attentions of an elder
friend.
But now, 90
The Judge was cold and stern He
was by no means convinced that Cay
right was tne innocent man she pic
tured him.
In defending and conceaiing the meth
cd OF his escape Nellie incurred the dis
pleasure of the Spartan judge. His own
daughter. if she protected an evildoer.
would have been punished by summary
dismissal TO some stern disciplinary in
stitutioyi.
Mrs Gordon was even colder than the
Judge To her the once beloved Nellie
doomed Up as a dangerous person, he
friend of a criminal, and no fit COM
panion for her daughter.
Alice alone stood true to the old love,
but the commands of her mother must
be obeyed, and she could not see Nellie
but seldom, and than only when the
parents were present.
Thus Nellie was virtually a prisoner,
waiting for the developments that might
at any moment result from the aggres-
sive pursuit of Sheriff Gavin. sz
- The roads leading to Helena and Me-
Cassatt, the two most travelled trails OF
those parts, Were carefully watched
1t was a great puzzle to Gavin how
Cayright could have gone toward Arm
strongs ca mp without being discovered
for the ROAD to the camp was the road tc
Helena and that was better guarded
than any other
The loss OF the judges confidence was
a severe blow TO Nefiie. He had always
been as much a father to fer as Andrew
Hubbick. and now to lose the one by
death and the other through mistrust
rendered the girl almost frantic.
For there was no one in the world to
whom she could turn for comfort, pro-
lection, or support.
There was her brother, il is true But
Nellie shuddered when she thought OF
becoming the companion of one whose
sole aim in life seemed TO be to gain
what he could through his hold on
others. and not by honest labor.
All this made Nellie worse than un-
happy - 60 -ar .
She began to fail under the constant
strain. Before she had been Ia the Cor
dcns house twenty-four hours she was
i'll with constant worry over herself
and over Cayright.
She pictured him starving in the dug
out. waiting for some word from her
word she could not send.
Matters were brought TO a crisis by a
message which was TO take the judge to
distant camp for a day or two
As a result Of that. a conference was
held between the judge. Sheriff Gavin,
ard his constant and efficient assistant
MIR. Nelson.
Mrs. Gordon had but a moment be-
fore. the arrival of Gavin taken some
supper to Nellie's room.
She found the girl lying on her bed
apparently asleep. She quietly with
drew, not wishing to disturb the suf-
fertng girl, on whose face the traces OF
tears were still plain.
The window of Nellie's room opened
over a shed which covered side porch
This porch was the judges favorite
longing place. II might almost be said
10 have been his favorite office and
court
For all she business he transacted al
homeland he transacted at hon~ al
that could be done there-gas done OF
that porch. His big easy chair, his
square table. his writing materials, and
his pipe, were all there in fair weather
Ard il was on this porch that he and
the sheriff held their conference just
previous 10 the judges departure.
Gavin was not In his pleasantest mood
for it ruffled him to have the most I'M
portant criminal Hubbicks had seen in
many q day BATTLE him SO completely
And the judge. who had always looked
upon Gavin as a rude and undesirable
acquaintance was forced TO regard hin
fayorabiy for his able and energetic eff.
forts 70 capture the escaped murderer
ct Is surprising the judge was say.
ing, that a man who has simply tray.
eled across the country once, with ar
engineering party. and therefore couIC
we have. could so outwit u.s. I begir
to think the fellow was not what he
claimed TO be-"
az suppose that could be learned By
sending to Armstrong" answered Gavin
But what's the difference who he is?
want him. and III get him. i tell you
Judge, there's more in this than jus'
catching a murderer.
You've always kinder look ed down or
me. an once you said L was good only
for standin' rolnd barro9ms Now, I'm
goin' to show you I'm good for some
thing else. / stand round barrooms-l
learn things there. But do you think
shA oeoDle / meet there are as congenia