The sun., 1906-01-14

strength and we'll nigh life with fingers 40
scientifically unerring In their deadly pres
sure that barely gasp attested ne re-,
dueton Of powerful ghtlnIs Iatsr maHnne apd the he
inert body, gagged, bound and manaced,
was gently laid away in the bin
Cronkite assumed sodden fur cap and
a red bandanna muffler which, despite ms
preoccupaton, he had taken the trouble
to select from his, victims ,apparel Then
without rapping, he stalked into the room
"Macklln told me to say he blurted as
he worked his heavy shoulders sullenly,
ferooiously. "Macklin told me to say az
how dead gals tell no tales
Old Truman Slater in his hotel parlor
listened attentively to the strange story
which Gerald Mayne told so feelingly,
glancing again and anon TO the young giri
who had timidy greeted him as father,
as II, for corroboration., And. indeed
though she was slight and immature and
barely seemed of Adele's age, there was
that about her which caused the old man
TO forget Cronkites deductions, to begin
to have faith in the tale; for out from her
mild brown eyes 1t seemed as II his wife,
Enid, was gazing upon him again
Mayne's story, too, had all the pIa'lsi-
blity of truth. 1t was in brief, that ten
years before, just after his marriage, Enid
Slater, desperately recalling casual &C,
quaintancs with him in the West had called
on his wife and himself with the girl, then
about nine years old.
Enid was in such pitiful state, so poor,
80 aged, so gone with consumption. nat
they could not withstand her prayer that
they should care for. the child. Accord,
ingly,, before sailing. for Europe they, had
placed little Adele in a boarding school,
and there she had remained until now;
whom Mayne, returning. his wife dead,
himself impoverished through speculation
and too crippled from disease to practice
his art, had determined Notwithstanding
his pledge OF secrecy, to restore. her to
her father, and claim reward. AS proof
of the identity of the girl, he produced
miniature of her mother which through
all these years she had kept with her
Cronkite, it was true, had also produced
which he had come across by the merest
chance? Detectives were not above making
a case for themselves.
On the other hand, the fact that Mayne
did not mince terms in stating either his
wants or his expectations strengt hened
Sater's predictions toward him. 1t was
open and above board. The claim of mere
acquaintance with Enid, too, agreed with
his oSn recollection.
And, besides all else. there sat the girl,
silent ill at ease though she seemed-how
her eyes how her expression spoke in con-
flrmation. Was he To ignore the evidence
of his senses for wild guess drawn from
a daub OF paint?
-If find what you say to be true" said
Mr.. Slater slowly. "Ill make you wealthy
in your own right"
Mayne turned pale from the surge OF
reinsurance. Was the one good deed Of
his life now to save him9 He had taken
care OF the child born to Enid and him
in the brief happiness OF their passion,
keep when it had been as hard to part with
as 10 get.
Thus far she had played we'll the role
he had forced upon her what, indeed,
was there for hcr to do except look out
through her mothers brown eyes9 II she
would ONLY remember his threats; if she
would only continue to obey!
The hope that ia forgett,I Of all else save
the thing hoped for thrilled him with its
magic He saw himself restored to- his
ures which had wrought his ruin; putting
aside an evil and criminal past as il in II
rencarnstion. He saw--
The vision swept into nothingness before
the cold light OF reality as the curtains
over the entrance into the sitting room
parted
A quaint and prim old lady entered--the
preoeptress Of tho boarding school to whom
years before he had admitted his parentage
Of the child he brought as pupil.
Florence, she called gently. with arms
ful Of my instruction; you are not willing
party to a wrong
And the girl sprang forward to weep on
the demure bosom.
What next, oh, what -next' Macklin
himself, the traitorous Mackln, smiling
servely; and by his side burly brute in
sodden fur cap and bandanna mufflsr
A man must look out for hisself fust
Mr.. Mayne,' said the former, when he Is
ketched dead to rights. And the latter
scowed murdcrously as he stroked his
throat.
Then followed an unknown-yet not all
an unknown. A civil looking, middle aged
man, stold of expression, in whose rectan-
gular lines there was something porten-
to,lslv familiar.
"A dead gal tells no tales, sir he said,
working his heavy shoulders heavily.
ferociously
And then oh then-let the earth hide him!
Light steps. tho sweep ~ modest drnperies,
and a young girl entered, looking out
thro gin her soft brown eyes not only with
the gentleness which had been End's but
with the candor and courage which was
Truman Sater's-that brave and good
young girl whose life OF honest toll he had
plotted to cut short!
Gerald Aayne stood at bay as the circle
closed about him, and then as Cronkite's
words brought implacahle vengeance to
the old miners men and attitude he hung
his head in silent subjection.
Rats Get the Coin.
From the Atciison Giobe.