Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-04-03

the linen, and, like it, too, stained but
a little. Near by on the floor stood a
flask Of brandy and pitcher Of wa
ter.
"You" Miss Betty's face showed no
change nor even faint surprise as her
eyes fell upon Tom Vanrevel, but her
lips soundlessly framed the word,
'You!"
Tom flung himself on his knees be.
side her.
"Craileyw he cried in sharp voice
that had terrible shake in it. "Crai-
ley! Crailey, want you to hear me-"
He took one Of the limp hands in his
and began to chafe it, while Mrs. Tan
berry grasped the other.
There's still movement in the
pulse" she faltered
"Still" echoed Tom roughly. you're
mad! You made me think Crailey was
dead! Do you think Crailey Gray is
going to die? He couldn't, l tell you
he couldn't. You don't know him!
Who's gone for the doctor?" He dash
ed some brandy upon his handkerchief
and set it to the white lips.
Mamie. She was here in the room
with me when it happened"
Happened. Happened!" he mock
ed her furiously. Happened is a
beautiful wordr'
God forgive me!' sobbed Mrs. Tan
berry. Il was sitting in the library,
and Mamie had just come from you,
when we heard Mr.. Carewe shout from
I the cupola room, Stand away from
my daughter, Vanrevel and take this
like dog! Only that, and Mamie and
ran to the window, and we saw
through the dusk man in uniform
leap back from Miss Betty-they were
In the nttle open space near the hedge.
He called out something and waved his
hand, but the shot came at the same
time, and he fell. Even then was
sure, in spite of what Mamie had said,
I was as sure as Robert Carewe was,
that it was you. He came and took
one look-and saw-and then Nelson
brought the horses and made him
mount and go. Mamie ran for the doc
tor, and Betty and carried Crailey in.
1t was hard work"
Miss Betty's hand had fallen from
Crailey's breast where Toms took its
place. She rose unsteadily to her feet
and pushed back the hair from her
forehead, shivering convulsively as she
looked down at the motionless figure
ON the sofa.
"Craileyv' said Tom, in the same
angry, shaking voice. "Crailey, you've
got to rouse yourself! This won't do;
you've got to be mani Crailey" He
was trying to force the brandy through
the tightly clinched teeth. "Crailey"
"Crailey?" whispered Miss Betty,
leaning heavily on the back Of chair.
"Crailey?" She looked at Mrs. Tanber-
~ with vague Interrogation, but Mrs.
Tanberry did not understand.
"Crailey"
1t was then that Crailey's eyelids
futtered and slowly opened and his
wandering glance, dull at first, slowly
grew clear and twinkling as it rested
on the ashy, stricken face Of his best
friend.
"Tom," he said feebly, "it was worth
the price to wear your clothes just
| onceI'
And then at last Miss Betty saw and
understood, for not the honest gentle
man. whom every one except Robert
Carewe held in esteem and affection,
not her fathers enemy, Vanreyel, lay
4 before her with the death wound in his
breast for her sake, but that other,
Crailey Gray, the ne'er-do-weel and
light O. love-CrailsJ Gray, wit, poet
and scapegrace, the we'll beloved town
scamp.
He saw that she knew, and as his
Frightening eyes wandered up to her
he smiled family. Gwen bad dog
likes to have his day." he whispered.
| ITO be continued,