The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-06-02

nilnble brain had done Tom Eriehsen
their last service, had undone thar
first and only injury. and this was thu
end between these TWO
When the three men had the greas
room once more to themselves Ton
turned quietly to Daiatree. who was
| row perfect. lir51 wish rage and chs
grin. and inquired whether he still he
/ MED his own crime.
Deny it.n cried Daintree. 1T Is tos
| preposterous to be worth denyin-
| Show re what you have stolen. Lei:
US see this precious proof
i have 4 live witness. too. If you
| force ne to call him in "
| Tom went TO window an1 baG
| thrown up sash before the other two
| joined him. Outside was the cureicie
and Wyeth seated at Fawcetts side
stop. Stop. Don't call to him Z.
whispered Daintree in choking voice.
'I-killea him"
Good Cod" cried Nicholas Harding
Tom shut down the sash.
.Yes, | killed him" cried Daintree
| recovering his spirits. s'and I'd do it
again this minute Why? You shall
hear-and then Claire shall hear-for ]
mean to see her II viii take all sgd
ney to keep Us apart That night she
refused me God alone knows why
She loves me now and will stick to me
i'll spite OF you all. but she refused me
then. I stas ed for an hour where she
left me. Then l got ont by the back
way and wandered through tine fields
just as I was-thinking of her At
last-I hardly knew where | was or
what l was doing-I heard voices His
was one. Yours was the other, Erich
sen-I didn't know it then-and you
Were just leaving. l heard him say
he was thinking of being married
joined him when YOU had gone and
asked who the happy lady might be
What do you think he said? What do
you think? What 10 you thinki'
"Claire?' said Nicholas Harding
Eyes, Claire"' screamed Daintree
THAT incarnate devil-and my angel.
He sGid he loved her-that smooth
hound-and she had limited she did
care for somebody. God knows what
more he said, You would consent.
He had you in his power Either be
said that or | saw it. At any rate he
tainted me-maddened me-and when
/ looked about for some thing to strike
him with there was the very thing ii
my feet. l killed him. I meant to
kill him. | have never for one mo
ment regretted killing him. What do
you suppose was the first thing fouuu
in his pocket? No Harding I'm moi
thinking of you, my honest friend. It
was a letter that showed the kind of
no 7, nj +
| thought of a way. | showed her that
dead devil in his true coIors. l cured
her of her folly. and 1 thanked God Ia
put him out of her way and mine. Re
gret it? Repent It? Never for an in &
slant! Never to this hourr'
You let an innocent man suffer for
your criner' said Nicholas Harding
with a SILVER.
Did [? And do you suppose 1 would
have let him hang2 | was under the
impression that I saved his neck.
would have saved 1t with my own had
chat been necessary. Only yesterday
risked my life to save his. Who took
him away from the iron gang? | had
to commit a forgery and risk my liber
ty 10 do it. Who would have treated
him like brother from that day? 1t
was his own doing, mark you, that
made him menial, And he would
hang me. would he. for Kidding the
earth of the crying rascal who picked
his own pocket like common thief
He shakes his head, but / know him
better. And that's his gratitude after
all I've done, Something like yours.
you. Harding, | save your daughter
from Il poisonous scoundrel. so I am
not TO marry ner Tor my pans. \ just
pair-convict bushranger and fraudu-
lent NJ. P. 4 precious pair to join
forces against an honest man. Do
your worst. ! shall marry her ae7inst
you both. | shall. l shall. | shall
Tom knew this voice He wonder ]
he hal not heard IT, madness III i
from the first
Never cried Harding. II would
rather see her in her collin
.sShe loves me as l love her.
'-She does not love YOU at ALL
At these Vords a feeling Of pity crept
over Tom. They rang SO true. and
they told so palpably upon that dis
torted heart which could bear up bet |
ter against a charge Of murder.
Does she not?" cried Daintree I'VE
shall sect" And he darted from them
with an altered face. was first out of
the room. first up the stairs and first
into the ladies' sitting room, but Toms
foot WAS in the door before he could
bang it behind him, and Tom and Mr.. i
Harding burst their way in together.
On the threshold they stopped with /
one accord Daintree had not turned +
to confront them. He had flung him +
self at the feet Of Claire. who was
seated on a sofa By her aunt's side.
They say you do not love me- whis- /
pered Daintree in voice that broke I
with very tenderness and yet retained /
n confident ring Il love you better I
than M own life and all the world +
Tel them nothing can part rs. nothing
they can say. nothing L have done. Toll
them you love ne Is I love YOU. Tell i
them you would marry me II / had to i
go 10 prison tomorrow
Tie brown curls moved slowly from T
side to side
What! There is truth. then, in what
they say 2"
..Fgo,-oixa r77ef FORGIVE metz wore