Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-09-19
CHAPTER VII.

AAA NkAy
there came no word from the
master Of the house, nor did the coach
return, but between 8 and 10 1t did,
and Mr.. Harding was out and up the
steps before it stopped.
In the hall he inquired for his daugh-
ter. She had gone upstairs. He rush
ed up instantly. Claire was waiting
for him at her bedroom door. He
numbered in and shut it behind him.
'They have got him" cried Claire,
with both hands to her heart.
"Got whom?" said her father sharp
~. "Got whom, eh?"
Her face fell beneath the angry gilt
ter in his eyes.
"The man-they want-for this
%frightful business" said she lamely
and sank down upon a chair.
And pray who is he? You seem to
know!w
No answer, a twitching fingers,
rocked body, lowered lids.
"1f you were to hear it was that
young Erichsen would it surprise you
very much? No; 1t would not" 1t had
only stilled her. "And now 1 intend
to know why not. You have thrown
sand enough in my eyes, but your
manner this morning told me some
thing, and 1 am determined to know
all there is to observation-disclosures
this-room."
And with no less emphatic delibera-
ton the father strobe to the door.
ocked it and pocketed the KEY, but
was met on his return with such wild
eyes and suppliant hands that even
MS marsh heart melted at the sight.
"Only tell me whether they have cap
tured him." she said, "and 1 faithfully
promise to tell you ALL"
"Well, then. they have not, but they
precious 500 will. Now keep YOUR
promise
1t was kept to the letter.
Nov you see," said he when Claire
had finished, what has come of your
folly. You have entangled yourself
with a young fellow whose fate, if he
be caught, m would rather not con-
template. You may even be called as a
witness against him, if last nights in
terview leaked out. And if you told
a jury all you have told me, about the
address and all that, 1 am afraid it
would hang him if nothing else did"
"Hang Tom"
well, Claire, it looks to me very
like a hanging matter. 1t would need
a very clever and probably a very
costly defense to give him the ghost
Of a chance Of having it brought in
anything less"
b he must have it," cried Claire.
"Oh, he never could have done it
willfully! He must have the very best
defense that can be got, but, oh. who
will pay for it,"
II am thinking of doing so myself"
replied Mr.. Harding quietly. "I don't
say I will, but I may" .
'You!"
And the girl was sobbing upon his
breast, with her arms about his thick
red neck, as they had not been for
many a year now. He removed them,
but almost gently, and told her not to
jump at conclusions, as be had by no
means made up his mind. Indeed, let
them first catch their man. But as the
lads father had been his constituent
as well as his enemy, on whom he had
perhaps been a little hard, he thought
that on the whole it might prove the
right and proper thing to do. Claire
was overwhelmed. not only with graf
ltude for a first CLEAN of comfort, but
also with shame. All these years she
had misjudged that magnanimous man,
her w father, and what Goals Of fire
was he heaping on her undutiful head!
She cried herself to sleep with shame
and hope, and that was when Tom
Erichsen was flying south from West
bourne park, with the police in full
cry at his heels.
= =
Thomas Erickson had been appre-
hended at Kew on the Saturday even
ing and lodged for that night in the
local lookup. The bare fact was read
by Mr.. Harding in next days Dispatch
and by Claire in her fathers face be-
fore she heard it from his lips at TWEEN
ty minutes to II in the morning. On