The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-12-03
Copyrighted. 1907, by G. H. sutcltre.

or Jack Henderson 1t will be worth
your while to follow the bearer of this
without delay"
"Who sent this?" he said to the
grimy faced gamin.
Dunno. He blew Tn tween two
days, an the ole woman TUX him In.
She lows he'll croak fore night"
Landon hesitated, but the memory of
Judith's face on the day OF Jack Hen
derson's flight urged him on. He fol-
lowed the boy through the back streets
to the tumbledown row Of tenements
down by the river known to the police
as Carriers Rents" along black pas
sage and across the court to room at
the back Of the saloon, where the light,
iltering through the unwashed panes
Of small window, accumulated the
poverty and filth. On the heap Of
rags in the corner a man stirred and
moaned. Landon recognized him as
one of the wrecks that had haunted
the river front during the past sum-
mer
Here, take this and get some bran
dy-the best" and, thrusting coin in
the child's hand, he pushed him out
and closed the door.
$50 you have come to the end Of
your row, Red?"
The man on the floor opened his eyes.
Yes; I'm where the best and the
worst Of US have to come, but we
haven't time to be passing compli-
ments. Do you know where Hender-
son is?"
mo. He has dropped out complete
~. What do you know Of him?"
What brought you here to tell
gou-that he never stole that money"
"Whatp'
II tell you the boy had nothing to do
with it. Locke knew thing or two
about me-knew that l had escaped
from Sing Sing and he forced me to
do his dirty work. l could not refuse.
1t was that or prison, but I'll swear
didn't know that the boy would get
the blame for it. Locke wrecked the
bank and had me doctor the books,
making the entries in another mans
writing. He gave me an old letter to
copy it from; then he had me forge old
Dalton's name to that check. never
did figure out just how he managed to
lay 1t on the boy. but reckon my
false entries must have been in his
writing, and when the young fool ran
away that fastened 1t on him. Locke
kicked me out like dog when he got
things fixed to suit him. / drifted
south for couple of months and came
back like this. l didn't know my time
was so short or I'd have sent for you
before. Write it out and let me sign
It,"
Landon's pen few over the paper
Black, ugly and tangible, the tempta-
lion whispered at his ear:
Delay, gain time. Henderson free to
come back, and Judith is lost to you"
The man on the floor moaned feebly.
Hurry. Mr.. Landon. It's getting dark
mighty dark Get Mother Biddle and
Jimmy Sullivan from the saloon for
witnesses. Where's that boy with the
brandy? There he is nowv' And he
snatched eagerly at the bottle. Get it
done with, Mr. Landon. l cannot hold
out much longer"
1t was over, and Red Matthews lay
back, painting from the exertion.
II almost forgot" he said to Landon,
when was over in st. Louis l met
Don Battle. He told me about Hender-
sons trouble, the first I'd heard Of it.
and he said that fellow from Lara
ME had told him about meeting Hen
1erson in Santa Fe. He got on to his
name by accident and didn't know that
Don knew Henderson when he was
telling it. so reckon you will have to
90 to the jumping of place to find the
boy. You viii find him and set this
straight, Mr.. LandonY
The glazing eyes sought for the face
above him, and Landon answered,
Yes, Red, I'll find him.
He watched her come slowly down
the stairs, the light of the great win
low behind her framing the little head
IN an aureole of sunset rays His
hearts lady-his no morel With blind
resentment choking the words in his
throat he Numbered through the story
If Red Matthews confession, and then
ne found himself wondering at the
self possession with which she dis
cussed the ways and means of dealing
with Peter Locke.
poor little Lilias! What a misera-
Die tangle~ said Judith as they walked
70 the gate.
"Lilias?" He had forgotten Locke's
laughter, the pretty little girl who had
been Judith's shadow since Jack Hen
lerson's flight. The position had re-
versed itself. 1t was Judith who
would play consider now
Landon lost no time in placing the
confession with the proper authorities.
He swore out the warrant against Pc
Ter Locke, interviewed reporters and
then, with Judith's letter In his pocket,
started westward on his quest.
The limited paused just long enough
to drop Landon at Umiltas, the strag-
Cling settlement strung along the
track, half shanties, half tepees.
'HotelY"
The station agent grinned and point
I'd to house. whose crazy clapboards
-attled in the desert wind.
"Arapahoe Kate is a-runnin' that
here hash joint She'll take you in,
but you want to keep your gun
handy"
And he strobe off down the track.
The knot of Mexicans and half breeds
made way for Landon. Kate stood in
the doorway, leering drunken vel
come from under the mans hat SLOUGH
ed over her frowsy head.
"Grub's a-pIenty, an Texas Charles
hit the trail, leavin' his bunk behind"
and upon that assurance Landon fol-
lowed her to cubbyhole back of the
saloon, where the aforesaid bunk was
located. Somewhere behind the thin
phA AAbACA a J0h6iAh6 PAoAO hVCACA elh0
shrieked, and chorus of discordant
voices beloved medley of ribald
songs. He could hear the snap of
cards upon the tables, tho clink Of
glasses, and then a few minor chords
we're struck, and mellow baritone
rolled forth In border song of starry
nights and women's faces. Landon
sprang to his feet He knew that
voice, and he pushed the door open.
Henderson,"
The singer, handsome, haggard
boy, sprang from the piano and start
ed for the outside door, his eyes fixed
on Landon's like those of haunted
animal at bay. Landon caught his
arm.
mo. you don't, Jack. l have not
eomo all this distance t0 lose You