The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-05-14
The Finding Of
the Flames


Jack Lawrence glanced up quick
, ly. then almost snatchng the pack
age from the reach Of the whit
hand outstretched to grasp it, ex
claimed hastily, II not rudely: I'll
not show YOU that; IL is nothing Il
you
What is 1t, Jack?" soft vote,
asked
Only two pictures, only sum
mer's dream now ten years agonc,
It's very distance lends ii It's only en-
clantment,"
Ruth Howell and Jack Lawrence
though less than kin were more than
kind Tried comrades In youth
"co-eds' during their college days. in
later years with an understanding
patience, which few possessed and
no other exercised, it had been
Ruth's pleasure TO aid and encour-
age the eccentric genius, who loved
and esteemed her all his best friend.
knowing OF his struggle with a re-
lentless foe. the tiercest. hardest In
| life 70 subdue, an inherited taste for
| that which steals away mems brains
and makes them mad, sho had
| watched the never ending fight from
day TO day. never reproducing him
| whom he slocumhed TO temptation,
ever squirting him To renewed CT
fort, helping over many d dangerous
shoal whore none save herself sus-
pected danger.
Important business had kept her
down town rather late this afternoon
and wishing Lawrence's advice she
bad stopped at bis Office One glance
at her friend as she entered his sane
tnm told her that her business must
wait. He was busily engaged sort
ing papers az his private desk. and
after exchanging greetings. re-
marked in would-be iocuiar tone
was Just wishing to see YOU.
have long wanted TO ask you, should
anything happen to NE to come here
immediately take away the papers
will show YOU and destroy them
Here Is a duplicate key "
Would II not be wiser for you to
do II yourself. and dc 1t now?"
u cannot dare not need them
for my own protection. Promise
what | ask; II II not too much to do
for Your old chum. | can trust you
as | can no one else"
II promise. Jack" she said un-
hesitatingly, and would have dis
missed the matter had he NOT In
sisted on telling the history OF the +
numerous papers In his hands, re-
vealing quite as much Of the tragedy 4
as of the comedy Of his own and i
other lives, until he reached the
package he had SO iealously guarded,
only a summers dream Back
won't the woman's thoughts through
the vista Of the years, to a quaint old
college town nestled among the New
England hills. recalling a rosy
checked. rollicking maiden under
the blossom-ladened apple boughs.
merrily with heigh-hol
That was long ago, She, too, has had
her dream--but Jack is another
voman's husband and this another
and very different day he
quickly changed the subject.
by George, must leave for New
York tonight just forty minutes to !
'atch the train help me ont. that's :
good girl" Ruth's nimble fingers. 6
aessenger boys and telephone wires u
oon accomplished the work, and be- i
ore many minutes the two stood on
ne pavement in pouring rata. bid 8
ing one another good night ard
ood-by
The following morning dawrcd 2
right and cold. As Ruth ran gayly
own the steps of her hoElc ana -
tarted cityward a protege OF hers, =
ragged newsboy, accosted her.
Here's your mornin' paper. miss
-dredful ax-dent, miss last night.
n the New York Central"
With the urchin's voice ringing
/ her ears, and a strange forebodlng |
t her heart I,uth ha-tu scanned
le cpiauus OF the aly rs sire '
alke3 9ion~ antil she found the =
cath list. p
NO. Thank Cod" Then her eye
II on the last line: John e. Law
nee, a prominent citizen OF Albany,
stantly killed"
She stood as If stunned for many =
inutss. Needless of the curious or II
mpathetic glanecs OF the passers-
T. Hailing a passing cab she was
iyen directly to the Office; no one r.
as there save a frightened Office W
", who knew her well and who
the SAD news. Passing on
the inner room she quickly pos- =.
ssed herself of the papers: then. ~
tn a consoling word and tip to the
unEster. regained the street. drove II
pidly home and was soon in her
IN room.
with feverish haste she locked
@ door. not stopping to'remove her
APPS. ran straight TO the fireplace.
rev in the package and stood with
sped hands and fearful ewes
itching II burn. Suddenly the blue 81
veiope which Jack Rad refused to
en- fell upon the fender As she =
,oped to replace IL and thrust 1t
eper into the glowing Goals. It
rst apart. For an instant the Goa 5
IT'S we're revealed. Ruth gave q Z
ri. bent closer and set closer til J