The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-06-04

very much! No: 1t would notr II had
only stilled her. "Arld now I intend
to know why not. You have thrown
sand enough In my eyes. bnt your
manner this morning told me some.
thing. and am determined to know
all there is to -before--I-leave-
i this-roOn."
And with no less emphatic delibera-
ton the father strobe to the door,
locked it and pocketed the. key, but
was met on his return with such wild
eyes and suppliant hands that even
his harsh heart melted at the sight.
"Only tell me whether they have cap
tured him." she said, '.and I faithfully
promise to tell you ALL"
well, then, they. have not, but they
precious soon will. Now keep your
promise"
1t was kept to the letter.
"Now you see," said he when Claire
had finished, what has come of your
folly. You have entangled yourself
with young fellow whose fate if he
be caught. one would rather not con-
template. You may even be called as
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, | am afraid IL
would hang him If nothing else did"
'"Hang Tom"
"Well, Claire, it looks to me very
I a 0rin ffna ii
a very clever and probably very
costly defense to give him the ghost
of a chance of having it brought in
anything less"
"Then he must have itr' 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?'
Il am thinking of doing so myself"
replied Mr.. Harding quietly. II don't
say | will, but 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 year now. He removed them.
but almost gently. and told her not to
Jump al conclusions. as he 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 we'll as his enemy, on whom he had
perhaps been 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.
itude for a first CLEAN of comfort. but
also with shame. All these years she
had misjudged that magnanimous man.
her own 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 il from his lips at TWEEN.
~ minutes to II In the morning. On
che Monday morning she gave him his
breakfast early and alone, and he then
assured her that he was going to see
what could be done.
Mr. Harding did not consult his own
lawyer, but he went on foot TO the pur.
lieuS Of the Old Bailey and there
mounted to a noisome den. with his
shoulders up and his hat well over his
eyes. He departed as furtively some
the breakneck stairs by an unclean
vulture Of a man with snuffy beak and
grimy talons. who skipped into cabri-
Olet and was driven at speed to the
Maryleb0ne office.
There was a dense crowd outside,
but with the free use of his own el.
bows and Mr.. Harding's money the
Old Bailey lawyer fought and bought
his way In. He was In time TO witness
the formal remand OF Thomas Erich.
= sen and to draw his own conclusion
from the bold fixed eyes and tremu-
lousy scornful lips behind the iron
railing Of the dock. That look was
less for the magistrate than for the
opera glasses of the noble lord whom
the magistrate had allowed upon the
bench. But the Old Bailey lawyer read
II his own way. Here was a glaringly
guilty man putting face Of brass up
on a heart Of putty, the very type with
which he was best accustomed and
most competent TO deal. So the vul.
ture took pinch of SNUFF that resound.
cd through the court and. on the pris-
oner's removal. squeezed out himself
TO make inquiries. II was as he ex.
pectcd. The prisoner would be convey.
} cd Immediately to the new prison at
Clerkenwell But the attorney man.
aged TO get away first through the
swelling crowd now on tiptoe for the
prison van. and in n neIghbOring tav.
eFn lie had his heartiest meal that year.
also with Mr.. Hardlng's money.
Between 3 and 4 he presented him.
self. well primed. at Clerkenwell and