The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-13


beetle led him to where her husband
was waiting. All that Happy knew of
this was In her cry afterward. He
was sitting alone, when Cory threw
open the door and said, I've got you
this time, Happyr His pistol was
raised, but never fired. He waited too
long, meaning to establish his case Of
self Defense. and Fear is the quick
est man l know. Cory fell just inside
the door. Claudine stumbled upon
him is she came running after him,
crying out to her husband that she
never meant no trouble;' that Cory
had sworn to her that he only wanted
to shake hands ard make up Other
people heard the shot and broke into
the room. but they did not try to stop
Fear. He warned them off and walk
ed out without hindrance and came
to me. I've got to clear him"
Ariel knew what he meant. She real
lied the actual thing as it was and,
though possessed by a strange feeling
that it must all be MEDIEVAL and not
possibly of today, understood that he
would have to fight to keep his friend
from being killed. that the unhappy
creature who had run into the Office
out of the dark stood in high danger of
having his neck broken unless Joe
could help him. He made it clear to
her that the state would kill Happy If
1t could; that it would be a point Of
pride with certain deliberate men hold
ing office to take the life Of the little
man; that if they did secure his death
1t would be set down to their efficiency
and was even competent as campaign
material. Il wish to point out" Joe
had heard a candidate for reelection
vehemently crate, that in addition te
the other successful convictions | have
named l and my assistants have
achieved the sending of three men to
the gallows during my term of Officer
Il can't tell yet" said Joe at parting
"It may be hard. I'm so sorry you saw
all this. r.
ooh, no!' she cried 81 want to IN
derstandw
She was still there at the gate, her
elbows resting upon the crossbar when
a long time after Joe had gone there
came from the alley behind the big
back yard the minor chordings of a
quartet of those dark strollers who
never seem to go to bed, who play by
night and playfully pretend to work by
day:
You know my soul is a-full O. them-a-
| trub-bils
Ev-ry mawn!
1 cain a-walk withouten I stum-bils!
Then less go on
Keep walkin' on!
These times is sow owful, an 1 am pow
owful
Sick an folawn!
She heard a step upon the path be-
hind her and, turning, saw a white
wrapped figure coming toward her.
"Mamie?" she called.
Hush" Mamie lifted a warning
hand. 1.-THE windows are OPEN" she
whispered. "They might hear you"
why haven't you gone to bedT'
ooh don't you seeT' Mamie answer
ed in deep distress. "I've been sitting
up for you. We all thought you were
writing letters in your room, but after
papa and mamma had gone to bed l
went in to tell you good night, and
you weren't there nor anywhere else,
so I knew you must have gone out
I've been sitting by the front window
waiting to let you in, but 1 went to
sleep until a little while ago, when
the telephone bell rang, and he got up
and answered it. He kept talking a
long time. 1t was something about the
Tocsin, and I'm afraid there's been q
murder downtown. When he went
back to bed l fell asleep again, and
then those darkies woke me up. How
on earth did you expect to get in
Don't you know he always locks uT
the house?"
Il could have rung" said Ariel.
ooh, OH" gasped Miss Pike. and aft
er she had recovered somewhat asked
do you mind telling me where you've
been? / won't tell him, nor mamma
either. l think, after all. was wrong
yesterday to follow Eugene's advice
He meant for the best, but r.
Don't think that. You weren'
wrong" Ariel put her arm round TIT
others waist II went to talk owe
some things with Mr.. Louden."
II think" whispered Mamie trem
bling. that you are the bravest girl
ever knew-and-and-I could almos
believe there's some good in him sine
you like him So l know there is. AM
II think he's had a hard time.
want you to know / won't even tel
Eugene"
you can tell everybody in tn
world" said Ariel and kissed her.
CHAPTER XVII