Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-19
For Judith.
By Curran Richard Greenlsy.
Copyrighted, 1907, by 0. H. sutcliffe,

sheet Of writing paper on which tn,
 characters were faintly penciled, bro
 ken here and there as if the writer!
 strength had failed: If you want new,
 of Jack Henderson it will be wortf
 your while to follow the bearer of this
 without delay"
 "Who sent this?" he said to the
 grimy faced gamin.
 Dunno. He blew in 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 "Carters Rents," along black pas sage and across the court to room at the back of the saloon, where the light, Altering through the unwashed panes of a small window, accentuated the poverty and filth. On the heap of rags in the corner man stirred and \ moaned. Landon recognized him as tone of the wrecks that had haunted Nthe river front during the past sum- mer
 'Here, take this and get some bran dy-the best" and, thrusting a coin in the child's hand, he pushed him out and closed the door.
 "So 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 Tender son is?'
 "No. He has dropped out complete ly. What do you know of him."
 What I brought you here to tell you-that he never stole that money"
 "Whatr'
 T tell you the boy had nothing to do with it. Locke knew a thing or two about me-knew that I had escaped from Sing Sing-and he forced me to do his dirty work. I could not refuse. It was that or prison, but I'll swear I 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 nQltnn'C fn fhot nhnal- did figure out just how he managed to lay it on the boy. but I reckon my false entries must have been in his writing, and when the young fool ran away that fastened it 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. I 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 flew over the paper Black, ugly and tangible, the tempta- ton 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. "Hurfy, MT. Landon. It's getting dark mighty dark. Get Mother Riddle 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. Mir. Landon. I cannot hold out much longer"
 It was over, and Red Matthews lay l back, panting from the exertion.
 "I almost forgot" he said to Landon, | "when I was over in St. Louis met | Don Battle. He told me about Tender sons trouble, the first I'd heard of 1t, | and he said that a fellow from Lara i mic had told him about meeting Hen derson 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 go to the jumping off place to find the boy. You will find him and set this straight. NIT. Landon?'
 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 dow behind her framing the little head In an aureole of sunset rays. His hearts lady-his no more! With blind choking the words in his throat he blundered through the story of Red Matthews confession. and then he found himself wondering at the self possession with which she dis ,ussed the ways and means of dealing with Peter Locke. Poor little LiliasI What a misera- ole tangle"' said Judith as they walked .o the gate. "Lilias?" He had forgotten Locke's laughter, the pretty little girl who had . )een Judith's shadow since Jack Hen- , lerson's flight. The position had re- ! Tersed itself. It was Judith who ( would play consoler now. { LandOn lost no time ia placing the I confession with the proper authorities. Ie swore out the warrant against Pc I CT Locke, interviewed reporters and ' hen, with Judith's letter in his pocket, l tarted westward on his quest.
 The limited paused just long enough Q drop Landon at Umiltas. the strag- ling settlement strung along the ? rack, half shanties, half tepees. . "Hotel7" I The station agent grin1ed and point V