The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-06-01

You came ont TO stop this marriage
sir?"
Il did It was the only way
Il congratulate you on arriving II
time You would have had Il murderer
for your son-in-lawf'
Daintrce gave cry. Tom had turn
ed upon him with flashing eyes.
How do you know cried Harding
In amazement.
Il will tell you. This man has beer
my best friend. He paid for my de
Tense. and he took me away from the
iron gang. Do you know why:'
Il know one reason"
$50 do i, but there was another. Hes
been hedging matters with his God
He murdered Blaydes himself"
"Blaydesr' :
And Mr. Harding flung up his hands
while Daintree sank into a chair as
yellow as guinea. but with hot eye
balls fixed searchingly upon Tom.
Your proofs!" said he hoarsely
.'Your proofs in support of this--mon
strous-charge,'
II have clear proof in my pocket,
said Tom to Mr.. Harding as he but
toned up his coat. II have the receipt
! gave Blaydes for his watch and
chain.'
Daintree sprang up. He was trem
bling from head TO foot, but his fists
and his teeth We're clinched.
.Thief.' he Missed. You have bro
ken open my desk! I saved you from
the gallows. You think you'll hound
mo IN, ra+,,rr, ro,, faal n-bay, xo,,
know what 1 know, What you have
stolen is no proof at all. migrate, ser
pent, it will only tighten the rope
round your own ungrateful neck"'
He turned on his heel and wrote
something on a card. He rang a bell
met the waiter at the door and handed
him what he had written.
THAT may be so,' said Tom to Mich.
olas Harding Il may swing yet but.
thank God, not for Blaydes,"
1T is really the receipt"
Undoubtedly, written by Blaydes
and signed by me. 1t will clear me of
that crime if it doesn't convict him. /
don't want to convict him.
The other shrugged his shoulders.
1T would be useless. There's mad
ness in his blood as well as crime! But
is that your only evidence:"
"No. 1 have a witness outside who
all but saw him do it. He did see him
taking the papers from the dead mans
pocket"
Papers, cried Mr.. Harding. His
high color fed and came again. They
belonged TO me. Give them to me,
Erickson, for Gods saker'
''Then keep your eye on him, and
you shall have all but the one 1 may
want. / saw they were letters to YOU
And in an instant they were in Nicho-
las Harding's pocket, all but the one
with the receipt upon the back, and he
also buttoned up his coat.
Meanwhile Daintree was at the other
end of the long room guarding the
door, and now they saw him fling it
open with an evil smile. Next mo-
ment strange gang entered-two con-
stables, Ginger. Nat Sullivan and Peg
~ O'Brien.
Peggy's presence is only too easily
Nplained. When her own ears heard
lom consent TO leave the country she
nut her teeth and swore that he
aould not. In New South Wales he
should remain. though back he went
TO the chain gang, but she trusted to
her own testimony to save his neck.
So she slipped out Of the bungalow
while the master was being dressed
followed the Fawcetts into Sydney
and went straight to the Pulteney no
tel to tell Nat Sullivan the truth about
Tom. She found that worthy in his
usual state when in town. Ginger
complained that there was no doing
anything with him. And SO powerful
ly did the blear eyed. thick Tipped sot
repel Peggy. now she saw him again
and in this condition. that she had told
him nothing when Daintree's message
was brought 10 Mats rooms.
Nat read it in his shirt sleeves and
staggered off TO achieve measure of
outward deeency. leaving Peggy in u
strange turmoil She could have be
trayed Tom herself = so she still
the IDEA Of the master
turning traitor IN this way was to her
She had heard the mar
rage was put off, she OWNED some all
sufficient cause. and with the ebbing
# her last hopes of Tom her first gen
erous good viii 10 him returned. She
looked at Ginger and found Ginger
looking at her At Castle Sullivan he
had been a furtive admirer He was
an open one now Nat was In the next
room.