Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-08-23
CHAPTER VII.

]" HE morning after the discovery
Of the murder Nicholas Hard
Ing went to London. All day
there came no word from the
master Of the house, nor did the coach
return. but between 0 and 10 1t did.
and Mr.. Harding was out and up the
steps before 1t stopped.
In the hall he inquired for his daugh-
ter. She had gone upstairs. He rush.
ed up instantly. Claire was waiting
for him ut her bedroom door, He
Numbered In and shut 1t behind him.
"They have got him." cried Claire,
with both hands to her heart
Got whom" said her father sharp
ly. Got whom. eh?"
Her face fell beneath the angry gilt.
ter in his eyes.
1.-THE man-they want-for this
frightful business" said she lamely
and sank down upon q chair.
And pray who Is her You seem to
knowv'
No answer. save twitching fingers,
rocked body. lowered lids.
III you were to hear 1t was that
young Erichsen would 1t surprise you
very much? No: 1t would not! 1t had
only stllled her. "And now I intend
to know why not. You have thrown
sand enough In my eyes, but your
manner this morning told me some
thing. and l am determined to know
all there Is to knOw-before-I-lea
this-rOOm."
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 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, II he
be caught, one would rather not con-
template. You may even be called as a
witness against him. II last nights in
terview leaked out. And II you told
jury all you have told me, about the
address and all that, I am afraid 1t
would hang him IL nothing else did"
''Hang Tom"
well. Claire, It looks to ME very
like a hanging matter. 1t would need
a very clever and probably very
costly defense to give him the ghost
OF q chance Of having 1t brought in
anything less"
Then he must have it,! 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?"
II am thinking of doing SO myself"
replied Mr.. Harding quietly. II don't
say will. but may"
"Youv'
And the girl was sobbing upon his
breast. with her arms about his thick
red neck. rs they had not been for
many year now. He removed them,
but almost gently. and told her not to
jump ut 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 a little hard, he thought
that on the whole 1t 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 shs
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
Erickson was flying south from West
bourne park. with the police In full
cry ut bis heels.
Thomas Erickson had been appre-
hended ut 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 1t from his lips at TWEEN
ty minutes to II In the morning. On
the Monday morning she gave him his
breakfast early and alone and he then
assured hCs 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 we'll over his
eyes. He departed as furtively some
minutes later and was followed down
the breakneck stairs by an unclean
vulture Of man with snuffy beak and
grimy talons, who skipped into cabri-
Olet and was driven ut speed to the
MarylebOne Office.
! There was dense crowd outside.