Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-07-09
CHAPTER x.

ventured upon O narrow ledge.
~ On the one hand she was bound
to show n proper appreciation
Of Dalntree's exertions, which she her
self had inspired; on the other, to feign
= purely impersonal or benevolent In
terest In the unhappy youth on whose
behalf those exertions were being
made. So all day long she must be
ready with smile rs false as any
other mummer's, even though she spent
the night in prayer for Tom and for
her own forgiveness. Yet praying did
not bring her peace of mind. She
could not convince herself that she was
In the right; that even her great end
justified means of downright hypocrisy
and deceit. There were two ways Of
looking at her conduct, and Claire.
with breadth OF view which was her
bane, saw 1t both ways from the be-
ginning. She was acting lie to save
life. That was one side OF the mat.
ter. She was screening the guilty ut
the expense OF the innocent. That was
the other side. And IL Claire was IN
any respect singular among women II
was In this inherent and not Invariably
convenient faculty Of seeing the other
side whether she would or no.
| All, her love could not blind her to
the terrible strength Of the case against
Tom. and all her prayers could not un-
say what Tom had said to her about
the murdered man on the very night ot
the murder. I'D hang for the hound
and think the satisfaction cheap Mt the
pricer Those had been his actual
words. They were forever tolling. toll
ing in her ears, and, strong though the
case was, would they not have
strengthened 1t still more? And, good
reason as all the world had to think
him guilty. had not she. God help her,
J better reason than any living man or
woman? But, oh. she could not and
she never would believe 1t of him not
| murder! And even with that cry in
her heart she did believe 1t, but fought
to deceive herself little longer. Her
first theory, however, that Of self de.
Tense. was virtually shattered by his
reported wholesale denials. Then
what more was to be said for the des-
perate hero OF q guilty flight, taken at
last with the dead mans possessions
upon his persona
Claire could not imagine, but a clever
barrister might-nay, woodland she
set her teeth and vowed that Tom
should have the finest brain at the bar
to defend him, guilty or not guilty. and
though she perjured her soul for the
price. But this was not necessary. It
WIS only necessary to net the lie, and
Claire scorned herself for the slight
comfort that mean distinction gave
her against her will. The honest lie
was Unnecessary because she was deal
ing with a man of extremes, who neg
lected many things, but did nothing by
halves. and whom every passing
breath left cold or burning. A breath
from Claire could have but one effect,
and Daintree was already white hot
for the defense. He had caught fire at
a word and from that moment made II
the business of his life to rescue that
OF mn obscure homicide. He could talk
Of nothing else. His passionate zeal
chilled Claire with the thought of what
1t might turn to should he learn the
truth.
Within twenty-fOur hours Of the
commlttal he came In brimful OF news
and self importance. Claire was dis
covered In the garden md informed
| who had been retained for the defense
! In a menning voice which conveyed no
special meaning to her. The name
| was a big one, but the girl was not a
great reader of the newspaper, and she
had never heard 1t before She looked
| grateful, therefore, but not grateful
enough for Daintree, whose greed for
her admiration was such that In the
next breath he must needs tell her
| with what figure the big mans brief
! had been marked. And then he beamed
for the girl stood thunderstrlck ut his
words.
Five hundred guine0sy she rea,e0t.
4 ed slowly. .'You are never going to
find fiye-hundred= guineass''
"And why not7" said he, with ready
i piQue. Do you think that that colos.
sal sum is beyond my means?'
! For man OF whom you know moth
ing-who has no claim upon you? Yes
1 I dor
Pardon me!' replied Daintree In his
most elaborate manner, Il know al
least as much Of the young man q