Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-08-08


ing feet opened the door.
What dye wan'?" he bawled, his
legs wayering uncertainty. His eyes
were heavy and bloodshot. his lips
loose, and his whole person exhaled al
coholic fumes like gust from a still
house. Hanging to the knob, he stroye
yainly to solve the mystery of his sus-
penders, hiccoughing intermittently.
"Humph! Been drunk ever since
left?' questioned Glenister.
Somebody mus have top YOU" the
lawyer replied. There was neither Gu
riosity. recognition nor resentment in
his voice. In fact, his head dropped
SO that he paid no attention to the
girl, who had shrunk back at sight of
him. He was young man. with
marks Of brilliancy showing through
the dissipation betrayed by his silvery
hair and coarsened features.
"Oh, don't know what to do,'' la
mented the girl
Anybody else here besides your
asked her escort of the lawyer.
mo. I'm runnin' the law business
unassisted. Don't need any help.
Dunham's in Wash'n'ton, D. G., the
lam of the home, the free of the brave.
| What can do for your
| He made to cross the threshold hos
| 9itably, but tripped, plunged forward
and would have rolled down the stairs
had not Glenister gathered him up and
borne him back into the Office, where
he tossed him upon bed in rear
| room
Now what, Miss Chester?'' asked
the young man, returning.
Isn't that dreadfulY' she shuddered.
"Oh, and / must see him tonightw
She stamped impatiently. 81 must see
him alone"
no, you mustn't" said Gienister,
with equal decision. In the first
place, he wouldn't know what you
were talking about and, in the second
place know Strive He's too drunk
to talk business and too sober to-
well, to see you alone.'
"But | must see him." she insisted.
Its what brought me here. You
don't understand"
Il understand more than he could.
He's in no condition to act on any
important matter You come around
tomorrow when he's sober"
1T means SO much" breathed the
girl. 1.-THE beastY'
| Glenister noted that she had not
wrung her hands nor even limited at
tears, though plainly her disappoint-
ment and anxiety were consuming her.
well, 1 suppose I'll have TO wait,
but don't know where to go-some
hotel, I suppose"
There aren't any. They're building
two, but tonight you couldn't hire a
room in Nome for money. was about
to say love or money Have you no
other friends here-no women? Then
you must let me find place for you.
i / have a friend whose wife viii take
you in"
She rebelled at this. Was she never
| to have done with this mans favors7
She thought of returning to the ship,
but dismissed that. She undertook to
4 decline his aid, but he was halfway
down the stairs and paid no attention
/ to her beginnings she followed him.
1t was then that Helen Chester wit
messed her first tragedy OF the frontier
and through it came to know better
/ the man whom she disliked and with
whom she had been thrown so fatefuI-
w. Already she had thrilled at the
spell of this country, but she had not
learned that strength aud license carry
/ blood and violence as corollaries.
Emerging from the doorway at the
foot of the stairs, they drifted slowly
along the walk, watching the crowd.
Besides the universal tension, there
were laughter and hope and exhilara-
/ ton in the faces The enthusiasm of
this boyish multitude warmed one.
The girl wished to get into this spirit
4 to be one of them. Then suddenly
from the babble at their elbows came
a diseordant note, not long nor loud,
only a few words, penetrating and
harsh with the metallic quality lent by
passion.
Helen glanced over her shoulder to
find that the smiles of the throng were
gone and that it's eyes were bent on
some scene in the street with an eager
interest she had never seen mirrored
before simultaneously Glenister spoke:
Come away from here.
/ With the quickened eye of experience
he foresaw trouble and tried to drag
| her on, but she shook off his grasp i'm
patiently and, turning, gazed absorbed
at the spectacle which unfolded itself
before her. Although not comprehend
ing the play Of events, she felt vague
Iy the quick approach of some crisis,
vet was unprepared for the swiftness
with which it came.
Her eyes had leaped to the figures of
two men in the street from whom the
rest had separated like oil from water.
One was slim and well dressed. the
other bulky, mackinawed and lowering
lof feature 1t was the smaller who
/ ~, ~ cor a moment she r1iSiuffppd