Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-08-09

who had glanced involuntarily through
the gate toward the distant lighted
windows. and who was now trembling
again, with Il new and dreadful agita-
ton.
by not cashieriug your friend, Cap
tain Blayle>."'
lie * no fricnl of mine"
HE Is at Your house tonight" cried
Erickson, with uncontrolled excite
mcnt.
"NO-h he is not"
Then give me his address,"
Toni cannot"
You cannot: You who said you
would do anything in your power to
help me: And this Is all ask-ths
Villains address. oh. Claire, he is not
fit for You IL speak to-
Claire answered with deliberate res
ervationS. Her duty was clear rs the
stars. Tom and Blaydes must be kept
apart-that night ut all events. Then
many things must be done, but quietly
and with due forcthought. Above oil.
4c AA'SA oNi ihuSl bS W Wiz
dictive fires now smoldering In her
lovers speaking eyes. SO Claire decid-
Ell to keep to herself her own opinion
of Captain Blaydes.
She had noticed without comment
the heavy stick lying in the grass.
She turned faint at the thought Of her
fiery Tom encOunterlng the captain SO
armed and SO aggrieved. but she in
sisted on his telling her Of his wrong.
Tom promised not to seek an inter
view with Blaydes for two clear days
and not to harm him then, and on this
understanding Claire at last confessed
that the captain had taken rooms for
the summer in the village of West
End. bare mile from where they
stood.
They had finished with Blaydas and
were beginning to say goodby. when
Claire started and vowed she heard q
rustic at the gate. At that instant
there came breath Of wind; the gate
shut with n clean metallic click: she
was locked out, for on this side there
was only the keyhOle, and the key was
within.
He was over the wall and back at
her side within the minute. She was
trembling terribly. All her nerve seem.
ed gone. She must hy-she must fly
but he would come again the next
| evening? And again she was looking
up divinely in his eyes, his right hand
clasped in both Of hers. and again the
burden Of past weakness bowed him
down, but this time there was a couu.
terpoise Of hope and high resolve. 4
vision Of atonement and self respect
regained that gave to his voice q clear.
er. manlier note and to Claire in the
thin moonlight n first and last glimpse
OF the Tom Erickson Of WinwOOd up-
lands and red autumn afternoons. But
1t was now her turn to be refused.
NO, Claire" he said, Il am coming
back no more. You have put 1t in my
power not only to have my little own
again. but to redeem the past. and l
must set to work ut once. II l don't
get that f35 now you may hear of me
next in HorsemOnger lane. IL I do
there's an Indiaman-the Jean-sailing
on Monday. and sail in her IL there's
steerage berth still going. At all
events my debts here Will be paid and
done with. There may even be q few
pounds over to make me decent when I
land. and II that firm won't have me
now some other may. You shall hear
OF me from there. There are not going
to be two false starts. And one day,
Claire. l am coming back a better man
than go away, and 1t will all be
thanks to you. Oh. thank you for your
noble letter! 1t has saved me on tho
brink. little as l deserved it. l shall
never stoop or sink-like thIs-again.
That promise you. But you should
think no more Of me! I was never wor-
thy OF you. l never can be that. II Is
best to forget me. dear. You must not
spoil your life by waiting for a man
Her palm sealed his lips.
For the only man want" she whls-
pered through her tears. Darling, /
could wait foreverr'
Il will write and tell you about the
f35." he continued. regaining control of
his voice. 1T will he all your doing,
my own brave Claire No. no! Not nv
own! Never that any morew
Forever, darling: Forever and ever
and ever-'
mo. no! Only be happy yourself,
and forgive me for oil I made you sui
fer. l shall never forgive myself
Goodby, beloved! Oh. goodby. goodby.
He strained her to his breast, but lef,
no kiss upon those pleading, praying
upturned lips. He was not worthy t(
touch them with his. He remembered
this up to the end. Z
1t was twenty minutes past 10 By
Captain Blaydes' gold repeater when
through the window Of q hackney
coach. creeping all too slowly along
the Einchley road, the captain recog
nized wayfarer, who also recognized
him, and thrust his iron gray head
through the opposite window to curse
the coachman and bid him drive faster
AS he pulled it In again Tom Erich.
sen scrambled into the coach upon the
other side, an unpleasant smile upon
his set face and his thick stick in his
hand. He had not promised to avoid
Blaydes If chance threw them together
and chance had done SO, for Tom was
on his way to make his bed once more
In the fields.
you internal rufi1anw roared the
captain. Hi. coachman! The policew
You miserable swIndler! retorted
Tom. III you don't stop the coach al
once and step outside with me you're
a ruined man. I'll go on to the Hard
ings with you and expose you
THE Hardings"
Yes. You see, know all your little
plans"
Little plans"
The captain gasped and stopped the
coach.
CHAPTER ".
NE hoIf nov oG;oor -