Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-29
! T h E Sp oil e r $
By REX E. BEACH.

By REX E. BE A H.

He was some longshoreman in that
particular epoch Of his inebriety where
life had no burden save the dissipation
Of wages.
Returning, she pounded on the door,
possessed of the sense that the man
she sought was here. till at last 1t
was flung open. framing the silhouette
OF shirt-sleeved, thick-set youth, who
shouted:
What n ell do you want to butt i'll
TOT while the shows on? Go round
front" She caught glimpse Of dis
ordered scenery, and before he could
slam the door in her face thrust a sill
yer dollar into his hand, at the Same
time wedging herself into the opening.
he pocketed the coin and the door
clicked to behind her.
We'll, speak UP. The acts closin'."
Evidently he was the directing genius
OF the performance, for at that mo-
ment the chorus broke into full cry,
and he said, hurriedly:
wait a minute. There goes the
finally" and dashed away to tend to
his drops and switches. When the
curtain was down and the principals
had sought their dressing rooms he
returned.
DO you know Mr.. Glenister?" she
asked
Sure. 1 seen him tonight. Come
here" He led her towadis tn foot
lights, and, pulling back the edge Of
the curtain, allowed her to peep past
him out into the dance hall She had
never pictured a place like this, and in
spite OF her agitation was astonished
at its gaudy elegance. The gallery was
formed Of continuous row Of com
partments with curtained fronts. in
which men and women were talking,
drinking and singing. The seats on the
lower floor were disappearing, and the
canvas cover was rolling back. show
ing the polished hardwood underneath,
while out through the wide folding
doors that led to the main eambline
room, she heard brass-lunged man
calling the commencement of the
dance. Couples glided into motion
while she watched.
II don't see him." said her guide.
you better walk out I'M front and help
yourself. He indicated the stairs
which led up to the galleried boxes and
the steps leading down on the main
floor, but she handed him another coin,
begging him to md Glenister and
bring him to her. Hurry; hurry!" she
implored.
The stage manager gazed at her
curiously, remarking, "My! You spend
your money like it had been left to
you. You're regular pie-check for
me. Come around anytime"
She withdrew into dark corner and
waited interminably till her messenger
appeared at the head of the gallery
stairs and beckoned to her. AS she
drew near he said. II told him there
was thousand-dollar f1lly faggin' him
from the stage door, but he's got a
crouch on an won't stir. He's IN
number seven" She hesitated. ut
which he said, go on-you're in
right" then continued, reassuringly:
Say, pal, if he's your white-haired
lad. you needn't start no roughhouse,
cause he don't flirt wit these danes
none whatever. Nav! Take it from
me-"
She entered the door her counsellor
indicated to find Roy lounging back
watching the dancers. He turned in.
quiringly-then as she raised her veil.
leaped to his feet and jerked the cur.
tains to.
Helen! What are you doing here?.
You must go away quickly" SHE
gasped. They're trying to arrest YOU
They! Who? Arrest ME for what?"
voorhees, and his mentor riot, or
something about last night"
Nonsense" he said. Il had no part
in it. You know that"
Yes, yes-but you're a Vigilante,
and they're after you and all your
friends. Your house is guarded and
ehe town is alive with deputies
They've planned to jail you on some
pretext or other and hold you indefin-
itely Please go before It's too late"
How do you know this?" he askei,
gravely
81 overheard them plotting"
"Who?"
"lJncle Arthur and Mr.. Mcnamara"
She faced him squarely as she said
1t, and therefore saw the light flame
up in his eyes as he cried:
And you came here to save me
came here at the risk of your good
name?"
"Of course. would have done the
same for Dextry." The gladness died
away, leaving him listless.
We'll, let them come. I'm done, I
guess. heard from Wheaton tonight.
He's down and out, too-some trouble
with the Frisco courts about jurisdic-
ton over these cases.. don't know
that it's worth while to fight any long
err"
+ Listen" she said. "You must go.
l am sure there is terrible wrong
being done, and you and l must stop
it. l have seen the truth at last, and
you're in the right. Please hide for a
time at least"
very we'll. If you have taken sides
with us there's some hope left. Thank
you for the risk you ran in warning
me-"
ITO late! Too late! There they are
Don't part the cuTsains. They'll see
YOU
Pushing through the gambling hall
were Voorhees, and four others, seem
ingly in search of some one.
Run down the back stairs" she
breathed, and pushed him through the
door. He caught and held her hand
with a 1acf Word NJ oro tit,,do Thon