The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-11-29
Judith.
By Curran
Richard Greenley.
6pyrishted, 1907, by G. H. sutcnre.

.b"huoh cyeu tue CruInpleu SCraWl
doubtfully, fragment torn from a
sheet Of writing paper on which the
characters were family penciled, bro
ken here and there as If the writer's
strength had failed: 'If you want news
of Jack Henderson it will be worth
your while to follow the bearer of this
without delay"
"Who sent this?" he said to the
grimy faced gamin.
"Dunno. He blew In tween two
days, an the ole woman TUX him In.
She lows he'll croak fore night"
Landon hesitated, but the memory Of
Judith's face on the day ct Jack Hen
derson's flight urged him on. He fol-
lowed the boy through the back streets
to the tumbledown row Of tenements
down by the river known to the police
as "Carter's Rents" along black pas
sage and across the court to a room at
the back Of the saloon, where the light,
altering through the unwashed panes
OF a small window, accumulated the
poverty and filth. On the heap Of
rags in the corner a man stirred and
moaned. Landon recognized him as
one of the wrecks that had haunted
the river front during the past sum-
mer.
"Here, take this and get some bran
the child's hand, he pushed him out
and closed the door.
$50 you have come to the end Of
your row, Red?"
The man on the floor opened his eyes.
"Yes; I'm where the best and the
worst Of US have to come, butt we
haven't time to be passing compll-
ments. Do you know where Hender-
son is?'
mo. He has dropped out complete
ly. What do you know Of him"
"What l brought you here to tell
you-that he never stole that money"
"Whatp'
'I tell you the boy had nothing to do
with ii. Locke knew a thing Or two
about me-knew that | had escaped
from Sing Sing-and he forced me to
do his dirty work. | could not refuse.
1t was that or prison. but I'll swear
didn't know that the boy would get
the blame for 1t. Locke wrecked the
bank and had me doctor the books,
making the entries In another mans
writing He gave me an old letter to
copy 1t from; then he had ME forge old
Dalton's name to that check. never
a fnC hn NJ IN
lay 1t on the boy, but | reckon my
false entries must have been in his
writing, and when the young fool ran
away that fastened it on him. Locke
Kicked me out like dog when he got
things fixed to suit him. drifted
south for n couple OF months and came
back like this. | didn't know my time
was so short or I'd have sent for you
before. Write it out and let me sign
It,"
Landon's pen flew over the paper
Black. ugly and tangible, the tempta-
ton whispered at his ear:
Delay, gain time. Henderson free to
come lack, and Judith is lost to you"
The man on the floor moaned feebly
"Hurry, Mr.. Landon. It's getting dark
-mi"hty dark Get Mother Biddle and
Jimmy Sullivan from the saloon for
witnc ;ses Where's that boy with the
brandy? There he is noww And he
snatchcd eagerly at tie bottle. Get it
done with, Mr.. Laudon. ! cannot hold
out much longer
1t was over, and Rcd Matthews lay
back. PAINTING from the eXertion.
81 almost forgot" he said to Landon
"vhen was over in St. Louis | met
Don Battle. lie told me about Hender.
sous trouble, the first Ia heard Of it,
aid lie said that a fellow from Lara
ME had tod him about meeting Hen
dcrsJn in Santa Fe. He got ON to his
name by accident and didn't know that
Don knew Henderson when he was
telling il, - | reckon you will have TO
go to the jumping off place to find the
boy. Yuu will find him and set this
straight. Mr. Landon?"
The glazing eyes sought for the face
above him, and Landon answered,
"Yes, Red. I'll find him."
He watched her come slowly down
the stairs. the light of the great win
dow behind her framing the little head
IN an aureole OF sunset rays. His
hearts lady-his no more! With blind
resentment choking the words In his
throat he Numbered through the story
OF Red Matthew'S confession. and then
he found himself wondering at the
self possession with which she dis
cussed the ways and means of dealing
with Peter Locke.
Poor little Lilias! What a misera-
bic tanglew said Judith as they walked
to the gate.
"Liliasr He had forgotten Locke's
daughter, the pretty little girl who had
been Judith's shadow since Jack Hen
derson's flight The position had re-
versed itself. 1t was Judith who
would play consider now.
Landon lost no time in placing the
confession with the proper authorities.
He swore out the warrant against Pc
ter Locke, interviewed reporters and