The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-16

that Of the stranger raised itself in
such indignant protest that she distin-
/ guished his words.
/ ooh, I've got money to pay my way!
I'm no deadhead"
/ Shortz mumbled something back.
"I don't care if you are closed I'm
tired. and there's storm coming"
| This time she heard the landlords
refusal and the miners angry profani-
/ ". A moment later she saw the trav-
eIer plodding up the trail toward town.
What does that mean?' she inquir-
| ed as the lawyer re-entered.
"Oh. that fellow is a tough, and
Shortz wouldn't let him in. He's care
full whom he entertains, there are so
/ many bad men roaming the hills
The German came in shortly to light
the lamp, and, although she asked no
/ further questions, Helen's uneasiness
I increased. She half listened to the sto-
ries with which Strive tried to enter
tain her and ate little of the excellent
meal that was shortly served to them.
Strive meanwhile ate and drank al
most greedily, and the shadowy, SIMS
ter evening crept along. A strange
cowardice had suddenly overtaken the
girl, and If at this late hour she could
have withdrawn she would have done
so gladly and gone forth 10 meet the
violence of the tempest. But she had
gone too far for retreat, and. realizing
that for the present apparent compi-
ance was her wisest resource, she sat
quiet. answering the man with cool
words while his eyes grew brighter.
his skin more flushed, his speech more
rapid He talked necessarily and with
feverish gayety, smoking numberless
cigarettes and apparently unconscious
of the fight of time. At last he broke
off suddenly and consulted his watch.
while Helen remembered that she had
not heard Shortz in the kitchen for
long time. Suddenly Strive smiled on
her peculiarly, with confident cunning.
AS he leered at her over the disorder
between them he took from his pocket
fat bundle, which he tossed to her.
Now for the bargain, ehT
ASK the man to remove these dish
es," she said as she undid the parcel
with clumsy fingers.
said Strive. arising as If to come to
her. She shrank back, but he only
leaned across, gathered up the four
corners of the tablecloth and, twisting
them together, carried the whole
thing out, the dishes crashing and jan
Cling as he threw his burden reckless
ly into the kitchen. Then he returned
and stood with his back to the stove,
staring at her while she perused the
contents of the papers, which were
more voluminous than she had sup
posed.
For a long time the girl pored over
the documents. The purport of the
papers was only too obvious, and as
she read the proof of her uncle's guilt
stood out clear and damning There
was no possibility Of mistake. The
whole wretched plot stood out plain,
It's darkest infamies revealed.
In spite Of the cruelty Of her disillu-
sionment Helen was nevertheless ex-
allied with the fierce ecstasy of power,
with the knowledge that justice would
at last be rendered. 1t would be her
triumph and her expiration that she,
who had been the unwilling tool of
this miserable clique, would be the one
through whom restitution was made
She arose with her eyes cleaning and
lips set
: ut is here"
, "Of course it is. Enough to convict
J us all. 1t means the penitentiary fol
your precious uncle and your lover
, He stretched his chin upward at the
; mention as though to free his throat
) from an invisible clutch. Eyes, your
, lover particularly, for he's the rea
I one. That's why 1 brought you here
! He'll marry you. but I'll be the bes'
, man." The timbre of his voice wa:
/ unpleasant.
! Come, let us go" she said.
, go" he chuckled mirthlessly
! That's a fine example of unconscious
, humor"
| What do you mean?'
"Well, first, no human being coult
find his way down to the coast in thi
, tempest: second-but, by the way, lie
a me explain something in those paper
/ while l think of it." He spoke casual
a ~ and stepped forward, reaching 70
. the package, which she was about t
O give up, when something prompted he
to snatch ii behind her back. and
: was well she did, for his hand was bu
: q few inches away. He was no mattel
= for her quickness, however. and sh
glided around the table, thrusting tn
papers into the front of her dress Tn
:, sudden contact with Cherry's revolve
= gave her certain comfort She spok
now with determination.
Il intend to leave here at once WI
; you bring my horse? Very well,
shall do II myself"
. She turned. but his Incidence vanish
ed like a flash. and, springing in from
;, of the door, he barred her way
! Hold on. lady. You ought to under