Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-06-05

safety of poor Awdrey and Nurse Ger
trude. My clerk was a sharp, dependa-
BILE young fellow.
Nov, Mr.. JONES'" said 1, 81 am going
to put you on your mettle."
"Glad of 1t, Mr.. Keene." he replied,
eagerly. rs it this poisoning case, sirf"
"Yes, it is. Bax, Yeames' agent, says
they can produce the man who threw me
out Of the gig, and prove that he was
engaged to do it by DIR. Awdrey. You
must find their witness. In all probabil-
ity that trick was unprecedented. 1t
was suggested to him by circumstances,
by chance meeting with the fellow who
stretched that rope. Who might that bel
1t was just such a day as poacher would
like for wiring hares. Yeames had been
doing good deal of shooting. A poacher
can be more useful than a keeper to a
gentleman on the lookout for game. A
man of that kind was the very one to suit
his purpose. And a man who would do a
job Of that kind could be easily bribed
to swear he was employed by DR.. Aw-
drey. That man must be found"
Jones was hardly out of the house be-
fore Miss Dalrymple came in.
What are you going to do for DR..
Awdrey?" was the first question she
asked.
II am going to prove his innocence"
said.
Tell me how" she said, in a tone Of
entreaty, laying her hand on my arm.
Let me help. Tell me what may do
what difficulty there is to overcome, and
trust my intelligence"
There's one thing you can attempt,
at any rate" l said "the rascal employ
ed by Yeames, Bax, signified that they
had witness in reserve to prove a Grim.
inal charge against Awdrey. That means
they have got hold of some one to swear
to his administering the powder. Now
that some one must be of this place. II
you can find out who it is, and let me
know, l may persuade that witness to
stand on the side of truth. Now, must
go of and see Awdrey."
"Tell him that-that l sympathize with
him, Mr.. Keene," she said tenderly.
You may be sure Of that" said I,
pressing her hand
We parted at the door, she going one
way, l the other.
"Awdrey," said I, when met him,
Miss Dalrymple sympathizes with you."
II am certain she does" he replied.
Yes; and you may be certain of some
thing else. If we get this affair settled
rightly, you may be the happiest man in
the world, or it will be your own fault"
What" said he, eagerly. do you thinh
her feeling is deeper than sympathy?"
81 am aure of it, that's more!" l ex.
claimed.
Notwithstanding the doubt that hangs
over me-the feeling against me?'
There's no doubt in that generou.
SOUL" | said; 'and as for the feeling
against you, it's just the thing to endea,
you to her. Here let's get to work. Now,
you have to tax your memory to the ut.
most. Your happiness depends as much
upon clear recollection as anything. ]
must have an account of every minute oil
the day Flexmore died"
Then carefully we went over the events
OF that day to the minutest particular,
from the hour Of his rising until he went
again to bed. 1t was a long job, necessi.
tating much discussion and verification,
but we stuck at it till it was done, then
we ate and drank and made as merry a,
we could. 1t was no effort to Awdrey
| had never seen him in such high spirits
1t was as If ten years Of hard work and
disappointment had been taken off hi.
shoulders. Only now and then his face
assumed its old gravity, as the thought
perhaps occurred to him that If he failed
to prove his innocence he must slip bach
again into the Slough of Despond.
1t was past five when | got back te
my Office. To my utter astonshment
found Miss Dalrymple waiting there TO,
me, and with her woman. Miss Dal.
rymple rose and met me with forced calm,
but ! could see that her face was flushed
with triumph, and her eyes were spark.
ling with excitement
81 have brought Mrs. Bates to see you,"
said she; ''or rather Mrs. Bates asked to
see you. She desires to make full
communication of all she knows"
bowed to Mrs. Bates, who sat rigidly
in her chair. She was middle-aged per.
son with face like hatchet, and body
like the handle of it. A hard, cold, long
woman of the scraggy kind, and just dull
enough to think herself sharp.
''I'm glad to see you, Mrs. Bates" said
turning up the lamp 'Why, surely, ]
have seen you before?"
II were in DIR. Hawdrey's hemploy,,
she replied.
ITO be sure. Now remember you. Sc
you have something to tell me, have you?'
II wish to conceal nothink, for hav,
nothink to conceal she said.
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