Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-07
For Judith.
By Curran
Richard Gfeenley.
copyrIchted, 1901. by c. H. sutcllffe.

doubtfully. fragment torn from
sheet OF writing paper on which the
characters were family penciled. bro
ken here and there as II the writer's
strength had failed: III 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
Judiths face OH the day Of Jack Hen
derson's fight 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 Carriers Rents" along black pas
sage and across the court to room ut
| the back of the saloon. where the light.
| filtering through the unwashed panes
Of a small window. accentuated the
poverty and filth. On the heap Of
rags In the corner 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
dy-the best" and, thrustlng coin In
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.
Eyes; I'm where the best and the
worst Of us have to come, but we
haven't time to be passing compli-
ments Do you know where Hender-
son is?"
mo. He has dropped out complete
ly. What do you know Of hlm?"
what brought you here to tell
you-that he never stole that money"
"Whatv'
81 tell you the boy had nothing to do
with 1t. Locke knew thing or two
about me-knew that l had escaped
from Sing Sing-and he forced me to
do his dirty work. could not refuse.
It was that or prison. but I'll swear l
didn't know that the boy would get
the blame for It, Locke wrecked the
bank and had me doctor the books,
making the entries In another mans
writing. He gave me an old letter t.
copy it from: then he had me forge old
Dalton's name to that check. ! never
did figure out Just how he managed to
lay It on the boy. but reckon my
false entries must have been In his
writing. and when the young fool ran
away that fastened 1t on him. Locke
kicked me out like dog when he got
things fixed to suit him. | drifted
south for a 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 1t out and let me sign
It."
Landon's pen few over the paper.
Black, ugly and tangible. the tempta'
ton whispered at his ear:
Delay. gain time. Henderson free to
come back. and Judith is lost to you"
The man on the floor moaned feebly.
Hurry, Mr.. Landon. It's getting dark
mighty dark. Get Mother Biddle and
Jimmy Sullivan from the saloon for
witnesses Where's that boy with the
brandy! There he Is now" And he
snatched eagerly at the bottle. Get 1t
done with. Mr.. Landon. I cannot hold
out much longer"
1t was over. and Red Matthews lay
back. painting from the exertion.
81 almost forgot" he said to Landon,
when | was over In st. Louis | met
Don Battle. He told me about Hender-
sons trouble, the first I'd heard Of 1t.
and he said that fellow from Lara
nile had told him about meeting Hen.
derson In Santa Fe. He got on to his
name by accident and didn't know that
Don knew Henderson when he was
telling 1t. 50 | reckon you will have to
60 to the jumping of place to find the
boy. You 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 blundered through the story
Of Red Matthews 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 mlsera-
BILE tangle" said Judith as they walked
to the gate.
"Lilias?" He had forgotten Locke's
daughter, the pretty little girl who had
been Judiths 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
then, with Judith's letter In his pocket.
started westward on his quest.
The limited paused just long enough
to drop LandOn at Umlltas. the strag-
Cling settlement strung along the
track. half shanties, half tepees.
"Hotel"
The station agent grinned and point
ed to house whose crazy clapboards
ratified In the desert wind.
"Arapahoe Kate is a-runnin' that
there hash joint She'll take you In.
bnt You want to keep your gun
handy"
Aud he strobe off down the track.
Tie knot Of Mexicans and half breeds
maze way for Landon. Kate stood In
the doorway, leering a drunken well
come from under the mans hat SLOUGH
ed over her frowsy head.
"Grubs a-plenty, an Texas Charles
hit the trail, leavin' his bunk behind"
and upon that assurance Landon fol-
lowed her to cubbyhole back of the
saloon, where the aforesaid bunk was
located. Somewhere behind the thin
partition jangllng piano rreled and
shrieked, and chorus Of discordant
voices beloved a medley Of ribald
songs. He could hear the snap Of