Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-12-25

The accusation of Prendergast had
stunned Jessica's faculties. AS in an
evil dream she had seen the sheriff rise
to his feet and intellectually put the
fra glnent of paper into his pocketbook
\ moment later she was running up
the dark path. her thoughts a confu
sion in which only one coherent pur
pose stood distinct-to warn him. They
would know no need TO hasten. II the
! man she loved had reached the cabin.
she would be before them.
r, She stood before the door. her hands
clasped tightly. her eyes on Harry's
face.
what has happened" he asked.
Men will he here soon-men from
the town ! overheard them | want
ed to let you know she hesitated. 1t
had grown all ut once difficult to put
into words.
Coming here? Whyi"
40 arrest man who Is accused of
murder"
II her eyes could have pierced the
bolted door Il few feet away. If she
4 could have seen that listening face
. behind it. as her clear tones fell. grow
instinct with recognition. amazement
and evil suspicion--a look that her last
word swept into sickly gray terror!
| If she could have heard the groan
from the wretched man beyond!
Whose murder"
"Dr. Moreau's.
Jessica waited with caught breath.
searching his countenance. 1t was told
now. bur he must know that she had
not credited it, that for better. for
worse" she must believe In him now
II knew, oh. knew" she cried. You
need not tell me-"
No" he said graveIy, ~ am not the
man they want. 1t has all come back
to me-the past that | had lost Such
d crime has no part in 1t. Jessica," he
said, you have tried to save me from
danger tonight. l need greater sery-
ice of you now. 1t is to ask no ques-
ton, but to go at once. l cannot ex-
plain why, but you must not stay here
a moment"
oh" she cried bitterly. you don't
intend to leave. You choose to face
it, and you want to spare me. If you
really want to spare me, you Will go.
Why, you would have no chance where
they have hated you 50. Prendergast
was killed robbing the sluice tonight
and he lied-lied-lied! He swore you
did 1t. and they will believe it.
He put back her beseeching hands
How could he explain? Only to gel
her away-to gain t1me-to think!
Listen" she went on wildly. They
will wait to carry him to the town
l can go and bring my horse here fol
you There is time! You have only
to send me word and l will follow yor
to the end Of the world Only say
you will CO.
He caught at the straw The expedi
ent might serve.
Every WELL" he said; bring him t.
the upper trail and wait there for me.
She gave sob Of relief at his ar
qulescence. II will hurry. hurry" sht
cried and was gone, swift as a swal
low flight. into the darkness.
AS he re-entered the cabin the calm
ness fell from Harry Sanderson as
mask drops. and the latent passion
sprang in its place He crossed tn,
room and drew the bolt for the wretch
ed man who, after one swift glance a
his face, groveled on his knees befor,
him. sobered and shivering.
"For Gods sake. Harry, you won
give me up?" Hugh cried you can
mean to do that. Why. we were IL
college together. I'd been drinking to
night or wouldn't have talked to yol
: as did"
: Harry drew his feet from the franti
hands that clasped them. Did you xii
Moreau" he asked shortly.
: 1T was an accident" moaned Hugh
;. II never intended to. swear to heav
en- didn't! He bounded me, and b.
} tried to bleed me. | only meant t
brighten him of! Then-then-I wa
afraid, and l ran for 1t. That wa
J when l came to you at Aniston and.
i we played" Hugh's breath came Il
8 gasps, and drops of sweat stood on hi
i forehead
when we played" he echoed "Hoy
have you settled your debt. the deb
3 Of honor you once counted SO highly
!, How have you lived since then? Hav
/. you paid me those days of decent Nv
!. ing you staked. and lost?"
But Will" he exclaimed desper
: ately. If you'll only help me out o
: this I'll live straight to my dying day
: You don't know how I've suffered
Harry. or you'd have some mercy O.
: me now! Let me go, Harry, for N
:. fathers sake"
;. Your father Is dead" said Harry.
= Then for old times sake" He trie
: to clasp Harry's knees. .They may
here at any minute! must have bee
:. seen as | crossed the mountain!
= thought 1t would never come out OF
wouldn't have come. I'll go far enoug
away. III go to South America, an
;. you Will never see me alive again
:, neither you nor Jessica! For God
= sake. Harry. listen. Jessica wouldn
want to see me hung! For her sake"
- 1t was the Harry Sanderson Of s
James parish, Of the scrupulous co
. science whose college career as Sata
r Sanderson had come to be fiery Sol
y, In his breast who now spoke.
: Get upm he said Have you al
"a money"
n Hugh rose. trembling and ashe
), Hardly So" he answered
Harry considered hastily. He W;
a almost penniless. Nearly all his sha
70 Of the strike had gone to repay Il
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