Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-07


peated Gordon again. 1T is too good
TO be true" he cried. leaping from his
mare and extending both hands cordi-
ally. Shake. old man, My. the feel
OF you is-bully. You are flesh and
. blood all right | don1 know, though.
Seems to me you have been kind o.
running TO skin and bones since last
saw you. Grips good. but bony.
You're thinner than ever. aren't your"
All this time he was shaking Willis
toms hands heartily. He never thought
Of asking him where he had been. For
weary months he had longed for this
man to come back. He had come
back. That was enough for the pres
ent. He had always felt genuinely
friendly toward the unfortunate
scholar and his daughter.
That's natural. isn't IT? Besides.
they forgot my rations sometimes"
Who. WillistCn?" asked Gordon,
the real significance OF the mans re-
turn taking quick loid Of him.
Il think ou know. Gordon" said
the older man. quietly. 1T is a long
story. l was coming to you. will
tell you everything. Shall begin
now?"
Are you in any danger Of pursuit.
asked Gordon. suddenly bethinking
himself
Il think not. ] killed my jailer. the
half-breed. Nightbird"
You did well So did Mary"
What do you mean?"
Didn't you know that Mary shot
and killed one OF the desperadoes that
night? At least. we have every rea-
son to think II was Mary BY the way.
you have not asked after her"
The mans head dropped. He did
not answer for a long time. When he
raised his head. his face. though show
ing indistinctly. was hard and drawn.
He spoke with little emotion as man
who had sounded the gamut Of des-
pair and was now far spent
What was the use? / saw her fall.
Gordon. She stood with me TO the
end. She was a brave little girl. She
never once faltered. Dick" he said.
his voice changing suddenly. and lay
ing hot. feverish hands on the young
mans shoulders. wei hang them
you and well hang them every one
the devils who look like men. but
who strike at women. Wen hang
them. ] say-you and l. I've got the
evidence"
rs It possible they didn't tell you?'
cried Gordon aghast at the amazing
cruelty Of it.
Tell me anything? Not they. She
was such good girl. Dick There
never was a better. she never com
planned. She never got her screens.
poor girl I wish she could have had
her screens before they murdered her.
Where did you lay her. Dick2"
Mr.. Wiluston." said Dick. taking
firm hold OF the mans burning hands
and speaking with soothing calmness.
forgive me for not telling you AT
once. thought you knew never
dreamed that You might have been
thinking all the ,lo tina. Mary was
dead. She Is alive and well and with
friends. She only tainted that night
Come. brace up, Why. man alive.
aren't you glade Wen. then. don't go
TO pieces like a child. Come. brace up.
tell YOU"
-4ou-WoulOnt lie 10 me,
would you. Dick?"
"As God is my witness. Mary is
alive and in Eemah this minute-un-
less and earthquake has swallowed
the hotel during my absence. saw
her less than two hours ago"
Give me a minute. my dear fellow.
will you? l-l-"
He walked blindly away few steps
and sat down once more on the ruins
OF his homestead. Gordon waited.
The man sat still-his head buried in
his hands. Gordon approached. lead
ing his mare. AID sat down beside
him.
Now tell me-" he said. with simple
directness
An hour later the two men sepa-
rated at the door OF The Whites claim
shanty
Lie low here untn ! send for you"
was Gordon's parting word.
TO BE CONTINUED.