Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1908-05-09
CHAPTER VII. lcontinued.l

MY name Is l)uulcy --GlleS buulSy.
''Where is WiltOn?''
Dead"
Dead? Did you kill him." The
'halfkindly look disappeared from her
eyes and the hard lines settled into
an expression of malevolcnt repulsiye-
ness.
He was my best friend" said sad
1y; and then | described the leading
events of the tragedy had witnessed.
The old woman listened closely. and
with hardly the movement of a muscle.
ITO the tale | told.
"And you think he left his job to
you?" she said with sheer.
Il have taken it up as we'll as l
can. To be frank with you, Mrs. Bor-
ton, | know nothing about his job.
I'm going along on blind chance. and
trying to keep n whole skin"
The old woman looked at me in
amazement.
Poor boy" she exclaimed half
pityingly, half.admiringly. You put
your hands to job you know nothing
about, when Henry Wilton couldn't
carry it with all his wits about him.
Il didn't do it," said | sullenly. 1T
has done itself. Everybody insists
= that I'm Wilton. If I'm to have my
throat slit for him l might as well
try to do his work | wish to Heaven
l knew what it was, though
Mother Borton leaned her head on
her hand, and gazed on me thought.
fully for a full minute.
Young man." said she impressive
", take my advice There's train
for the East in the mornin'. Just git
on board, and never you stop short of
Chicago"
I'm not running away" said | bit
<erly. "Tve got Il score to settle with
the man who killed Henry Wilton.
When that score is settled, I'll go TO
Chicago or anywhere else. Until that's
done, stay where can settle it"
Mother Borton caught up the candle
and moved it back and forth before
my face. In her eyes there was a
CLEAN Of savage pleasure.
"By God, he's in earnest" she said
to herself, with a strange laugh. Tell
me again of the man you saw in the
alley"
described Doddridge Knapp.
and you are going to get even with
him? she said with chuckle that
had no mirth i'll it.
eyes" said | shortly
"Why. if you should touch him the
people of the city would tear you IL
pieces"
81 shall not touch him. I'm no as
sassin!" | exclaimed Indignantly. The
law shall take him, and I'll see hin,
hanged rs high as IIamau."
Mother Borton gave Il low. gurgline
laugh
"The law. oh, my liver-the law,
How young you arc. my boy. Oh. no
oh no." And again she absorbed hel
mirthless laugh. and gave me an evil
grin. Then she became grave again
and laid claw on my sleeve. Take
my advice now, and git on the train.
Not L." returned stoutly
I'm doing it for your own good.
she said. with as near an approach tC
n cOaNinS tone as she could command
1t was long since she had used hen
voice for such purpose and it grated
For my sake Id like to see you &c
on and wipe cut the whole raft ot
'em. But / know what'l happen &c
We. honey. I've took a fancy 10 We
l don't know why. But there's look
on your face that carries me back foi
forty years. and-don't try it. dearie.
There were actually tears in the
creatures eyes, and her hard. wicked
face sOftened, and became almost
tender and wOmlnly.
81 can't give up" said. The worl;
is put on me. But can't you help me-
believe you want to. trust you
Tell me what TO do-where I stand
In, all in the dark, but l must do my
work"