The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-06-11

My name is Dudley-GiIes Dudley.
Where is Wilton?'
Dead"
Dead? Did you kill him?" The
halfkindly look disappeared from her
oyps and the hard lines settled into
an expression Of malevolent repulsive
ness
"IIc was my best friend" | said sad
~: and then | described the leading
4ronts Of the tragedy had Witnessed
The Old woman listened closely, and
With hardly the movement OF muscle,
III The tale | told.
And you think he left his job to
your" she said with sneeT.
Il have taken it up as well as
can. To be frank with you Mrs. Bor-
1ln. know nothing about his job
rm going along on blind chance, and
trying to keep whole skin"
The old woman looked at me in
ama2ement.
Poor boy" she exclaimed half
uiyingly, halfadmiringly. You put
your hands to a job you know nothing
about when Henry Wilton couldn't
AIRY it with all his wits about him.
i didn't do it" said | sullenly. 1T
has done itself Everybody insists
that LH wilton. If I'm to have my
throat slit for him | might as well
Try to do his work. | wish to Heaven
J knew what it was, though
Mother Bortou leaned her head on
hcr Gand, and gaZcd on me thought.
fullv for a full minute.
Young man, said she impressive,
". take my advice. There's a train
for tbs East in the mornjn. Just git
ON hoArd and never you stop short OF
Chicago
I'm not running away said / bit.
tCrly. eve got score to settle with
the man who killed Henry Wilton.
Chicago or anywhere else. Until that s
done. stay where | can settle it,
Mother Borton caught up the candle
and moved ii back and forth before
my facs In her eyes there was a
glram 81 savage pleasure
by G7d, he's in earnest she said
10 herself with strange laugh Tell
me agaiL Of the man you saw in the
alley"
| descr lcd DOLdridge Knapp
And you are going to get even with
him? she said with a chuCkle that
had no mitth in it.
Yes" Sid | shortly.
"Whv. if ynu should touch him the
people of tie city would tear you to
pieces
Il shall no. touch him, I'm no as
sa&sin!" | exclaimed Indignantly. The
law shall take him, and I'll see him
hanged as high as Haman"
Mother Borton gave low. gurgling
laugh.
The law! oh, my liver-the law!
How young YOU arc, my boy, Oh, ho,
oh hO." And agGin she absorbed her
mirthless laugh, and gave me an evil
grin. Then she became grave again,
Gnu ttlih Il NlflN va IL olSCNN' lbhC
my advice now, and git on the train" +"
mot L." returned stoutlY.
I'm doing it for your own good"
she said, with as near an approach to
u coaXing tone as she could command
II was long since she had used her
voice for such "a p lrpOse and it grated
For my sake Id like to see sou go
on and wipe out the whole raft of
en-, But | know whatll happen to
yr, honey. I've zook a fancy to ye.
I don't know why But there's a look
on your face that carries me back for
forty years, and-'don't try it. dearie."
There were actually tears in the
creatures eyes, and her hard, wicked
face softened, AMI became almost
tender and woman ly.
II can't give up | said. The work
is Put on me. But cant you help me?
! believe you want to- | trust you.
Tell HE what to do-where | stand.
I'm all in the dark, Dut | must do my
work"
1t was the best appeal could have
made
You're right" she said. I'm an
old fool, and you've got the real sand.
You're the first one except Henry Will
ton that's trusted me in forty years,
and you won't be sorry for it, my boy,
You owe me one, now. Where would
you have been tonight if l hadn't
had the light doused on ye?"
"Oh, that was your doing, was it?
| thought my time had come"
"Oh, was sure you'd know what to
do. 1t was your best chance"
Then will you help me now?"
The old crone considered, and her