Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-01-28
he Spoilers.
BY REX e. BEACH.
= copyrish,. 1905. BY REX E. reach. =
BY REX E. BEACH.

s AAAus Ii uSIC as u lTICuu. Inc
gambler handled himself with difficult
ty, offering in explanation:
I'm all sewed up in bandages of
one kind or another"
"He ought to be in bed now, but he
wouldn't let ME come alone, and l
could not wait" the girl supplemented,
while her eyes avoided Glenister's in
strange hesitation.
HE wouldn't let you. don't under
stand"
"I'm her BROTHER" announced the
Bronco Kid. 1--WE known it for a long
time, but I-I-well, you understand. l
couldn't let her know. All can say is,
I've gambled square till the night i
played YOU, and was as mad as a
deryish then, blaming you for the talk
I'd heard. Last night learned by
chance about Strive and Helen and got
to the roadhouse in time to save her.
I'm sorry didn't kill him." His long
white fingers writhed about the arm
| of his chair ut the memory.
isn't he dead?" Glenister inquired.
/ mo. The doctors have brought him
in, and he'll get well. He's like half
the men in Alaska-here because the
sherIffs back home couldn't shoot
straight. There's something else. I'm
not good talker, but give me time
and I'll manage 1t SO you'll understand.
tried to keep Helen from coming on
| this errand, but she said 1t was the
square thing and she knows better
than I. It's about those papers she
brought in last spring. She was afraid
you might consider her a party to the
deal, but you don't, do your He glar-
ed belligerently, and Roy replied with
feryor:
"Certainly not. Go on"
well, she learned the other day that
those documents told the whole story
and contained enough proof to break
up this conspiracy and convict the
judge and Mcnamara and all the rest,
but Strive kept the bundle in his safe
and wouldn't give it UP without price.
That's why she went away with him.
She thought it was right, and-t that's
all. But 1t seems Wheaton had sue
ceeded in another way. Now, I'm COM
ing to the point. The judge and Nc
Namara are arrested for contempt of
court and they're as good as convicted;
you have recovered your mine, and
these men are disgraced. They will go
to jail"-
YES, for six months, perhaps" broke
In the other hotly. "but what does that
amount to? There never was holder
crime contaminated nor one more
cruelty unjust. They robbed realm
and pillaged its people, they defiled n
court and made justice wanton. they
jailed good men and sent others to
ruin; and for this they are to suffer
how? By paltry fine or a short I'm
prisonment, perhaps. by an ephemeral
disgrace and the loss of their stolen
goods. Contempt of court is the ac-
cusation, but You might ms we'll con-
yict murderer for breach Of the
peace. We've thrown them off, it's
true, and they won't trouble us again.
but they'll never have to answer for
their real infamy. That will go un-
punished while their lawyers bubble
over technfcalities and rules of court.
guess It's true that there isn't any
law of God or man north of fifty-three;
but II there is justice south of that
mark, those people will answer for
conspiracy and go to the penitentiary.''
You make it hard for me to say
what want to. am almost sorry
we came, for am not cunning with
words, and don't know that you'll
understand" said the Bronco Kid
grayely. Eve looked at 1t this way:
you have had your victory, you have
beaten your enemies against odds, you
have recovered your mine, and they
are disgraced. To men like them that
last will outlive and outweigh all the
rest; but the judge is our uncle and
our blood runs In his veins. He took
Helen when she was baby and was
a father to her In his selfish way, low
Ing her as best he knew how. And
she loves him."
II don't quite understand you," said
Roy.
And then Helen spoke for the first
time eagerly, taking u packet from her
bosom as she began:
"This will tell the whole wrctched
story. Mr.. Glenister, and show the plot
in all its vileness. It's hard for me to
betray my uncle, but this proof is
yours by right to use US you see fit,
and / can't keep It."
"Do you mean that this evidence will
show all that? And you're going to
giye.it to me because you think 1t is
| your duty?'
ut belongs to you. I have no choice.
ask little mercy for my uncle. who
is an old, old man, and very weak.
This will kill him."
He saw that her eyes were swim
ming, while the little chin quiyered
ever so slightly and her pale checks
were flushed There rose In him the
old Wild desire to take her in his arms,
yearning to pillow her head on his
shoulder and kiss away the tears. to
smooth with tender caress the wayy
hair nnd bury his face deep in it till
he grew drunk with the madness OF
her.s But he knew at last for whom
she Really pleaded.
So he was to forswear this venge
ance. (which was Ito vengeance after
all, but in verify just punishment
They asked him a mana mans man
| Ia northman-to do this, and for what;
For no reward. but on tlie contrary tc
insure Himself lasting bitterness. He
stroye toslook at the proposition calm
| ", clearly, but 1t was difficult. II only
| by freeing this other villain us well as