Daily Arizona silver belt., 1908-10-23

things that were stirring from a long
sleep. 1t sent n gulp into the throat
OF more than one standing moveless
In the street. Ii brought a suspicious
moisture to Tom Folders eyes. 1t drew
Mrs. Halloran from the kitchen, wip-
ing her hands on her apron 1t called
to girl who crouched In the upper
hall with her miserable face buried in
her hands. drew her down the stair
to the Office door, her eyes wide with
breathless wonder. her face glistening
with feeling.
From the balcony Jessica had wit
messed the fight without understand
ing Its meaning. A fascination she
could not gainsay had glued her eyes
to the struggle. 1t was he-it was the
face she knew. seen but once for a
single moment in the hour of her mar
rage. but stamped indelibly upon her
memory. 1t was no longer smooth
shaver. and 1t was changed, evilly
changed. But II was the same. There
was recklesness and mockery In II and
yet strength. not weakness. Stunned
and despised as he might be--the chief
actor. as II seemed TO her. In a cheap
and desperate barroom ARRAY. coarse
affair OF istlcuffs In the public street
yet there was something intrepid In
his bearing. something splendid in his
victory.
To Jessica. standing with hands close
clasped, the music seemed the agony
Of remorse for n past fall. the cry OF a
forlorn soul. knowing itself cast out,
appealing to its good angel for pity
and pardon. Hugh had often played
to her. lightly, carelessly. as he did all
things. She had deemed II only one OF
his many clever amateurish accom-
| plishments. Now Il struck her with a
pang that there had been In him q
deeper side that she had not guessed.
Since her wedding day she had
thought OF her marriage as a loathed
bond. from which his false pretense
had absolved her. Now doubt of her
own position assailed her. Had lone
illness end outlawry driven him into
the career ttat had made Lin Stunned
even In tsii rough town, course
which she had she been faithful to
her vow "io.' better, for worse" might
have turned to his redemption? God
forgave. but she had not forgiven.
Smarting tears scorched her eyellds.
For Harry SandersOn the music was
the imprisoned memory, crying out
strongly In the first tongue il had
yTho Qualities
had stirred uneasily at sight OF the
face on the balcony awoke. Who he
was and had been he knew no more
than before, but the new writing self
consciousness. starting from It's sleep
with almost sense of shock, became
dusty street, the red sunset and OF
himself at the end OF a vulgar brawl
saving a violin In silly braggadocio in
hotel doorway.
The music faltered and broke of.
The bow dropped at his feet. He
picked II up fumbllngly and turned
back into the Office as a man entered
from rear door. The newcomer was
Michael Halloran, the hotels proprie-
tor, short, thickset and surly. Asleep
In his room. he had neither seen the
fracas nor heard the playing. He saw
instantly, however. that something I'M
usual was forward and, blinking on
the threshold, caught sight OF the man
who was handing the violin hack to its
owner. He clinched his fist, with
scowl, and started toward him.
His wife caught his arm
"Oh, Michael, Michaelr she cried.
Say nothing. lad! Ye should have
heard him play"
play" he exclaimed. let him go
fiddle 10 his side partner. Prendergast,
and the other riffraff he's run with the
year pastr He turned blackly to Har-
nv. Take yourself from this house,
Hugh Stiresr' he said. Whether ais
true that's said of you don't say. but
you'll not come herer'
Harry had turned very white. With
the spoken name-a name how familiar!
his eyes had fallen to the ring on his
finger-tLe ring with the initials II. S.
A sudden comprehension had dnrted to
his mind. A score of circumstances
that had seemed odd stood out now In
a baleful light. The looks of dislike in
the barroom. the attitude OF the street.
this angry diatribe, all smacked OF ac-
quaintancc, and not alone acqualnt-
ance, but obloquy. His name was
Hugh Stires. He belonged TO this very
town! And he was a man hated. de-
spised, forbidden entrance TO an TN
couth hosiery. an unwelcome visitant
even In barroom. He turned TO Eel
der and said in low voice to him.
not TO the hotel keeper or to the room
full:
when | entered this town today !
did not know my name or that ! had
ever set foot in II before. ] was struck
by train a month ago and remember
nothing beyond that time. 1t seems
that the town knows me better than ]
know myself"
He turned quietly and walked out of
the door. Pavement and street were
hubbub Of excited talk. The groups
parted as he came ont, and he passed