Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-11-19

which, puzzled and alarmed, stood the
wonder-faced landady.
"What shall | say to him?" he gasped ;
ito Denslow Claire's father"
A sickenins sense of responsibility
swayed him. When he had undertaken
the scheme that was to bring Kane and
his thieving colleagues to ruin, he had
promised Denslow restitution. He could
offer it now. In such a shape We're the
affairs of the metal coordination, in pos
session of such irrefragible evidence con-
cerning its underhand primary dealings
was Hope, that in the inevitable reorgan-
ization of the wreck Denslow's just and
pretentious claim could not be set aside
but what of that other element, far more
dear to the fond parents heart-Claire?
For while Denslow, in retirement at =.
distance, had consented that his daughter
should assist Hope in his schemes, he had
no idea how completely Claire had meant
her promise to obey this strange secret
friend, how far he, the master mind,
would require her to proceed in order to
get the tolls fast and effectual about the
willy wrecker.
When the new and unexpected vista
had opened that brought Kane within
Hopes power. as man to man, the self
confessed murderer of Everett Hope, the
crisis was past-and. thrilled with strange
new ardor. the possibilities of love and
its rewards appealed TO his soul. and Gid
con Hope had fastened to apprise Claire
of victory only to face defeat, an un-
expected revelation that seemed to sweep
the very ground from beneath his feet.
He might find Claire-ah. yes, as he
had known he could drag from hiding his
arch enemy when he wanted hm-but
how? 4 wife the bride og the blackest
scoundrel the wide earth knew; and he,
the almoner of this mad. wicked rite, that
gave innocence and shuddering. shrinking
horror into the keeping of villainy.
The thought maddened him-a blood
red mist obscured clear vision Yet, too
late too late! He had wlled the sacri-
fee. and as lamb to the slaughter poor
Claire had gone very victim to blind
devotion and love.
1t seemed as if infinite pity banshed
all other emotions now-in his sheer help
lessness this strong man WINGED; he even
rembed.
Blindly. vaguely, he went from the spo.,
seeing nothing, caring for nothing, his
dulled mind directing this course till the
shock of the hour losing its first devastat-
ing effect, the slow return of coherent
thought might gradually fit him to realize
what there was next to be done.
When he had come to the boarding
house. high. elated spirits had hidden de-
fiance to suspicion or fear, and Hope |
had not noted that he was followed at a
guarded distance by hulking giant Of a
fellow who in turn, was kept in sight by
A wiry. ferret faced creature evidently Of |
MS own ilk
Now. as he left Claire's recent place
If abode this double cynosure still less
attracted his attention. Hope was sheer
Y incapable of regarding, of analyziug
extraneous environment.
As he threaded a lane lined with stunt
ID cedars, the two men came closer to-
yether, and then decreased the distance
IS to the unsteady figure in advance Of
hem.
When they had come TO the most un>
requented and isolated portion of the'
winding road, the big fellow halted his
abruptly.
"Cut in among the trees" he ordered,
n hoarse whisper.
Right, boss
Get abreast or ahead of him."
''And then"
Take your cue from me. If l can't
manage him alone"
"You can't; he's built for fight"
"He don't look it just now," muttered
he other.
Kane warned you: Two do the job,
md make no miss "
There will be none" wckedly grim
led the big fellow.
He showed a lead-ended billy in the
-rasp of one hand. This leveed from the
supporting wrist strap, he stole noseless-
V toward Hope. as his companion darted
n among the trees.
As a shadow swift and fitting was !
brown across Gideon's path, the natural
instinct of caution, Of alert observation, ,
reused in him. :
He half turned, staring vaguely-a
sound cut the air. ,
Then-chug -,
He experienced a stinging contact over
he left eyebrow The blow stirred him. g,
lie recognized that he was attacked, and
G
you coward" :" +
"Easy-take it again" 6
The fellow was a giant in build; stold- :
Y confident in his superior weight and t
x-like ponderosity. he threw himself for
Yard precpitately for finishing blow. S
How it came about he could not pre- t
isely analyze, it was done so quickly, but a
n flash Hopes arms were about his
wn, imprisonng him at the elbows and
the dangling slungshot ineffec-
i've.