The Irish standard., 1908-02-15
Gordon Unlocked the Door Quietly.

don that night. He had suspected
more than he had overheard, but it
had been in the air.
Gordon saw the action and under.
stood it. He never forgot it. He
said nothing, but gave his friend an
Illuminating smile that Langford un.
derstood. Neither ever spoke of it,
neither ever forgot it. How tightly
can quick impulses bind-forever.
Outside, they encountered the Judge
in search of his delinquent charges.
''1'm sorry, Dick" he said. Dead loss
my boy. This beastly wind is your
undoiag."
I'm not worrying, judge" respond
ed Gordon, grimly. Il intend for some
one else to do that
"Hellity damn, Dick, hellity damn"
exploded Jim Munson in his ear. The
words came whistling through his lips,
caught and whirled backward by the
play of the storm. The cold was get
ting bitter, and fine, cutting snow
was at last driving before the wind.
Gordon, with set face, plunged
back into the room-already fire.lick.
ed. Langford and Munson follow ed.
There sat the little tea.service star
ing at them with dumb pathos. The
three succeeded in rolling the safe
with all its precious documents ar
ranged within, out into the street.
Nothing else mattered nuch-to Cor
don. But other things were saved,
and Jim gallantly tossed out every.
thing he could lay his hands on before
Gordon ordered everybody out for
good and all. It was no longer safe to
be within. Gordon was the last one
out. He carried battered little tea
kettle in his hand. He looked at 1t in
a whimsical surprise as if he had not
known until then that he had it in his
hand. Obeying a sudden impulse, he
held it out to Louise.
please take care of-my poor little
dream" he whispered with a strange,
intent look.
Before she could comprehend the
significance or give answer, the Judge
had faced about. He bore the girls
back to the hotel, scolding helplessly
all the way as they scudded with the
wind. But Louise held the little tin
kettle firmly.
Men knew of Richard Gordon that
night that he was marked man. The
secret workings of secret clan had
him on their prescription list. Some
one had at last found this unwearied
and doggedly persistent young fellow
in the way. In the way, he was a
menace, danger. He must be re-
/ moved from out the way. He could
not be bought from it-he should be
warned from it. So now his home
his work room and his rest room, the
first by many hours daily the more in
use, with all its furnishings of bache.
lor plainness and utility, that yet had
held curious charm for some men,
friends and cronies like Langford-
was burning that he might be warned.
Could any one say, Jesse Black has
done this thing?" Would he not bring
down proof of guilt by a retaliation
struck too soon? 1t would seem as IL
he we're anticipating an unfavorable
verdict. So men reasoned: And even
then they did not arise to stamp out
the evil that had endured and hugged
itself and spit out corruption in the
cattle country. That was reserved for
another.
They talked of a match thrown
down at the courthouse by tramp.
likely-when it was past midnight.
when the fire broke out with the wind
piercing gale. and when no vagrant
but had long since left such cold COM
fort and had slept these many weeks
in SUMMER climes. Some argued that
the windows of the courtroom might
have been left open and the stove
blown down by the wind tearing
through, or the stove door might have
blown open and remains Of the fire
been blown out, or the pipe might
have fallen down. BUT it was little