Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-11-10

| the career that had made him summed
even in this rough town. a course
which she. had she been faithful to
her vow FER better for worse" might
have turned to his redemption? God
forgave, but she had not forgiven.
! Smarting tears sGorched her eyelids.
For Harry Sanderson the music was
the imprisoned memory, crying out
strongly In the nrst tongue 1t had
found The slumbering qualities that
had stirred uneas.ly at sight of the
f! 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 Its sleep
/ with almost sense of shock, became
conscious of the gaping crowd, the
/ dusty street, the red sunset and OF
himself at the end of q vulgar brawl
saving a violin In silly braggadocio In
a hotel doorway.
The music faltered and broke off.
/ The bow dropped at his feet. He
picked it up fumblingly and turned
back into the Office as q 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 back to its
owner. He clinched his fist. with a
scowl. and started toward him.
His wife caught his arm.
"Oh, Michael. Michael" she cried
Say nothing. lad! Ye should have
heard him play"
"Play!" he exclaimed LET him go
fiddle to his side partner. Prendergast.
and the other riffraff he's run with the
year past" He turned blackly to Har-
| ry. Take yourself from this house.
Hugh Stires" he said. Whether all's
true that's said Of you | don't say. but
you'll not come here"
Harry had turned very white. With
the spoken name-a name how familiar!
his eyes had fallen to the ring on his
f1nger-the ring with the initials II. S.
A sudden comprehension had darted to
his mind. A score Of circumstances
that had seemed odd stood Out now In
| a baleful light. The looks Of dislike in
this angry diatribe. all smacked of &C
quaintance. and not alone acquaint
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 hostelry. an unwelcome vlsitant
even in q barroom. He turned to Eel,
not to the hotel keeper or to the room
full:
when | entered this town today
did not know my name or that ! hat
ever set foot In 1t before. l 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 8
hubbub of excited talk. The groups
parted as he came out, and he passed
between them with eyes straight be
fore him.
As he turned down the street 4 frag
ment of quartz thrown with deliberate
and venomous aim flew from the sa
loon doorway. 1t grazed his head
knocking off his hat
Tom Fielder had seen the flying mis-
s1le. and he leaped to the center of the
street with rage in his heart. IF
find out who threw that" he said. "Il
send him up for it, SO help me Cod
Harry stopped and picked up his hal
and as he put 1t on again turned 8
moment toward the crowd. Then ht
walked on down the middle Of the
street. his eyes glaring. his face white
into the dusky blue of the falling twt
light