Twice-a-week plain dealer., 1909-01-08
motion. In two days more Hugh found
his going fully settled.


The idea admirably fitted his neces-
sity. The spot the bishop had selected
was quiet and retired and. more, was
near the port at which he could most
readily take ship for South America.
Only one reflection made him shiver-
the route lay through the town of
Smoky Mountain. Yet who would
dream of looking for fugitive from
! the law In the secluded car that carried
sick man? The risk would be small
enough. and 1t was the one way open
On the last afternoon before the de-
parture Hugh asked for the clothes he
had worn when he was brought to the
hospital. found the gold pieces he had
snatched in the burning chapel and
tied them In a handkerchief about his
neck. They would suffice to buy his
sea passage. The one red counter he
had kept-it was from henceforth to be
a reminder of the good resolutions he
had made so long ago-he slipped into
a pocket of the clothes he was to wear
away, suit of loose, comfortable
tweed
Waiting restlessly for the hour Of
his going Hugh asked for the news
papers. Since the first he had had
them read to him each day, listening
fearfully for the hue and cry. But
today the surgeon put his request
aside.
"After you are there" he said, '1f
Bishop Ludlow will let you Not now.
You are almost out Of my clutches. and
l must tyrannize while l can"
A quick look passed from him to his
assistant as he spoke. for the newspa-
headlines. The sordid affairs of
mining town across the ranges had lit
tie interest for Aniston, but the names
Of Stires and Moreau on the clicking
wire had walked it thus late to the SEN
sation. The professional caution of the
tinker of human bodies wished. how
ever, that no excitement should be
added to the unavoidable fatigue of his
patients departure.
This fatigue was near to spelling de-
feat, after all, for the eXertion brought
again the dreadful stabbing pain, and
this time it carried Hugh into re-
gion where feeling ceased, conscious
ness passed and from which he strug-
gled back finally to find the surgeon
bending anxiously over him.
Il don't like that sinking SPELL" the
latter contided to his assistant an hour
later as they stood looking through the
window after the receding carriage.
4 ut was too pronounced. Yet he has
, complained Of no pain. he will be in
good hands at any rate" He tapped
the glass musingly with his forefnger.
.'Its curious he said after pause.
81 always liked Sanderson-in the pull
pit Somehow he doesn't appeal to me
, at close range"
, The special car which the bishop had
, ready had been made pleasant inte-
, rior. Fern boxes We're in the corners,
Gagged canary swung from bracket,
and softly cushioned couch had been
prepared for the sick man. A moment
, before the start, as it was being cou-
pied to the rear of the resting train
while the bishop chatted with the con
ductor, a fustered messenger boy hand
: ed him telegram. 1t read:
1 arrive Admission tomorrow 5. Conf
Dental. Must see you. Urgent
: JESSICA.
: The bishop read it in some perplex
:. ity. 1t was the first word he had re
J. ceived from her since her marriage
: but, aware of Hughs forgery and dis
: grace, he had not wondered at this
The newspapers today pictured a still
e worse shame for her in the position OF
the man who in the name still was bel
husband, who had trod so swiftly the
! downward path from thievery to the
I worst of crimes. Could Jessica's com
0 ing have to do with that? He mus
q see her, yet his departure could no
now be delayed. He consulted will
!. the conductor, and the latter poret
8 over his tablets.
AS u result his answering message
p flashed along the wires to Jessica':
|. faraway train:
e Sanderson injured. Taking him t
coast train As due Twin Peaks 2 tomor
row afternoon.
And thus the fateful moment ap
preached when the great appeal should
be made.
The evidence of the first days tria
Of the case Of the people against Hugl
Stires was the all engrossing topi,
" that night in Smoky Mountain. Bar
J. ney McGinn perhaps aptly expressed
/, the consensus Of opinion when he said
II II allow we all know he's guilty. bu
9 nobody believes it,
t Late as Smoky Mountain sat up tina
night, however, 1t was on hand mex
e morning, rank and file, when the cour
= convened
It All the previous evening. save for
short visit to the cell of his client
i Fielder had remained shut In his Office
e thinking of the morrow. In his tall
with Harry he had not concealed hi
: deep anxiety, but to his questions ther
{, was no new answer, and he had re
G turned from the Interview more non
8 plused than ever. He had wondere,
d that Jessica on this last night did no
o come to his office, but had been rathe
IS relieved than otherwise that she di,
r not. He had gone to bed heavy witt
discouragement and had walked in tn
n morning with foreboding.
II AS he turned from greeting his eli
1t ent in the packed courtroom Felde
noted with surprise that Jessica wa
l. not in her place; not that he needed he