The Columbus journal., 1909-11-17
CHAPTER Xx.-continued.

oh, quick, Mr.. Blake! build fire!
II may be. some hot broth"
Too late" muttered Blake See
here. Winthrope. there's no use lying
about it. You're going out mighty
soon. See If you can't die like a
man"
Die! Gawd. but 1 can't die can't
die Ow! it burns!"
He flung up a hand. and sought to
tear At his wounds.
Hold hard" cried Blake, catching
the hand in an iron grip.
Something in his touch, or the tone
of command, seemed to cover the
wretched man into a state of abject
submission.
Sep me- I'll confesS,-I'll confess
ALI" he babbled. The stones are
sewed in the stomach pad: | 'ad to
take 'em bout of their settings, and
melt up the gold" He paused. and a
cunning smile stole over his distorted
features >HO. wot a bloOmin' lark!
Valet plays the gent, an they never
AS hinkling! Mr. Cecil WINTHROP,
hif you please. an a int of title
wot lark! Awnings. me lad. you're
a gay 'oaxer! WOt lark! wot q
larki'
Again there was pause The
breath Of the wounded man came in
labored gasps. There was an Ominous
rafting in his throat. Yet once again
he rallied. and this time his eyes
turned to Miss Leslie. bright with an
agonized consciousness of her pres
-nce and OF all his guilt and shame.
His voice shrilled out in quavering
appeal: "Don't-don't look at me.
miss, ] tried to make myself a gen.
,leman; God knows I tried, l fought
my way up out of the East End-out
of that hell-and none ever lifted fin
ger TO help me. 1 educated myself
like q Scholar-then the stock sharks
cheated ME of my savings-out of the
last penny; and had to take service
My God! a valet-his grace's valet,
and l a scholar! Do you wonder the
devil got into me? Do you"
Biake's deep voice. firm but strange
~ husky. broke in upon and silenced
The cry of agony: There. 1 guess
you've said enough"
Enough-and last night My God.
20 he such a beast. The devil tempted
lne-aye. and he's paid me out in my
own coini I'm done for! God ha'
mercy on mcleod ha' mercy"
Again came the gasping rattle; this
time there was no rally.
Blake thrust himself between Miss
Leslie and the crumpled figure.
Get back around the tree" he said
harsh!y.
What are you going to do?"
That's my business" he replied. He
thrust his burning-glass into her
hand. ''Here; go and build a fire. if
you can find any dry stun
You're not going to You'll bury
him."
Yes. Whatever he may have been,
he's dead now. poor devil"
Il cant GO she half whispered.
not urtil-until I've learned Do you
can you tell me just what is para
no;a?''
Blake studied a little. and tapped
the top of his head.
Near as l can say. it's softening Of
the brain-up there
DO you think that" she hesitated
that he had it,
Again Blake paused to consider.
Well. I'm no alienist l thought
him a softly from the first. But that
was all in line with what he was play
ing on us-British dude. Fooled me,
and I'd been cumming with Jimmy
Scarbridge-and Jimmy was the
straight goods. fresh imported
Gle even-when | first ran up against
him. No; this-this Hawkins. if that's
his name. had brains all right Still,
he may have been cracked. When
folks go dotty, they sometimes get
extra cute. The best l can think of
him is that losing his savings may
have made him slip a cog. and then
the scare over the way We landed here
and his spells of fever probably hur-
rled up the softening"
Then you believe his story"
Yes, / do. But if you'll go,
please"
One thing more-I must know
nowi Do you remember the day
when you set up the signal and you
you cuarreled with him."
Blake Redeemed and dropped his
caze did he go and tell you that?
The sneak"
IF you please, let US say nothing
more about him. But would you care