Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-01-19
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Mss Patricia Holbrook and Miss Helen
5olbro"k, her niece, were entrusted to
Che care Of Laurence Donovan, q writer,
falrieia eontided to Donovan that she
feared her brother Henry, who, ruined by
bank failure. had constantly threatened
which Miss Patricia was guardian. They
came to Port Annandale to escape Henry.
Donovan sympathized ,I with 11d the two
aoying sutton Ai peno Va s discovered and
$aptured an intruder, who proved to be
Hsginald Gillespie sutton fer the hand Of
psiSred tho following morning: 4 Tough
Donovan saw Miss Holbrook and her IA
fought an ftalian ' assassin. lie met the
man he supposed was HolbroolS, but who
taid he was Hartridge, a canoe-maker::
surlily. Gillespie was discovered by Don
ovan presenting country church with $1,000.
CHAPTER V.-Continued.
Just then l heard the voice Of my
fool raised so that all might hear:
Friends, on the dusty highway of
life, can take none of the honor or
credit you so kindly offer me. The
money have given you to-day I came
by honestly. I stepped into your cool
and restful house of worship this morn
ing in search of bodily ease. The small
voice Of conscience stirred within me.
I had not been inside a church for two
years, and I was greatly shaken. But
as listened to your eloquent pastor
/ was aware that the green wall paper
interrupted my soul currents. That
vegetable-green tint is notorious as
psychical interceptor. Spend the
money as you like, gentlemen. but if
I, stranger, may suggest it, try some
less violent color scheme in your
mural decorations"
He seemed choking with emotion as
with bowed head he pushed his way
through the circle and strobe past me-
The people stared after him, mysti6ed
and marveling. I heard an old man
calling out:
How wonderful are the ways of
Lord!'
let Gillespie pass, and followed him
slowly until turn in the road hid us
from the staring church folk. He
turned and saw me.
"You have discovered me, Donovan.
Be sure your sins will find you out!
"A simple people, sigularly moved at
Che sight of greenback. have rare
y caused caused so much excitement"
II suppose you are trying to ease
your conscience by giving away some
Of your button meney.'
THAT Is Just it, Donovan. You have
struck the brass tack on the head. But
now that we have met again, albeit
through no fault Of my own, let me
mention matters of real human inter-
est."
"You might tell me what you're do.
ing here first"
walking; there were no cabs, Don
ovan."
you choose a queer hour Of the
Gay for your exercise
Zone might say the same for your
hide. But let us be sensible. l dare
lay there's some common platform on
which we both stand
We'll assume it," I replied, dis
mounting by the roadside that I might
talk more easily. Bandages were still
visible at his wrists, and strip o.
court-plaster across the knuckles of
his right hand otherwise testified to-
the edges of the glass in St. Agatha's
garden. He held up his hands rue.
fully
"Those were nasty slashes; and
ripped them up badly in climbing out
Of your window. But couldn't linger;
I am not without my little occupa-
TONS"
you stand an excellent chance of
being shot if you don't clear out Of
this. If there's any shame in you
you will go without making further
trouble"
1T has occurred to me-" he began,
slowly, that know something that
you ought to know. I saw Henry Hol.
brook yesterday"
"Where?" I demanded.
"On the lake. He's rented a sloop
yacht called the Stiletto. I passed it
yesterday on the Annandale steamer
and saw him quite distinctly"
TITS all your fault that he's here!"
! blurted, thoroughly aroused. If
you had not followed those women
they might have spent the remainder
of their lives here and never have
been molested. But he undoubtedly
caught the trail from you"
Gillespie nodded gravely and
(rowned before he answered.
Il am sorry to spoil your theory.
my dear Irish brother, but put this in
your pipe: Henry was here first! He
rented the sailboat ten days ago-and
made my triumphal entry a week
later. Explain that, if you please Mr..
Donovan"
! was immensely relieved by this
disclosure, for it satisfied me that I
had not been mistaken in the identity
OF the canoe-maker. I had, however.
no intention of taking the button king
into my confidence.
"Where' is Holbrook staying?" I
asked casually.
II don't know-he keeps afloat. The
6tiletto belongs to Cincinnati man
. who isn't coming here this summer
and Holbrook has got the use of the
yacht. So much I learned from the
boat storage man at Annandale: then
passed the Stiletto and saw Henry on
board"
It was clear that knew more than
I Gillespie, but he had supplied me with
several interesting bits Of information