The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-17
THE LEADER GUTHRIE OKLA THURSDAY, MARCH H. 1910

she had collapsed at the discovery OF
the crime in the morning
Against both Of these theories, ae-
cuse purely chimerical person
named Sullivan, who was not seen
hy any Of the suryiyors-save one,
Alison. whom / could not bring INTO
the case. could find motive for
his numbering his father-in-law whom
he hated, but again--l would have
to drag in the girl.
And not one Of the theories eX
planned the telegram and the broken
\ necklace.
/ Outside the Office force was arriy-
ing They were comfortably ignorant
of my presence, and over the transom
fioated scraps Of dialogue and the
steRographer's gurgling laugh. NC
Knight had relative, who was read
ing law with him, in the intervals be-
tween calling up the young women o.
his acquaintance He came in sing
ing, and the Office boy joined in with
the uncertainty Of voice of 10.
smiled grimly was too busy with
my own troubles to find any Joy IN
opening the door and startling them
into silence. even heard, without
resentment Blobs of the uncertain
voice inquire when Blake" would be
back
4 ! hoped Mcknight would arrive be
fore the arrest occurred. There were
many things to arrange. But when at
last, impatient of his delay, tele-
phoncd. / found he had been gone for
more than an hour Clearly he was
not coming directly to the office, and
with such resignation as could
muster paced the floor and waited
felt more alone than | have ever
felt in my life Born an orphan, as
Richey said, | had made my own way
carved out myself such success as
had been mine ] had built UP my
house of life on the props OF law and
order. and now some unknown hand
Hdu WithNIdMAi tiC ouPPci 10 "fN
stood among ruins.
| suppose 1t is the maternal IN
woman that makes man turn to her
when everything else fails The eter'
nal boy in him goes to have his
wounded pride bandaged, his tattered
felf-respect repaired, If he loves the
woman, he wants her to kiss the hurt.
The longing to see Alison, always
with me, was stronger than | was
that morning 1t might be that
would not gee her again. ! had moth
ing to say to her save one thing, and
that, under the cloud that hung over
ME, | did not dare to say. But | want
ed to see her to touch her hand-as
only lonely man can crave II,
wanted the comfort OF her, the peace
that lay in her presence. And so, with
every step outside the door a threat
/ telephoned to her.
She was gone! The disappoint
: ment was great. for my need was
great In a fury Of revolt against the
scheme of things, | heard that she
had started home to Richmond
that she might still be caught at th'
station.
To see her had by that time become
| an obsession. picked up my hat
: threw open the door, and obvious o
the shock to the Office force OF m,
Y presence. followed so immediatel,
by my exit, | dashed out to the ele
r vator, AS went down in one Gag
| caught glimpse Of johnson an,
two other men going up in the next
2 hardly gave them thought Their
was no hanson in sight, and jumpe'
ON a passing car. Let come wha
s might arrest, prison, disgrace, | wa
+ going to see Alison.
saw her flung into the station
l. saw that it was empty-empty, 10
0 she was not there. Then / hurre
} back to the gates. She was there
, familiar figure in blSe, the very gov
Il I'm which | always thought Of her tn
one she had worn when, Heaven hel
= mel had kissed her, at the Carte
d farm. And she was not alone Benz
y Ing over her, talking earnestly wit
all his boyish heart in his face, wa
Richey
They did not see me, and wa
glad of it. After all, 1t had bee
| McKnights game first turned O
nv heel and made my way blind
out of the station Before lost thei
] turned once and looked towaT
them. standing apart from tho crow
absorbed in each other They wei
the only two people on earth that
cared about. aud left them there I
gether. Then | went back miserab
! to the office and awaited arrest
CHAPTER XVI.