Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-03-15

passed out or the dOGf Il i,ui,iie ui
banknotes that ne hnd aiken witinii
counting from 4 drawer. ~
Snow had begun 70 fall A hts.
wind. blowing apparently from all
quarters. hardened the fakes aud pro,
PEELED them with stinging FORE into
the faces Of the people in the streets
Brooks had no umbrella. nor had he
gloves. and the wind cut to the bone
Yet he paid scant heed TO his discom
fort and ambled away from Smiths
abode. He turned up his coat collar
and pulled his hat over his eyes. More
than once when he thought he was
being followed be went Tick with fear
Every minute he expected to feel q
hand on his shoulder.
Why should he lack the pluck to xiii
himself A fugitive from justics,
fr!endiess and pennueSs. everything
that was worth while In life gone for
ever, what had he to hope from living1
The prison door from which he had
shrunk with such dread before now
was wide open to receive him, would
receive hin, as inevitably as day would
follow the night. He remembered hav-
ing read that q man shot through the
brain never felt the messenger which
snuffed out his life. In the drawer Of
his bureau was q loaded revolver that
he had long kept there for self protec.
ton In case Of need. A movement Of
his finger would end ALL A feeling
almost OF relief came with this thought.
and he quickened his steps. There was
only one thing to fear now-that he
would be caught before he could reach
his room. AZ he tradged along he
found himself at the corner Of the
street In which the HAIRLESS lived.
Emma! How different she had been
from the other! She had not taken;
she had given. Love had not been
\ dependent upon the bringing of gifts:
+ It had been lavished upon him. When
be had been Respondent she had com
forted him: when things were going
wrong she had encouraged him; when
his head ached she had rested It on
her bosom. And 1t had come to this
that he had lost her and, with her,
all: that he was an outcast at her
door.
An insane desire to see her took pos
session of him. It grew. became over
powering. swept aside all the objec-
tons Of reason. He was dying man.
and nothing was denied to the dying.
He retraced his steps and rang the
bell. The door opened. and he ascend
ed the well remembered stairs. Mrs.
Harris dat was on the 1rst landing. A
maid who, did not know him answered
his ring.
Ills Mrs. Brooks at homer he asked.
The girl shook her head.
.sMrs. Brooks7 No; no one Of that
name lives here. This is Mrs. Harris
apartments. Mrs. Harris and Miss
Beth have gone ont. Miss Emma is
In"
Miss Emma! She had even discard
ed his name. then! The blow was
hard.
Il would like to see her"
''Your card. sir. please"
"Tell her Mt. Smith Is calling"
The name had flashed to him with
the conviction that she would not re-
ceive him II be gave his own.
He followed on the heels Of the
maid.
You needn't bother" he said and
brushed past her at the door Of the
parlor.
Emma was arranging some orna-
ments on the mantelpiece. For . mo-
ment she did not recognize him. Then
she recoiled. with little cry. from the
wild eyed. disheveled specter who.
hat In hand. stood before her.
Eyes. Emma. It's me. or what II
left of me-" he said.
'what brings you here7 How did
you get imp she demanded. with
frightened eyes.
Don't be afraid. You have nothing
to fear from me-" he assured her. 'I'm
going on "a long journey-yes. . long.
long journey. and I've como to say
eoodby. You'll never zee mo again.
i shall be no more trouble to any
body. =
There il no need to come here. !
cannot receive you. You must CO."
Emma. I know how bad ! was to
.you. how
II cannot listen to your excuses. It
IL useless to recall the past Please
Igoy'
Il have no wish to recall It. ask
only your forgiveness ark It a. dy.
ing man. You cannot refuse"
lyon have been dead long years to
me, and have prayed God that ]