El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-21
The Honorable Senator Sagebrush
Copyright, 1910, By
STREET & SMITH
CONTINUED From Yesterday

III 4 CSLCA06Js(
f, unsuspecting. still unconscious Of the
impending blow Only utter frankness
could avail now.
81 can't discuss expediency with
you" he said hastily. This evidence
l speak of involves you personally.
There is trouble ahead. serious trou-
| Bile. and you don't seem 70 realize it.
The city papers will be out In the
morning publishing evidence Of other
crooked political work-eyfdence which
/ have been gathering here and there
| all over the state and which was
stolen when my safe was blown up
last week. l did not intend to publish
it If 1 could help It. I was holding 1T
over my own people as club to make
them decent and to keep them decent
But 1 have reason to believe that it
has been edited so that it viii accuse
only you and the machine. and by to-
morrow morning the entire state will
know. 1 don't have to tell you what
the effect Of this added exposure Of
wholesale corruption in the capital is
going to be-
The senator had laid the pipe aside
and was staring soberIy at the fire.
You're a man among a thousand,
son. he said quietly. when it
comes to a pure question OF right and
wrong you don't hesitate minute, do
you? You haven't said it in so many
words. so I'll say it for you You've
got me right where you can send me
to the penitentiary? That's about what
you're trying to tell me. isn't it,"
Don't put it that way. father" pro-
tested the son. 81 gave you fair
warning. I've got to fight for the
right as see It. IL don't shall be
less than a .man-iess than your son.
Can't you see that it is breaking my
hearth
A silence electrically surcharged
with possibilities settled down over
the quiet room for a little while At
the end of the pause the senator rose
and put his hand on his sons shoulder.
II haven't a word to say" he said
slowly. ''As you told me that first
day out here. son, it's your job to hew
TO the line and let the chips fall where
they may. Go ahead and do what
seems right and law abiding to you.
I'd rather go to jail twice over than
have you do anything else. Is that
what you wanted NE to sayY'
Blount dropped into a chair as if the
hand on his shoulder had crushed him
and covered his face with his hands
1t was hard-harder than even his own
prefgurings had forecast it.
twas long minute before he stag
gered TO his feet and CROPPED his way
to the door, leaving his father stand
ing before the fire, still with the hand
outstretched which had been laid, In
fatherly affection upon his shoulder.
When old Barnabas had helped him
into his coat and had given him his
hat he sought Patricia.
Must you 90 back" she queried
when he had descended the steps to
climb stifly into the seat beside her.
He nodded
"Your duty is clear?''
He nodded again.
And the consequences she asked
81 don't know" he muttered Ruin
and disgrace for all of Us. suppose.
OF course shall resign from the rail-
road service and stand with my father
when-when the thing is done"
Don't do it. Evan: don't do it!
have no more than woman's reason
to give you, but l am sure you are
opening the door to lifelong sorrow
for yourself and-and-for me-"
1t was the last two words that
steeled him to his purpose Not even
for her dear sake would he turn aside
from the plain path Of the oath bound
obligation. 1t struck him like a blow
that the turning aside would make him
forever unworthy OF her love.
Take me back to the city as quick
~ as you can. Patricia" he said, cor,
better still. stay here and let me have
the car That is my last word"
For answer she threw the speed
lever into the high gear and snapped
home the clutch. Like a projectile
hurled from catapult the little tour
Ing car Snot away down the cotton-
wood avenue. and the second race
against time was begun.
For the first few miles Patricia An
ners' single passenger had all he could
do to keep his seat. More than once
Blount found himself mechanically
reaching for the steering wheel. but
as often he caught himself In time
As on the outward race, Patricia was
looking straight ahead and giving the
little car every throb of speed there
was in it. None the less. he could see
that she had it under perfect control.
What happened came with the sud
aenness Of the thunderclap following
the bolt that strikes near at hand.
NY 1T