The searchlight., 1911-12-01

oout tnink were out OF the woods
yet. ] believe that backyard Is ca
pable Of surrounding the house and
preventing the delivery of any Of
these letters to the papers"
what good would that do himf-
1T would give him time"
"Give me what you have written.
said Haldane. MY cars down below.
He won't have had time to do any.
thing yet" He picked up the chiefs
pistol. Give me this. too, and II any
body stops me. II won't be . happy
thing for him."
Good" said Gormly, taking the
FIRST batch. He marked them for the
most important Of the morning pa-
pers. IF you can deliver these. wen
chance the rest. I'll send the others
out by Somes and Chaloner."
Have you any objection" said
Haldane. as he picked up the batch
Of papers and buttoned his coat, to
my telling Eleanor?"
Il wish you would do 20. You WIN
confer favor on me by doing Il i'm
mediately."
Il will. Jove! wasn't It lucky that
beard this from my father tonight
and came down here to warn youf
Goodby. Wen win yet"
He wrung the others hand and
darted from the room. As he stepped
into his car number Of men turned
into the street and approached the
house. There were officers among
them. but most of them wore plain
clothes.
Hey. stop that cart" roared a deem
voice which Haldane recognized AZ
that Of Connell
Gormly's suspicious were justified.
The car had already fortunately start.
ed when one or two men leaped at
him. One Of them gained q footing
on the car. With one hand Hal0ans
threw on the high speed. with the
other he showed the pistol In tho
mans face. The man fell back. The
car leaped suddenly forward. The
chance was gone
A moment after Gormly himself
came out Of the street door. The mon
were huddled in front OF the apart.
ment house. He could hear Connell
cursing terribly.
"Ah. chief" said he urbanely, "un-
fortunately you were too late. Tho
nrst batch of copies has gone BY the
hands OF Mr.. Haldane In that car.
Goodnight. gentlemen"
He turned and walked back to the
hallway and took the elevator to his
own apartment
He had put q bold face upon tho
whole matter. He had taken the
brave. the wise. course, which after
all was the only prudent course to
take. He had not weakened under the
tremendous pressure of the situation
for single instant He had borne
himself with amazing coolness and
courage. Yet the man was absolute
ly stricken to the heart. What the
effect Of the disclosures would be up
on tho campaign. how the people
would receive II, whether or not he
would lose their confidence. whether
or not the honorable reputation he
had built up BY years of Just and gen.
erous dealing. would vanish. he could
not tell; and to be truthful, at that
moment. these questions were not the
chief Of those which filled his heart
He asked himself how Eleanor Hal
dane would receive the disclosure, and
what effect II would have upon her.
Although she had been overwhelmed
by the revelation Of her fathers DO
sition. Gormly had learned from
young Haldane that he had not there.
by forfeited her regard.
Now what difference would this
make TO her! She had said several
times that what she admired In him
was his splendid record. his unbiem.
ished honor. his unspotted past And
now what would she thinkf
He might have made his defense
stronger. He might have said that
the woman had shot the man. He
might have declared her abandonment
Of him in the snow storm. her leaving
him to die. He might have pointed
out that he had assumed the guilt to
shelter her: but chivalry was strong
In Gormly.
He thought . long time about the
situation. plunging In deeper and
deeper gloom and sadness ~ the
hours dragged By. At last hs aban-
doned all hope Of ever winning tho
woman that he loved. Well. he would
devote himself with more singleness
Of heart on that account to the In
terest Of the people: II indeed. after
this. they still thought him worthy Of
Leadership and service.
rro an CoNTINuEpl