The Washington herald., 1911-01-09
The DEPUTY AVENGER
By HEDLEY RICHARDS.

story he had listened to had changed
| his feelings to his father. whom he
| realized had been bitterly wronged,
Il thought Of nothing but the revenge
| for which I longed. For years 1t had
I, been the last thought At night and the
| first when opened my eyes in the
morning.
did you never think Of your wife
| and child? Did they count for less than
| revenge?" asked Paul.
Yes. When came out Of prison I
! asked Mr.. Shanlon II he knew what had
become Of them. but I could not hear
anything, and I knew IL she had be-
| lieved in my innocence my wife would
| not have let all those years pass without
| writing to me, and I expected she had.
IL my son knew Of my existence. taught
him to regard me with horror-so I acted
AS 1 believed was the case-as though
I had done with them forever
Paul looked at his father.
She told me my father was dead and
she led a blameless life," and his voice
shook as he thought Of the two lives
that had been spoiled by q woman's
| Jealousy. Then he turned to his father,
saying:
Didn't the name Of Jarret arouse any
suspicion in your mind?"
NO. Why should It? The Shenstones
have no relations Of that name"
mo. but my mother had, and Mrs.
Shenstone knew it. Jarret Thompson was
my mothers uncle. His only son, Kyle
Thompson, was to have married her. but
he was killed. Did she never tell you
this?" asked Paul.
mo: she never spoke Of her dead lover
And so when she left me she took her
uncles first name?''
Yes; and Mr.. Shanlon would hardly
be convinced that ! was'not Paul Jarret,
because the likeness to Kyle Thompson's s
portrait is so strong. And now tell me.
do you think Mrs. Shenstone is guilty Of
her husbands murder?''
For a moment his father hesitated.
then he said:
NO: 1 am inclined to believe she Is
innocent Paul, II ever there was ret-sbu-
tive justice 1t has been shown to her.
I was unjustly accused and condemned: !:
so is She
1T is a pity you could not leave II to a
higher power to punish the guilty. said
Paul.
You find it easy to talk Of patience,
but think Of the years I was a convict.
Think Of my home life destroyed, and
ask yourself II you would have been
more merciful. Still. IL 1 could live the
last few months over again / would do
my own work: l would not seek to draw
another into sin. Now, tell me- do you
stone?"
Yes; I love her. and she Is not like
her mother. Judge Shenstone was a
good man. and Margaret is like her
father"
You will wed the daughter of the
woman who has ruined my life?"
Yes: and she will be such a good
atonement for her mothers sin," said
Paul. And there was a ring Of deter
mination in his tone that told his father
1t was no use arguing.
Then I will say no more. Paul, my
son, felt strangely drawn to you before
knew OF our kinship. I hated the
thought Of what you were sworn to 90,
yet I felt that could not relinquish my
revenge. Can you in time regard me as
a father" he asked, and there was
appeal in his tone.
Paul stretched out his hand and ciasped
his fathers.
''IndeSd 1 can. One thing I can never
forget-you saved my life"
Yes. ! can honestly say should have
tried to stop your committing suicide
even IL I had not thought you suitable
for my purposes. Paul. you must have
suffered terribly to want to throw your
life away before you had tasted any Of
its joys"
II had I knew what hunger and cold
meant; the world and I were sworn
enemies in those days. And now what
about the future? Is the world to know
ot our relationship
His father shook his head as he said:
IF the world knew that John Clifford
and Paul John Shenstone were the same
man, I should soon be taken back to
prison. seeing 1 have broken the law
that applies to a convict on leave. You
must not even tell the girl you love that
l am other than Clifford, your fathers
friend. And now I have something to
do" And he crossed to an iron safe
that stood at one side Of the room, and.
unlocking 1t, he took out a sheet Of
foolscap.
Watch" he said. and. placing it in
the crate. he applied a lucifer to 1t.
The flames leaped up, and leaning
forward. Paul read the signature, Paul
Clelland."
That is the document you signed
when We made our compact Paul, has
the irony Of 1t struck you? bound my
own son, body and soul. to serve me in
any wickedness I might desire It was
the devils bond. and that document that
gave you into my power is nothing but
ashes." Clifford said. pointing to the
crate.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.
Copyright. lsos. BY The North American Company.)