The Holly chieftain., 1911-09-08

i-.H.r WS4yt8oSs A0xAs ~ ~
What's doing!" Clay asked. ~ hs
stepped from ths dining room out on
the hotel piaxsa.
Lights wsFs Winking up and down
the towns billy street ~ glow worms
we're vinking II the gardens round
about A little wind. blowing south
sriy. brought the freshness Of the
river. and the scent Of ploughed
earth from the cornhelds In the bot
toms beyond. Clay had fed we'll.
therefore his mood was complacent.
Not 70 Mason. who stood In wait for
him. Discomfort lined his face even
more than common.
"Ncthing's doing. You can bet on
that here always. and anyhow" Mason
answered sourly. "Deadest town this
side the planets-that's the size Of
Ashmors-"
"Yet-you stick to til" Clay inter
rupted.
Mason laughed 4 hard laugh. II
have to stand what amounts to death
In life. because another man persists
in living after he 10 dead" he said
very low. Haven't they told you
about Grandad? Just q breathing
lump be II. Ninety 1--we II he's q day
--he won't let us see the record. Al
most blind. deaf as 4 post. bedfast
now for seven years-yet with the
appetite Of coal HEAVIER! keeps him
alive, the doctors say-that and his
grip-on life and his money"
20! begin to understand" Clay
interjected.
Mason ran on eagerly: Il shouldn't
grudge him life-to hundred and
far beyond it-N he had any sort Of
consideration for anybody but him
self. Keeps me tied to his chairarm
virtually. This is the first time I've
been out except to 60 to the post
Office and the bank. in month. And
I had to lie to get out now. Told him
there was chance Of getting big in
terest Of gilt-edged short-time loan
It was the first thing l could think
Of, after got your note"
Il shouldn't have written-not II
I'd known This IL my first time
here" Clay muttered confusedly.
Mason stopped him with an eager
gesture. .Do yep grudss water 70 :
man dying Of thirstf he asked. "An-
other lie viii square me-I've only to
say. the collateral was ilshy, and
0randad will pat me on the back.
Meantime. let's be moving. want
to show you-say! you'll help in .
good deed!"
Unless there's = girl in It," Clay
answered chucklins. "A petticoat al.
ways scarss me sti6."
I'VE know you're lying. Jack Ma
son hung back.
They were going with long strides
up the main street. At the third cor.
ner Mason turned sharply about. say.
ing. wait, mustn't startle Elsie"
Next breath Clay heard him whistle
softly In thick shrubbery Just in
side ragged garden.
There was no answering sound. but
in half 4 minute. Mason was back,
with q slim black-clad shape beside
him.
Get your carl know It IL in the
garage-never mind now-and meet
US block from here" Mason said
breathlessly. you're going to run
away with us across the state line
and be best man at our wedding. It's
the only chance for us-you're safe
and discreet-if anybody else knew
1t would ruin u.s."
Tell me how? l 90 into nothing
blindfold." Clay said almost stubborn
". in Mason's hushed key.
Mason flung up his hand crying
fretfuily: Man don't potter! Every
minute counts. We must be married
and back in place long before mid
highland there's Q run OF twenty
miles each way"
What's the use Of running!" Clay
persisted doggedly.
Mason clutched him feverishly. etc
save the fortune I'm slaving in prison
for" he said "Grandad means tc
leave 1t in his will that am to marry
the girl he has chosen for me. OBJ
viously, II l turn out to be already
married to somebody else, that provt
sion is void. without hurting the will
otherwise"
Il see! Meet you in two minutes
Clay said. running away. But as he
turned the next corner he Stacked tc
slow walk. asking himself II he were
not doing wrong.
An hour or 80 later, he had no such
doubt Elsie's radiant eyes. her smil
ing mouth. reassured him. She was
worth a lot OF risk. Clay decided. He
felt a chivalrous pity for her, and was