El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-26
After Long Years

WENTY years OF the prison
night! And now day-at
last!"
He paced up and down the
railway station platfOrm-Dick Ran
some released convict His movements
were those Of Gagged tiger. True, he
was no longer behind the the iron
bars; the blue of heaven was over his
head the meadows round about him,
but his spirit had been changed TO a
tigers.
On whom would he take his ven
geance2 This was the question that
haunted him, and which he was de-
termined to answer. When he was
tried an unknown friend" had en-
plOyed the best counsel, had spared no
money in his defence, and but for that
the unhallOWed grave OF the murderer.
And only that morning, when the gov
ernOr of the prison had handed him
his discharge papers and the sum or
money he had earned he had been in
formed that the same mysterious bene-
factor had provided for the eXcOnvict
for life
There was no doubt in Ransome's
mind that this friend" was the guilty
man. the real criminal, he knew him
self to be innocent. 1t was true that
he had returned surreptitiOusly to the
library on the night Of the murder.
but IL had been to find the father Of
the girl he loved lying stark dead on
blood.
But he had been condemned
And during those 20 years, he nursed
this thought by day and by night: Il
viii find the guilty man, and / viii
kill him for the agony he has seen me
bear
The express came into the station
and Ransome left by It.
Tap! tap tap
startled by the knocking at the win
dow. A mans face was pressed against
Haidee St Clair turned pale as
death. Her heart appeared to stop
for two moments, then went thump-
ing madly against her bosom. BY
great effort she controlled herself.
went to the window. pushed It UP and
the man climbed into the room.
They regarded each other, but both
were so agitated that neither could
at first speak. Then the man said
81 have come back. I did not want
the servants to see me-after 20 years.
Thrice Haidee tried to speak. and
failed. It was terrible meeting.
RansOme was devOuring her with an
indescribable gaze. Two decades had
changed her; she looked quite the 40
years she had seem but not time nor
shadow had spoiled the gentle lines
Of that loving face.
Did I do right to Gomez asked
RansOme husktly
quite right"
And you are glad to see me?"
Yes I have seen you every day.
Every day I have spoken to you. as
If you had been here I have been in
prison with you. Richard: have suf-
arms with DassiOQate. wildly entreating
gesture "Oh, my love-" she said MY
dear. dear 1ovel"
He strained her to his breast ScaId-
Ina Oh ~
Against his heart she leaned and sob
bed IS If her own were breaking. Pres
emily he released her from the fast
embrace
nOcence all this time2' asked Ran
some You have never for half
second believed"
Hush Is It possibIe2 That yor e
innocent IS as true as that w are
bound in spirit to each other for ever.
as true as that we must part tonight"
Must part?" cried RansOme 'Tf
you believe in me. still love me. can
not We defy the world? Cannot"
Dick. it can never be. It is impOs-
For an instant the mad. fierce light
came again into his eyes. What have
you done for me all this while? You
clear me2"
Haidee turned paler than ever
AM! cried RansOme. You havef
You know somethingl Quick Tell
mer
He stepped back shaking IN every
nerve With low cry that came from
her hearts depths, Haidee St. Clair fell
senseless- For a few seconds Ran
some Looked down at that white sff11
beautiful face marked with suffering
then with gesture OF despair almost
or madness, he strobe to the window
and leaped out
As he dropped lightly to the ground
@
back quickly into the shadow. The
latter had been clearly taken by sur
prise, and Ransome caught a glimpse
OF his face. That glimpse disturbed
him even more than the presence az
the eayesdropper, for the face was
dimly familiar.
Was this he whom Haidee was
shielding? He resolved instantly to
Follow the eavesdropper.
Stop! he shouted. who are vou2"
The stranger turned. He looked
straight into RansOme's ewes The
moonlight streamed full upon his face
See for yourselfr'
Ransome gave a great cry OF hor-
TOT Every drop of blood rushed iron,
his heart. His knees trembled. he
gasped with terror.
For the dead had risent FTastings
ST. Clair had come from the gravel
You know me then?' said Sd clair
IN the voice Of a beaten. utterly de-
span 4lB man. 4 nave not CHANGED go
much-eh. IN 20 years?" Do NOT fooI2
at me like that I am no snfrif
am the man whom the world said was
murdered
RansOme found his voice at last
though he might not have recognized
the husky tones as his own. ssRu+ 7
saw you, with my own eyes living
dered!7
The other glanced round to make
sure that there were no observers Ne
advanced. placing his hands on Ran
some's shoulders, looking him steadiI-
in the face.
Listen" he said, and mark NV
words for you viii never see ms
again This is what happened on. fbS
night Of the murder-for q murder
there was. You had not left me In
anger more than % minutes. when a
man cana in. by stealth. through the
French windows OF my study. cot
a great shock. for I knew that man
He was supposed to have been killed
in the Australian bush eight wears
back He was my twin brother. Older
than myself by a matter Of seconds.
scOundrel out and out, but. beyond
doubt. the heir to all ] chen possessed.
I'VE quarrelled. 7 viii not denv
that I was greatly to blame: but