Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1911-12-15
IN A
DEAD TOWN
By Martha Me- uIIoch- Williams

NEx 81
lcopyrisht i0iL BY Associated Literary Pres,.)
What's doing?" Clay asked. as no
stepped from the dining room out on
the hotel piazza.
Lights were winking up and down
the towns billy street as glow worms
were winking In the gardens round
about A little wind. blowing south
erly. brought the freshness OF the
river. and the scent OF ploughed
earth from the cornhelds In the bot.
toms beyond Clay had fed well.
therefore his mood was complacent
Not so Mason. who stood in wait for
him Discomfort lined his face even
more than common.
"Nothing'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
Ashmore-"
"Yet-you stick to H." Clay inter.
rupted
Mason laughed a hard laugh. Il
have to stand what amounts to death
in lie. because another man persists
in living after he is dead" he said
very low Haven't they told you
about Grandad? Just breathing
lump he Is. Ninety.hve II he's a day
he won't let us see the record. Al.
most blind. deaf as post. bedfast
now for seven years-yet with the
appetite Of a coal HEAVIER! keeps him
alive, the doctors say-that and his
grlp--on life and his money"
"ol begin to understand" Clay
interjected
Mason ran on eagerly: Il shouldn't
grudge him life--to hundred and
far beyond it--lf 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 go to the post
office and the bank, in n month And
| had 10 lie TO get out now. Told him
there was a chance Of getting big In
terest of gllt.edged short.time loan
It was the FIRST thing ! could think
OF. after ! got your note"
~ shouldn't have written-net II
I'd known. This Is my first time
here" Clay muttered confusedly.
Mason stopped him with an eager
gesture. DO you grudge water to a
man dying OF thirst?" he asked. An
other lie will square me-I've only to
say, the collateral was fishy. and
Grandad VIII pat me on the back
Meantime, let's be moving. want
to show you-say! you'll help In a
good deed?"
Unless there's girl in H." Clay
answered chuckling "A petticoat al
ways scares ne sdn"
We know you're lying, Jack" Ma
son flung back
They we're going with long strides
up the main street At the third cor
ncr Mason turned sharply about. say
ing. wait. | mustn't startle Elsie "
Next breath Clay heard him whistle
softly in a thick shrabbery just In
side ragged garden.
There was no answering sound. bu
in half a minute. Mason was back
with q slim black-clad shape beside
him.
Get your carl know It Ia In to-
garage-never mind now-and NEE
us block from here" Mason sal'
breathlessly. You're going TO rui
away with US across the state line
and be best man at our wedding ~
the only chance for us--you're SAT-
and discreet-if anybody else knew
Il would ruin us
Tell me how? | go into nothing
blIndfold." Clay said almost stubborn
", in Mason's hushed key.
Mason flung up his hand cryinl
fretfully: Man don't potter! Ever,
minute counts We must be married
and back In place long before mid
highland there's run of twent
miles each way"
whats the use of runningy" Cha
persisted doggedly.
Mason clu,ched him feverishiy. 1T
save the fortune I'm shaving in priso
for" he said "Grandad means Z
leave II in his will that ! am TO MARI
the girl he has chosen for me. Oh
viously. II turn out to be alread
married 10 somebody else, that prov
sion Is void, without hurting the VII
otherwise"
II see! Meet you in two minutes,
Clay said. running away. But rs b
turned the next corner he Stacked /
a slow walk asking himself II he wer
not doing wrong
An hour or so later. he had no sue
doubt Elsie's radiant eyes. her smi
ing mouth. treasured him. She wa
worth lot OF risk, Clay decided. II
felt q chiyalrous pity for her. and wa
ready to 90 all lengths to help hel
Mason had told him briefly their low
story--it was a rustic Montague an
capulet aifair-her people the Enslyl
had been at odds with the Mason
time out OF mind Then Grandad ha
all a miser's instructive hatred Of III
success ion them. Their fortunes ha
fallen until Elsie went out sewing
by an irony OF Fate she was even the
making fine white lacy things. Of IN
very newest shapes and patterns, "a
Flora Mcleod. the girl Grandad al
-rn.--A