The Raymer enterprise., 1911-07-06

wife. After Dabney's trial and con.
yiction. her father and friends urged
her to take advantage Of that merci-
ful law which would almost automatic
ally free her from such CALLING chains.
However, Grace was q devout
churchwoman. and refused to heed
these entreaties. claiming tearfully
that she had married the man "for
better or worse" She even wanted to
attend the trial and subsequently visit
the condemned criminal in jail; but
here Mortimer Williston put his foot
down fatty and carried her on to Los
Angeles for an indefinite stay. But
she wrote several letters to the man
who had 80 grossly deceived her.
Freedom came about In an almost
miraculous manner. One day the
newspapers contained black.faced
front.page articles telling Of sue
cessful breakaway and escape at Sing
Sing. 1t seemed that gang OF men
were working on the outer wall Of the
prison on the river side. The month
was February; dense fog hid the
Hudson from shore to shore. the river
was frozen to mid-channel.
When the whistle blew at five
o'clock three OF the convict gang
made dash for llberty-"Pete"
Skent, skinny" Toler and "Bill" Dab
ney-all old.time pals and long-term
men. Across the railroad tracks they
ran, dashed down the low bank. and
out on the ice Rife flashes stabbed
the fog and bullets sang around the
trio. but the case was hopeless under
the conditions. 1t was learned after
ward that the fugitiyes had made for
the channel with the intention OF
swimming across to the ice on the
Jersey shore.
That some one had been wounded
was evidenced by bloodstains on the
snow; next day It was learned that
Skent had been picked up by pass
ing tug.boat; he was shot through the
back, and lived only long enough TO
declare almost with his dying breath
that he had seen Toler and Dabney
sucked under by the swiltly.fowing
tide.
I'm that case" said the warden.
look for their bodies In Grayesend
Bay next spring"
So, accident or the justice Of God
had freed Grace Williston. Upon her
return to New York. her beauty chas.
tened and refined by the fires OF SUI.
fering, Stephen Dawlish was one OF
the first to show his sympathy ard
appreciation. Their friendship began
again where II had left of two years
before: the instant that convention
permitted, Dawlish proposed again
and was accepted. the wedding being
set for the ensuing autumn; this time
the ceremony was to be very quiet
a house wedding at The Larches,'
the WIllis,on place at Great Neck,
some ten miles from the Dawllsh es.
tate at Locust Valley, and within easy
reach by motor,
So much Of the story Finney Valen-
tine recalled during the tedious jog
ging OF the train on his way TO obey
the urgent summons OF Steve Daw.
lish. From what the eX.inspector
could gather from the young mans
agitated message It looked as though
tragedy threatened once more to
mar the life OF Grace Willston-for
she had resumed her maiden name on
the death OF Bill Dabney.
But was he dead, after all? Daw.
lish had distinctly mentioned the
FIRST husband" then "blackmail,
and Jus, killed man" Such piquant
sentences were enough to scorch the
wires. However speculation was use.
less until all the facts were on tap.
Ten minutes over the hard North
Shore roads brought Ffnney Valen.
tine and Stephen Dawlish face to face
/ In the snug library OF THE Boulders.
Steve was pale, nervous and on edge
with excitement, pacing restlessly ur
and down the long low.ceiled room,
Cad! thought you'd never get
here," exclaimed Dawish.
sit down, man, and get a grip or
Yourself" commanded Valentine
Things may not be as bad as you
imagine
Bad, Imagine," almost shouted
the other. They couldn't be worse
Not that regret putting that dirty
dog out OF business, but Just see ths
hole II puts me In I'm engaged to bC
married In three days from now. Sud
denly that hound, her husband, re
member, whom everyone supposed Il
be dead. turns up and threatens tc
stop the proceedings-as of course HI
could, SO In sudden passion and dis
gust | kill him Justihable, you say
Yes. but where does that leave me
Would any woman marry the slaye
of her husband. no matter how big ;
villain he wasY'
By the end OF this inctherent tirad'
Stephen Dawllsh was on his feet onc'
more. pacing up and down the wid'
rug In front OF the drift.wood fire.
"How did II happen" queried Val
eutinc. III l am to help you mus
a