The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1912-10-18

doesn't sound like he's innocent, does
it, Besides. the officers are plumb
certain he's hanging around this show
some place. I'm not going to be pes
tered with constables and detectives
from here to Indiana, let me tell you
that"
I'm not willing to see these men
get into trouble David said steadily.
Give me time to change my clothes
again, and you can call in the off,
GERS"
Don't be a fool" exclaimed the
clown. A murmur of protest arose
from the others.
"ThomaS." A woman's voice was
calling from the other side Of the low
canvas partition.
That's my wife" growled Brad
dock. Il suppose she'll be Begin for
you too. What do you wantT' The
question was roared through the can
vas.
Come here, please. I must speak
with you"
Change your clothes. boy" he said
after a moment Of indecision. "See
that he don't get away, you fellows.
If he gives you the slip I'll have
blood, and don't you forget IT."
The mar had been drinking. His
eyes were bloodshot and unsteady.
His face was bloated from the effects
of long and continued use Of alcohol.
Once on a time he had been a dashing,
boldly handsome fellow. There could
be 10 doubt of that-the sort Of youth
that any romantic girl might have
fallen In love with. A wonderfully
vital constitution had protected his
body from the ravages Of self indul-
~gence-the constitution Of a great.
splendid human animal. In whom not
the faintest sign Of a once attractive
personality remained. There was no
refinement there, no mark Of good
breeding. What she had evidently
mistaken for the nobility Of true man
hood In her innocence and folly was
no more than the arrogance Of spien-
did health. This man had been beau
tiful in his day and frankly pleasing.
That was long before the thing that
was in his blood, and In the blood Of
his father perhaps. had claimed do
minion-the mysterious thing which
inevitably registers the curse Of tho
base born, so that no man may be de-
ceived.
A heavy black mustache, lightly
touched with gray, shaded a coarse,
rather sinister mouth, from the corner
OF which protruded an unlighted but
thoroughly chewed cigar. Thin red
lines formed a network In his cheeks,
telling OF the habits that had put them
there. On his forehead was q perpetual
scowl. a line slashed between the eyes
as II laid there by a knife. The fea-
lures were not irregular, but they
were Of the strength that denotes cui-
dvated weaknesses. His chin was
square and strong, heavily stumbled
with a two days growth Of beard.
Eyes that were black and sullen stood
we'll out In their sockets. A silk hat
tilted rakishly ove his brow. His
waistcoat was a loud brocade, his
necktie a single black band, knotted
once. There was a great paste dia-
mond In his soiled shirt front.
AS the flap dropped behind him Or
naldi turned to the boy.
"Mebbe we can a. 1t with I'm. She'll
put in a plea for you and 90 will Little
Starbright-that's what is daughter Ia
called on the btlls-if she gets q chance
Stay right ere. youngster. I've rot to
go In for my girls act now. I wish you
could see my girl. She's tho queen Of
the air and don't you forget It,"
Outside Braddock was glower1ns
upon bis wife, who faced him resolute-
ly. There never had been a time when
she was afraid Of this man. Even
though he had mistreated her shame
fully, he had never found the courage
to exercise bis physical supremacy.
Braddock recognized and respected the
qualities that put her % far above him.
Not that he admitted them, even to him.
self. That would ave beer fatal 10
his own sense of justice. he merely
felt them. He could not evade the con-
ditions for the reason that be was pow.
erless to analyze the force that pro
duced them. He only knew that some
how he merlted the scorn In which che
held him. There were times when he
hated her for the very beauty Of her
character. Then he cursed her In bleak.
despairing rage, more against himself
than against her, but never without
afterward cringing In morbid contem,
plation Of the shudder 1t brought to
her sensitive face.
II any one had been so bold as to
accuse him Of not loving her he would
have been crushed to earth by the brute
that was In him.. On the other hand. II
he were timorously charged with low
ing her, 1t would have been like him to
call the venturesome one a liar-and
mean 1t, too. In his heart.
But Ave hundred IL i've hundred"
he was repeating doggedly in opposi-
ton to her argument In behalf of the
boy. you don't know whether he's
guilty or not, Mary. Business is bad.
We need every dollar we can scrape
I'D. won't he q ma rtv to-,