Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-10-17

NOSoh y S0AAAN tlhC Tx . iluOCCnIs OOGS
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 zee 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 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 wifev growled Brad
dock. IL suppose she'll be begin for
you too. What do you wanty' The
question was roared through the can
vas.
t Come here, please. 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 I'll"
The man 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 time he had been dashing.
boldly handsome fellow. There could
be no 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 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 splen.
did health. This man had been heau-
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 the
base horn, 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 n network in his cheeks,
telling Of the habits that had put them
there. On his forehead was perpetual
scowl. line slashed between the eyes
as II laid there by knife. The fea-
lures were not Irregular. but they
were OF the strength that denotes cul.
tivated weaknesses. His chin was
square and strong. heavily stumbled
with two days growth Of beard.
Eyes that were black and sullen stood
we'll out in their sockets. A silk hat
tilted rakishly over his brow. His
waistcoat was loud brocade. his
necktie single black band. knottcd
once. There was a great paste dia-
mond In his soiled shirt front.
AS the flap dropped behind him Gri-
naldi turned to the boy.
"Mebbe we can Ak It with I'm. Shell
put In plea for you and 80 will Little
Starbright-that's what Is daughter il
called on the bills-if she gets chance.
Stay right ere. youngster. I've got to
go in for my girls act now. wish you
could see my girl. She's the queen Of
the air and don't you forget It,"
Outside Braddock was glowering
upon his wife, who faced him resolute.
~. There never had been time when
she was afraid of this man. Even
though he had mistreated her shame.
fully. he had never found the courage
to exercise his physical supremacy.
Braddock recognized and respected the
qualities that put her 80 far above him.
Not that he admitted them, even to him.
self. That would have been fatal n
his own sense Of Justice. He merely
felt them He could not eyade the con.
ditions for the reason that he was pow.
erless to analyze the force that pro.
duced them. He only knew that some.
how he merfted the scorn In which she
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-
platioE 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 We're timorously charged with Low.
ing her, It would have been like him to
call the venturesome one liar-and
mean 1t, too, In his heart.
But i've hundred Is flve hundred. -
he was repeating doggediy 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
up. won't be party to-
you harbor pickpockets and thieves
and, yes, murderers, I'm told, Tom. II