Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1912-03-22
"Thats all right" said the young

that's all right" said the young
man, walking over to where Chaloner
sat and debating line or two to be
added to the statements.
do you know" said Gormly, 81
don't think we're out of the woodn
yet l believe that BLACKBOARD is ca
pable of surrounding the house and
preventing the delivery of any of
these letters to the papers,"
What good would that do him?"
1T would give him time
Give me what you have written"
said Haldane. MY cars down below
He won't have had time to do any
thing yet He picked up the chiefs
pistol. Give me this, too. and if any
body stops me, it won't be a happy
thing for him.
Good" said Gormly, taking the
first batch. He marked them for the
most important of the morning pa
pers. IF you can deliver these, we',l
chance the rest. I'll send the others
out by Somes and Chaloner"
Have you any objection said
Haldane, as he picked up the batch
of papers and buttoned his coat, ito
my telling Eleaner?"
Il wish you would do so. You will
confer a favor on me by doing it i'm
mediately"
II will. Jove! wasn't it lucky that
I heard this from my father tonight
and came down here to warn you?
Goodby. Well win yet"
h.
darted from the room. AS he stepped
into his car number of men turned
into the street and approached the
house. There were officers among
them, but most Of them wore plain
clothes
Hey, stop that carl" reared deep
voice which Haldane recognized as
that of Council
Gormly's suspicious were justified.
The car had already fortunately start
ed when one or two men leapeD at
him. One of them gained a footing
on the car. With one hand Haldane
threw on the high speed, with the
other he showed the pistol in the
mans face, The man fell back The
car leaped suddenly forward. The
chance was gone.
moment after Gormly himself
came out of the street door, The men
were huddled in front of the apart
ment house. He could hear Connell
cursing terribly.
"Ah, chief said he urbanely, "un-
fortunately you were too late. Tho
first batch Of copies has gone by the
hands Of Mr. Haldane in that car.
Goodnight, gentlemen"
He turned and walked back to the
hallway and took the elevator to his
own apartment
He had put a bold face upon the
whole matter. He had taken the
brave, the wise, course, which after
all was the only prudent course to
take. He had not weakened under the
tremendous pressure of the situation
for a single instant He had borne
himself with amazing GOODNESS and
courage Yet the man was absolute
ly stricken to the heart. What the
effect of the disclosures would be up.
on the campaign, how the people
would receive it, whether or not he
would lose their confidence, whether
or not the honorable reputation he
had built up by years of just and gen.
erous dealing, would vanish, he could
not tell; and to be truthful, at that
moment, these questions were not the
chief of those which filled his heart
He asked himself how Eleanor Hal.
dane would receive the disclosure, and
what effect it would have upon her.
Although she had been overwhelmed
by the revelation of her fathers po'
sition, Gormly had learned from
young Haldane that he had not there.
by forfeited her regard.
Now what difference would this
make to her? She had said several
times that what she admired in him
was his splendid record. his unblem-
ished honor, his unspotted past And
now what would she think?
He might have made his defense
stronger He might have said that
the woman had shot the man. He
might have declared her abandonment
of him in the snow storm, her leaving
him to die. He might have pointed
out that he had assumed the guilt to
shelter her; but chivalry was strong
in Gormly.
He thought a long time about the
situation, plunging in deeper and
| deeper gloom and sadness as the
hours dragged by. At last he aban-
doned all hope of ever winning the
woman that be loved. Well, he would
| devote himself with more singleness
of heart on that account to the in
terest Of the people; if indeed, after
this, they still thought him worthy OF
leadership and service.