Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-02-22
CONTINUED

"JudSOn; he has just turned up,
walking from Little Butte. he says,
with pretty badly bruised ankle. He
is loaded to the muzZle with news of
some sort. and he wants to know If
you'll take him with you to An The
craftsman. facing the group under
the Pintsch globe at the other end or
the open compartment, stopped sud
denly. and his big jaw grew rigid.
Then he said. in an awed whisper.
God let me get out of here"
Tell Judson to come aboard" said
Lidgerwood. and the craftsman was
twisting at the doorknob when Miriam
Holcombe came swiftly down the com
partment.
"Wait, Fred" she said gently. IL
have come all the way out here to ask
my question, and you mustn't try to
stop me. Are you going to keep on
letting it make us both desolate-for
always?" She seemed not to see or
| care that Lidgerwood made listening
third
| Dawson's face had grown suddenly
haggard, and he. too. ignored the SUI
perintendent.
How can you say that to me,
| Miriam?" he returned, almost grutfiy.
DAY and night am paying. paying,
and the debt never grows less. If 1t
wasn't for my mother and Faith But
must go on paying. l killed your
brother
NO" she denied. THAT was an ac-
cident for which you were no more to
blame than he was. but you are kill
! ing me"
| Lidgerwood stood by. manlike, be-
cause he did not know enough to van
ish But Miss Brewster suddenly
swept down the compartment to drag
him out Of the way of those who did
not need him.
You'd spoil 1t all If you could,
wouldn't your she whispered in
/ fine feminine rage And after I've
moved heaven and earth to get Miriam
/ to come out here for this one special
blessed moment. Go and drive the
others into a corner and keep them
there"
Lidgerwood obeyed quite meekly,
and when he looked again Dawson
had gone and Miss Holcombe was sob
bling comfortably in Eleanor's arms.
/ Judson boarded the service car when
1t was pulled up to the switch, and
after Ldgerwood had disposed of his
passengers for the run back TO Angels
he listened to the eX-engineers report,
sitting quietly while Judson told him
Of the plot and of the plotters. At the
close be said gravely. You are sure
1t was HalIock who got off the night
train at Silver Switch and went up the
old spur2"
/ 1t was a test question. and the engt-
neer did not answer it offhand
I'D say yes in holy minute If there
wasn't so blamed much else tied on to
1t, Mr.. Lidgerwood."
yet you are convinced in your own
mindT'
Il am"
"But the third man. Judson. the man
/ you saw beating his fists on the bulk
head air lock-who was heT" persisted
Lidgerwood-
Now you've got me guessin' again.
II hadn't been dead certain that
saw Hallock go on ahead with Flemis-
ter No." reading the question In the
superintendent's eye, mot drop. Mr.
Lidgerwood: amt touched not. tasted
not mr. handled not-'r leastwise, not
to drink any" and here he told the
bottle episode which had ended in the
smashing Of Flemister's sideboard sup
/ ply.
! Lidgerwood nodded approvingly
when the modest nara tive reached the
bottle smashing point
THAT was fine. John" he said. Us
inc the ex-engineer's Christian name
for the first time in the long inter
view "If you've got II in you TO do
such q thing as that at such time
there is good hope for you. Let's