The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-01-18
i was signed MARY Braddock. >

cally.
Il shall depend on you. David. to
bring my husband here TO sec me.
Search for him until YOU find him"
The white faced. distressed woman
said this TO David Jenison a few hours
later i'm the Portman library. Stan
fields married sister had taken Chris
tine Off to a concert. Mrs. Braddock,
In Il spirit of whimsicality, forbore
mentioning the appearance Of David to
the girl. planning to surprise her when
she returned. If David was disap-
pointed ut not finding her. he went TO
considerable pains TO hide the fact
from the mother. Christine's absence
was providential after all. He had
ugly news for Mrs. Braddock.
lie had rome at oncc TO his room in
the hotel after leaving Mrs. Braddock
at the ferry. Dick Cronk was there
ahead of him. A skeleton key had pro-
vided the means of admission.
Dicks news created great unrest IN
David's breast. Braddock. IL appeared,
had gone early in the afternoon to the
apartment hotel in which Grand lived.
The colonel was not about the place.
Dick. on missing the ex-convict. had
hurried 1T once to Grand's hotel. find
ing his man there seated in the small
lobby, q sinister example of respecta-
bility, waiting patiently for the return
of his enemy. The self appointed
guardian coaxed him away from the
place. conducting him to the cheap,
an $500 &Is~any f@ffn- IrttCn }
where he had taken a single oom for
temporary occupancy.
Dick informed David: He's set on
doing something nasty. kid, that's all
there is to it. He won't be turned
aside. Those ear in the pen have
put something into his backbone that
never was there before. Maybe Mrs.
Braddock can talk him out of 1t, but l
dunno. She always had influence owe
him. but that was before he took to
getting tight. It's different now. If
we can't do anything else we'll have
to warn Grand, that's all. / hate 10 do
it. but I guess it's the only way left"
For the first time in their acquain-
lance David saw Dick lose control OF
himself.
David, l hate the sight o. that man."
Before leaving Dick announced that
he was eager to start west to connect
with some circus, complaining Of
the improbable idleness that had been
forced upon him. He expressed the
confident hope that Braddock might be
persuaded to leave with him.
II can't afford to be loafn' around
New York this season of the year." he
reflected. Its expensive the way
Ernie and me are living nowadays. l
got t. get out and round up the rubes."
Jenison once more impulsively Of
fered to provide a refuge and employ
ment for life on his plantation for the
delectable scalawag, but Dick laughed
at him in fine scorn. He departed a
few minutes later, sauntering down
the hall with a ~complacency that fair
ly scoffed at house detectives and their
ilk.
David went to the Portman home in
a state of suppressed eagerness and
anxiety. He expected to see Chris
tine. What would be her attitude DO
ward him? What had the five years
and new environment lone for her?
Eager as he was to discover the staba
of her feelings he recognized, however.
the more pressing matters that were to
be considered. The peace and welfare
of the girl herself demanded his first
thoughts, his most devoted efforts.
Tragedy stalked close beside her. He
lost no time, therefore, in apprising,
Mary Braddock Of the true state of at
fairs. She sat before him, a great
dread in her dark eyes, the pallor of.
helplessness on her cheek, listening to
the direful tale he told. He spared her
not the details. nor softened the stub
born facts. As clearly as possible he
drew for her the picture Of Thomas
Braddock as he had seen him. He re
peated faithfully all that Dick Cronk
and the Noakeses had told him, neg
lecting no particular in the known
history Of her husband since the old
circus days.
She interrupted him once. to ask him
to tell her again how Braddock looked
and how he had acted. AS he repeated
the description her perplexed, even
doubling, expression caused him to
hesitate, but she shook her head al If
putting something out of her mind and
signified that he was to proceed.
II wCdld not have known him. he
concluded.
HE had not touched whisky, you say
none since
Not in three years. II has wrought
an unbelievable change in him."
IL knew him, David, before he drank
at ALL" she said staring past him.
Perhaps the change would not be so
great to me-
HE has aged many years. There
are hard, desperate lines in his face.
You would see a change, I am afraid,
Mrs. Braddock.'