The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-17
| noyance in his face she vas d,sapporn..

ed. He gracefully confessed his inter
est in the prospective meeting.
II shall be more than delighted to
come he said. And / am glad he
will be there to engage Christine's at
tention while | devote myself to you.
Mrs. B~raddock."
You nice boy"
She extended her hand. Il must not
keep my father waiting out there. You
don't know how glad | am that you are
here, David" An expression of utter
loathing came into her deep eyes.
Colonel Grand was standing at the
door through which she would have to
pass.
"Confound him." ~inyoluntarily fell
from David's lips.
IF he dares to address me"-she be-
gan, her face going white. David, i
have not seen that man since the day
l left the show. Why is he here today?
Is it to annoy-to torment me in
He wont do that announced David
firmly.
During their talk she had absently
folded the telegram. He observed it
in her hand and said:
The telegram-don't forget that.
Mrs. Braddock.'
With a diverted smile for the wait
ing clerk she said, Il shall not send 1t,
after all"
Thrusting the crumpled bit of paper
into DaVid's hand. her eyes steadfastly
held against the impulse to look at the
satiric figure in the doorway, she said
In a half whisper:
Take it, David-and come tonight"
He stood there with his hat in his
hand as the carriage drove off. Sud
denly a light broke in upon his under
standing. He spread out the small
sheet and read:
The five years have passed. | re-
deem my promise. You are not obliged
to keep yours, however"
1t was signed Mary B~raddock."
Colonel Grand was smiling sardoni-
cally.
Il shall depend on you, David, to
bring my husband here to see me.
Search for him until you find him"
The white faced, distressed woman
said this to David Jenison a few hours
later in the Portman library. Stan
fields married sister had taken Chris
tine off to a concert. Mrs. Braddock,
in a spirit of whimsicality, forbore
mentioning the appearance of David to
the girl, planning to surprise her when
she returned. If David was disap-
pointed at 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.
He had gone at once 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, it 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-conyict, had
hurried at once to Grand's hotel, find
ing his man there seated in the small
lobby, a 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
i'll favored thieves lodging house.
where he had taken a single room for
temporary occupancy.
Dick informed David: Hes set on
doing something nasty. kid, that's al
there IL to it. He won't be turned
aside. Those years IN the pen have
put something into his backbone that
never was there before. Maybe Mrs
Braddock can talk him out of it, but
dunno. She always had influence over
him, but that was before he took to
getting tight. It's different now. II
we can't do anything else We'll have
to warn Grand, that's all. | hate to dc
it, but | guess it's the only way left
For the first time in their acquain
lance David saw Dick lose control oil
himself.
David, | hate the sight o. thai
man."
Before leaving Dick announced tina,
he was eager TO start west to connect
with some circus, complaining of the
improbable idIeness that had beer
forced upon him. He expressed the
confident hope that Braddock might be
: persuaded to leave with him.
, Il can't afford to be loafin' arounc
New York this season of the year." he
t reflected. It's expensive the way
Ernie and me are living nowadays.
: got to 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 scaiawag, but Dick laughed
r at him In fine scorn He departed {
few minutes later, sauntering dowr
, the hall with a complacency that fair
ly scoffed at house detectives and theil
ilk.
+ David went to the Portman home II
!, a state OF suppressed eagerness ant
7 anxiety. He expected to see Chris