The Detroit times., 1913-02-11

said chat he had hanged John North
he got the credit FOR thAt-wen.
John North wasn't hanged yeti He
tossed his arms aloft. MY God,
didn't mean TO do that" he muttsred.
He had gained the railroad tracks
and was running toward the bridge
the very seconds seemed OF infinite
value 10 him, for suppose he should
have difficulty In finding Moxlowy
And II he found the prosecuting attor'
ney. would he believe his story? \
shudder passed through him. He was
quite near the bridge when suddenly
he paused and whispered curse slip
ped from between his parted lips.
man was standing at the entrance 10
the bridge and though IL was impos-
sible TO distinguish more than the
shadowy outline OF his figure. Mont
gomery was certain that IL was Mar
shall Langham. His first impulse was
TO turn back and go into town by the
wagon road and the wooden bridge
but as he hesitated the figure came
toward him. and Langham spoke.
lis that you, joe" he asked.
Damn him. he knows ! won't stand
for hangin' North" the handy-msn
told himself under his breath. He
added aloud as he shuffled forward,
Yes, It's me, boss"
Couldn't you make II right with
Nellie?" asked Langham.
"Oh, II isn't that-the old woman 5
all right-but the baby's sick aud I'm
out huntin' a doctor"
He did not expect Langham 10 be-
| lieve him, but on the spur OF the mo-
-. gyaly - N
II am sorry 10 hear that" said
Langham.
An evil wolfish light stole into his
eyes and the lines OF his weak de-
| bauched face hardened
What's the matter with you, boss {:
couldn't you get across?" asked Joe.
| NO the bridge is too much for me.
! Like a fool | stopped here 10 smoke
I a cigar after you left me: | hoped IL
would clear OF a bit SO | could see
the ties. but IT'S worse now that / can.
had about made up my mind 10 come
and get you 10 help me- back into
town
Come along. boss, I'm In a terrible
hurry" said Joe eagerly.
But Langham was a pace or two In
advance OF him when they stepped on
the bridge. Never once did he glance
in the handy-man's direction, Had he
done so, Montgomery must have been
aware that his face showed bloodless
in the moonlight, while his sunken
eyes blazed with an unaecustomed
fire
Il can't walk these ties. joe give
me your hand" he managed 20 say.
Joe did as he desired. and as the
lawyers slim fingers closed about
mis- great fist he was conscious that
cold moisture covered them He
could only think OF dead mans
hand
What's wrong with the baby. Joe?'
Langham asked.
Seems like it's got Group" said
Joe promptly.
That's too bad"
Yes, it's a hell OF pity" agreed
Montgomery.
He was furtively watching Lang
ham out OF the corners OF his beady
blue eyes his inner sense OF things
told him II was we'll TO do this They
took half a dozen steps and Langham
released Joe's hand.
81 wonder III | can manage this
alone" he said. But apparently the
attempt was failure. for he quickly
rested his hand on his companion S
massive shoulder.
They had reached the second OF the
bridges three spans Below them In
| the darkness Me yellow food poured
| I'm voisy volume. As Langham knew
here the stream was at its deepest
and its current the swiftest. He knew
also that his chance had come; but he
dared not make use OF IL. The breath
whistled from his lips and. the mois-
ture came from every pore. He
sought frantically to-nerVe himself
for the supreme moment; but suppose
he slipped, or suppose Joe became
aware OF his purpose one second too
soon!
Keep over a bit. boss" said the
handy-man suddenly You are crowd
ing me of the bridget"
"Oh, all right; is that better?"
And Langham moved a step aside.
"A whole lot" responded Joe grurfly
But his little blue eyes, alert with Gun.
ming. were never withdrawn from the
lawyer for an instant.
They walked forward In silence for
a moment or two, and were approach
ing the end OF the center span, when
the lawyer glanced about him wildly;
he realized that he was letting slip his
one great opportunity. Again Joe
spoke:
Keep over. boss!" And then all IN
the same breath, What the hell are
you up to. anyway?
II must be now or II would be new
err; and Langham. turning swiftly,
hurled himself on his companion. and
his slim fingers with their death-like
chill gripped Joe's hairy throat In
the suddenness OF the attack he was
forced toward the edge OF the bridge
The rush of the noisy waters sound
ed with fearful distinctness In his
Continued