The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-01-30
THE ROSE
THE RING
By Csssss Assv M'Cueejsoa
ooo1oleo1o1s0nAAnA

Ths Rsssra q chssseias- -csatisvs6.
That's What ! nsaa. Bst'rn going
- ask ~ jast how DseA - hAs
pssasrsA hse slnes-vsal siaes that
tiDs vith ths show. In 0oias to ask
AR n - knovs vhak I ~ to hsr In
~ sals e ~ i.tsrsst. rn going to
~ ct 4 - tsaA hss."
0ssA1oek. yss nsst hstsa 70 rsar
ssal" esisA DavtA-
I'm tell yss vAaa ! sa0s hsrs eos
ee1Ay, ysaissa.- ~ Dsa14osk Isvsaly.
"Das6 says yss'ss st1l1 esasy aSest ny
-AAeak CArskino. Hs svsass you
havsat sssa Ass n I've ysars-so0s
k1.A q . promise ny wife ns6s. ~
saiA. I ea0s b ask you this question:
WIN It make any AiRsrsaos In yosr u
tsatioas regarding her II 1T her ~
tier should happen to end bic life ON
ths scaaold! ! don't say fsslings.
mind you|I said intsntions. l mean
II. Would you still want her if-n It
tarned out that way?"
David looked hslplessly from Joey to
Ruby and then at the set, smotionless
face Of the qusstionsr.
"Braddock, can tell you this from
my soul: Nothing you may do will
alter my feelings or my Intentions
Christine 10 In no way responsible for
that she has such a father. II she still
cares for me shall ask her to be my
wife. even though you are strung up
. hundred times. But this 10 beside
the question. You should think OF her
happiness. her peace Of mind. All her
ME she will have to think Of you ~
-a-well. won't say 1t. You"
"I1l say It for you" interrupted the
gray faced listener; 'as gallows bird
-as scaffold fruit"
you would better . thousand times
shoot yourself tl1n to bring that black
shadow into her life," said David.
you can stop me. l suppose. by hav.
ing me locked up. but you can't keep
me there forever. III get out some
time. l don't say I'm going to shoot
Bob Grand. I want you all to bear
witness to this statement. Whatever
I do to him will be with these two
hands. He didn't use weapons on me
ana I'm not going to use 'em on him. -
He picked up his hat and. with no
word of thanks to Ruby. no word Of
appreciation to David. no word Of
gratitude to Joey, he strode out into
the hall, through the door and down
the steps.
HE can't do It today" said Joey in
hushed tones. THE mans still out
O. town"
On David's return to the hotel he
found a hastily scrawled note from
Artful Dick Cronk. He had remained
at the Noakes' until midafternoon dis.
cussing the sinister attitude of Thorn.
as Braddock. Joey had stubbornly
maintained that 1t was worse than
useless to have the man locked up. 1t
would merely delay the contamination
OF his purpose. Jenison at last came
to his way Of thinking. although not
without a twinge of misgiving. 1t
had in no way reformed.
Dicks note bore the disturbing news
that Colonel Grand had returned to
town and that Mrs. Braddock was ex.
pected the following day. Ernie had
obtained this Information through the
friendly Portman servant. who. to
quote Dick, affected the hunchback's
society, because he believed that the
touching Of hump would bring good
luck" Old Mr.. Portman, 1t was given
out, was on his way to his summer
place in the Adirondacks. Naturally
he would be accompanied by his
daughter and Christine. They were
due to arrive at 4 O'Clock and expected
to remain in town for ten days.
David spent a miserable night. He
was obsessed by the fear that Brad
dock would seek out Grand that very
night. The next day he took Joey and
Ruby to luncheon at Delmonico's. All
through the meal he was busy pictur'
ing to himself the girl who was whirl
ing northward, nearer and nearer to
him with each minute Of time. She
would be tall and slender and shapely
His minds eye travelled backward
Her hair would be brown. But even
- he constructed her to please his
eager Imagination he quailed before
the specter of doubt. Was the heart OF
the girl Of fifteen unchanged in the
woman Of twenty?
He caught the ferry soon after lunch.
con and was at the station on the 9th.
or side Of the river long before the
= train was due There his eyes rested
on a squat, misshapen figure. Ernie
Cronk's presence WAS disquieting in
more than one sense. Dick had said
that Braddock was hanging round"
with his brother. David searched the
scurrying throng for glimpse of the
drab, sinister figure Of Christine's ia.
ther, all the while conscious that
Ernie Cronk's baleful gaze was upon
him. He considered briefly and then
decided to consult the cripple AS he