The daily sentinel., 1913-06-12

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older. maybe he understands her-which ereryon
don't" ..aa+
And, of course, l don't Though IL Id expert
mented with every heart that offered 1 might, too
But who's that moving upstairs?" at!H,
Captain Prady. And go up, Jackie, like a goot
boy, and say civil word to him. If you and hin
had faln' out, don't lay that ag'in' him now
the poor He's that forlorn about Chick. 1T
hauntln this old place he is since far back the
said you and Lappen was lost The poor man, g
up and say civil word to him. Jackie-boy."
So Jack went upstairs and said "How you?" t.
Prady, whereat the older mans face lit up immeas
urably; and they set to chatting of thing an
other. of everything but Chick, when suddenly, unac
countaby to Jack, Pradys eyes gowed. "Shes com
ing he said. Jack then heard the carriage stopping
below, and presently the opening and closing of th'
street door and then the nervous. quick stepping o
feet below stairs. By and by-he knew the steps
now-she was heard ascending the stairs.
Jack how slender she had become. The OLE
blazing color too, gone. Without warning sh'
turned on him What about Lappen?"
ale down with his vessel when 1t was shellet
by the Japs We'd been hunting seals Illegally of
the east coast of sakhalin Island And he woudn'
have been lost, but he trying to his money
chest He wanted 1t for you"
"For me? And came near to bringing death ant
disgrace to you?"
"Ale into disgrace: Me7 Was I of a chd's ag,
or what? And what had he to do with me? Twai
for you. He went to his death for you and you sa,
that God, but you've grown to be a terrible woman
Chick.'
Perhaps Perhaps But I've tried not TO be
Jack. But come here Jack. Let's forget all that
See,'s apd she indicated the neglected garden sd,
yof' 'reebcr the little girl Jack, who used to lcol
across from her window mornings TO you in you
window, and you in your little nightgown leaning ou
to point to your Chinese John what flowers 10 cu
for your mommers breakfast table? DO you, Jackie?
The compelling voice drew him across the room
The nearness to her SGT his heart TO humping terribly
Were Prady not there he would have gathered -hei
close. Pledged or no to Macron, It would not hav.
mattered.
"And it's gambling housel' he said
"Only to thinb-a gambling house! :" she repeated
and with that ran out Of the room and down stairs
another moment, as II for brief word to her grand
mother and Jack heard the street door close behind
her
Prady exclaimed, "Tn bet she's gone around til,
corner TO Charlie Wing's-to the silk store There:
ladies' game there, you know. Ludesr he repeated
and stepped the room and looked gloomily ou
of the rear window
Thirstins hear OF her smallest doing Jack forced
another question Does she go there often?'
''rwice before-ths week silk store" he
sneered "but she brings home any silk. Yor
ought to tell her to cut it out"
"Me tell her? Me?'
Yes you" He whisted irrelevantly, then stopped
suddenly. $50 long" Soon the street door CLOSED
behind him.
Jack remained gazing out of the rear window or
the back area, for other than that she had
been doing so just before him.
The report of pistol brought him jumping out of hi:
reverie. He knew it for a bg.bore revolver shot
There open window. lace curtain it
No longer puzzns reflection. but down the back stairs
in two strides, Grannie's backyard in three
more. The door to Charlie Wings he found bolted
on the inside, but the wall easily scaled He
had forgotten the layout of this his old home
md straight up the back stairs he rushed straight
for that back room-he knew that room, too-of the
open window and lace curtain
Another shot and almost at the same instant the
door swung open before him. 1t was Charlie Wing
backing out. The revolver was still in his hand
Jack looked beyond Charlie and there he saw Chick
her head resting table II she were weary
On the floor Prady his legs stretched out before
him and his back against the wall Blood his
white shirt front AID knife in his hand Like
coming death he locked Charlie said something ii
Chinese and turned. quick man. but quct
enough. Jack caught his lifted wrist and the bulle
went by him He wrcnched the wrist; he could
feel the bones cracking uader his grip see Wing
grow clear white with the agony. Before the weapor
had hit the floor Jack had him by the throat.
But Wing did rot die by his hand. Over Wing.
shoulder he Chick lift her head and he saw, too
that she know him And he had no more time for
Wing. He hoaved him OF. and back on the looi
Wing fell. to Prady who Jack had thought was al
gone, but who reached over and drove his inif,
deep into Wings neck. tf -
Jack took Chick up. Once she would have beer
quite weight. but not He could feel her brcati
at his car. "Oh-h--Im so glad that it's you thai
came to take me away" ,"'shc said.
lie said to Prady "lf anybody comes let it bs
Charlie and you and me alone