Lower coast gazette., 1913-03-29

eess Winters.
throwing bis few effects into q suit
case.
I'm ready, Bess," he said hurriedly
"EThile I'm trying to turn this trick
you slip out and see If Briggs Is
waiting. It's an hour too soon, but he
may be there. Good.by. little girl,
Nuns the word" giving her a loving
hug.
Tho mayor sped down the hall to
Jackie Winnings room.
Cad" he calculated, this Is a rum
thing I've got to debut everything Is
fair In love and politics-and this IL
both"
Taking q key from his pocket, Be.
digit slipped It softly into the door.
The lock yielded. Cautiously he
opened the door and entered the, apart
mcnt Of the Judge" A high-low in.
cundescent was burning with the dim
light on. and In the glow Dedight's
eyes surveyed the apartment carefully.
AS his eyes swept the room, he sought
to locate two objects Of intense inter.
est-the dresser, on top of which was
supposed to lie tie letter containing
the bill, and Jac..!e yining! They
were 10th in evidence, the one in the
farther ceyner Of tAe room, the other
III her bed a-leen her round a.sls
thrown Upward ateus her face, her
-autitul hair in a braid that fell
across the white linen like a rope OF
geld. Beside the bed en- q chair lay
a pile Of Almy lingerie, and or top Of
the heap a pair OF LACK silk hose.
Bedight, fascinated, turned his face
away. Evcu q Political career would
scarce excuse Q n2an for such an In,
trusion.
fsput size W.T., neyeg knew" mashed
through Bed.ght's mind us no slipped
quietly across the room to the dresser.
Yes, the package vas there-and un-
sealed. Hastily SLIPPING the envelope
of, he tucked the bill away in hi.
pocket. From q second pocket no
brought out another manuscript and
substituted this for the one he had
lost on the morning Of the run through
the swamp. He did not read tho let
ter. returning 1t with the manuscript
to the envelope. Wettiag the muci-
lage. he closed and sealed the letter
and laid 1t back on the dresser. Turn
Ing to go. his eyes fell upon the face
Of the sleeper. How beautiful she was
land how unreasonable. For the,
merest second he hesitated opposite
the lacy couch of my lady's dreams
but the moment was fatal.
BY some strange freak Of fate the
high-low light, feeling an impulse Of
fresh current. automatically shifted
from low to high. The brilliant glare
fell directly in The girls face. She
stirred. opened her eyes and would
have screamed but for Bedight's pres.
ence Of mind, G%pringing forward, be
spoke her name. mnifling her startled
ejaculation with his hand. gently hid
across her lips.
And then as her eyes blaxed like !
torches with their outraged Ares, he
to HIS knees beside the bed
and said hotly:
You will never forgive me for this !
and ! do not blame you, But some
day you will understand. have done
nothing at Squirrel Inn to make 9
gentleman blush fer shame-except
thfs-and--I had to do It. thought /
.ould-could say good.by without
awakening you. I am going now.
When first We met. you gave me o
kiss-or II you please. I stole 1t. In
going ! am giving in return my heart.
and taking az tho sweetest memory
of my life thia last good-by!"
Bowling his head over the face OF
half stupefled girl. he touched his
lips TO hers rsverently-and slipped
from the room.
AS he did 80 a piercing shrek arose.
The "Judge" was coming to her own,
It was answered from below.
Eediglt. scuddin. along the hall.
heard the answering cry and knew
sheriff had arrived. Exit from
The hotel BY way q the staircase was
OF the Question. He dasted to
'eSs Winters room, tried the door and
Ito be Coz. tinue1.l