The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-10

OF the law, he was profoundly affect
ed by this wild gossip. this ignorant
conjecture, which reason and expert
ence alike told him misstated every
fact that bore on the situation. he
was learning just how dependent he
had been on Gilmore; no strange i'm
aginings, no foolish yagaries had
ever beset the gambler. his brutal
vigor had yielded nothing TO terror or
remorse.
He knew the Herberts had gone to
Columbus to make a final appeal TO
the governor. Father and daughter
had been driven across the Square
by Thompson, the Idle Hour fore
man. and they had passed below the
windows OF Langham's ONCE on their
way TO the station, II had seemed TO
him an iniQuitous thing that the old
stateman's position and influence
should be brought into the case TO
defeat his hopes. 10 rob him OF his
vengeance, TO imperil his very safety.
Racked and tortured, he had no ex.
| istence outside his fear and hate.
| All that day Langham haunted the
railway station. II any word did
come over the wires. he wished TO
know It at once, and II General Her
bert returned he wished to see him.
since his appearance must indicate
success or failure. II II were failure
1.-THE knowledge would come none too
quickly; II success, In any degree. he
contemplated instant flight, for he
was obsessed by the belief that then
he would somehow stand in immi-
nent peril.
He was pacing the long platform
when the afternoon train arrived, but
his bloodshot eyes searched the crowd
In vain for a sight of General Her
| bert's stalwart figure.
He has Just one more chance TO
get back in time" he told himself.
"If he doesn't come tonight It means
| am safe!"
His bloodless lips sucked in the
warm air. Safe, II was the first
time in months he had dared to tell
himself this; yet a moment later and
his fears were crowding back crush
ing him to earth. The general might
do much In the six hours that re-
NAMED to him.
He was back at his post when the
night train drew in, and his heart
gave a great leap in his breast as he
saw the general descend from the
platform OF the sleeper and then turn
to assist Elizabeth. She was closely
yelled. but one glance at the pair sur
feed.
Langham passed down the long
platform. The flickering gas-jets that
burned at intervals under the wide
caves OF the low station were lumin-
GUS suns, his brain whirled and his
step was unsteady. He passed out
into the night, and when the friendly
darkness had closed about him, slip
| ped a feverish palm across his eyes
and thanked God that his season OF
despair was at an end. He had suf-
fered and endured but now he was
safe!
Before him the train, with its trail
ing echoes, had dwindled away into
the silence OF the spring night.
| Scarcely conscious OF the direction he
was taking he walked down the track
toward the iron bridge. II was as II
some miracle OF healing had come TO
him; his heavy step grew light. his
shaking hands became steady, his
brain clear; in those first moments
OF security he was the ease-seeking.
pleasure-loving Marshall Langham or
seven months before.
AS he strobe forward he became
aware that some one was ahead OF
him on the track, then presently at
the bridge a match was struck, and
his eyes, piercing the Intervening
darkness. saw that a man had paused
There to light a pipe He was quite
neax the bridge himself when an
other match hared. and he was able
to distinguish the figure OF this man
who was crouching back Of one OF
the iron Orders. A pun OF wind ex-
tinguished the second match almost
Immediately, and after moment or
two In which the lawyer continued
to advance, a third match was struck ,
at the same instant the man must
have heard the sound OF Langham
approach, for as he brought the Diaz-
ing match to the bowl OF short
black pipe, he turned. standing erect
and Iangham caught sight OF MS
face. 1t was Joe Montgomery. An
other playful gust found Mr.. Mont
gomery's match and the two men
stood facing each other In the DARK
ness.
Langham had been about to speak
but the words died on his lips;
wave OF horror passed over him. he
had known not quite ten minutes OF
security and now 1t was at an end;
his terror all revived; this hulklng
brute who faced him there In the
darkness menaced his safety. a few
drinks might give him courage to go
To Moxlow or TO the general with MS
How was he TO deaf via
the situation? -.
There ain't much Irish about me
said Montgomery. with casual oatn'
There was moment OF silence.