Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-07-31

him, by the right kind Of questioning.
to have told everything. And had
let the chance slip!
"The next morning my feeling Of
remorse was worse. I took my place
at my machine and looked about me.
He was absent. An hour passed and
still he did not come. Two hours.
Three. Things blurred before me.
Something had happened to take him
away. Now, as never I had felt be-
fore, there came the conviction that
this man was not Henderson, that he
did not live at Labaddie, but that he
was Clayton Rogers, the man l was
hunting, and that his place was in a
penitentiary for theft. I went to the
foreman.
"I had an engagement with Mr.
Henderson. He was going to show me
something about the work. He is not
here. Is he ill?' asked.
"'Drew his time this morning down.
stairs the foreman answered. He's
gone.
"'Gone? The words went through
my brain like fire. Then he had un-
derstood last night. l had let some
word drop that gave him the hint.
Perhaps he had heard from his
mother, he had received the informa-
tion OF the old sweetheart who had
sought him at the homeland he
knew! l walked dazedly back to my
machine and looked at its whirring
belt. Then l took of my apron.
"'I am leaving told the foreman.
Give me my time"
! happened to look into the face OF
Alice Clement just then. l saw that
in her memory she was suffering all
that she had suffered at that moment
In the bindery. l saw before me
woman whose brain was keen enough
to suffer even in retrospection, and
whose sensibilities were Of that finely
attuned strain that re-lives pain and
sorrow, happiness and Joy, again and
again. She was speaking.
There was chance left I had
learned his address at least. A car
corner and ran for It, Twenty min.
utes later was walking through the
dark hall OF roomng house to where
the landlady said Mr.. Henderson had
his room. l knocked on the door.
There was no answer. knocked
again. There came from the inside
the tread, tread Of a mans footsteps.
l believed I heard q voice, as though
someone was talking to himself.
ceased knocking. put my ear to the
keyhole and listened:
"And, by God, III kill him first!'
at was Hendersons voice, brutal,
tense. What was wrong. ! did not
know. One thing realized, that
something had happened, that now or
never the truth would come out, that
II this man was Clayton Rogers now
was the time when I would learn 1t,
and that action must be swift He
might be drunk, he might be crazed
with drugs. There was no time for
me to get assistance; l must work
and work fast. | turned the knob of
the door. 1t did not yield. l pulled
skeleton key from my bag and in,
serted 1t in the lock. | felt the bolt
shift. A tremble ran through me as
| reached for my revolver and hid 1t
in fold of my dress. Then, with a
hurried push, sent the door flying
open.
"A mad man faced me. Eyes wide
and staring, hair umkempt, mouth low
drawn and shaking. the man whom l
sought stood before me. He had not
slept, that was evident. His hands
shook. In one trembling claw he held
a revolver. He started forward as I
entered, the revolver half raised into
the air, then recoiled.
'You-!' he half screamed.
You!
81 stood facing him. l tried to speak.
| failed. The sight Of the wreck Of
the man before me seemed to have
taken my voice. He laid the revolver
on the table, and springing toward me.
seized me by wrist.
what are you doing here?' he
asked wildly. Answer me! What are
you doing here?'
"'You were not at work. answered
as hastily as I could I wondered
what had become Of you-they said
you had left had right to know
after what you said last night
"He broke away from me with
sob.
"'Yes. last night!' he groaned.
Last night
II approached him.
what has happened7' I begged.
Can't you tell me what 1t Is that Is
weighing on you? Can't you trust
me?'
1.-The eyes that stared into mine
seemed CLASSY.
"Tell you? he asked DULY. Tell
you? The one person / wanted to
keep 1t from? The one person.
He broke of in a wild laugh. felt my
heart leap. Then he was Clayton
Rogers! 1t was the time for me to
play my game and play 1t hard.
rushed toward him.
"'Jim! called to him in the name
he had assumed, why should you keep
anything from me? told you last
night that did not care, that could
not care-I lied to you, Jim. do
care-I care enough, SO that no mat
ter what may happen, no matter what
you may have done or will do, will
still care. And now, won't you tell me
L. Shnt IL tvv
you, Jim?
"He stood and looked at me for q
moment. His arms dropped weakly
to his sides. When he spoke his voice
was hoarse and choking.