The Dolores star., 1913-01-31

opened the door ID entered the apart.
ment Of the Judge" A high.low In.
candescent was burning with the dim
light on. and In the glow Bedights
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 the letter containing
the bill. and Jackie vining! They
were both In evidence, the one In the
farther corner Of the room. the other
In her bed asleep. her round arms
beautiful hair in a braid that fell
across the white linen like = rope OF
gold. Beside the bed on . chair lay
. pile of flmy lingerie, and on top OF
the heap . pair OF black silk hose.
Bedight. fascinated, turned his face
away. Even . political career would
scarce excuse . man for such an in
trusion.
But she will never know" flashed
through Bedight's mind AZ he slipped
quietly across the room to the dresser.
Yes. the package was there-and un-
sealed. Hastily slipping the envelope
on. he tucked the bill away In his
pocket. From . 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 the let
ter. returning It with the manuscript
to the envelope. Wetting the much
lage. he closed and sealed the letter
and laid II back on the dresser. Turn.
ing to 90. his eyes fell upon the face
OF the sleeper. How beautiful she was
and how unreasonable. For the
nerest second be hesitated opposite
the lacy couch Of my lady's dreams
but the moment was fatal.
BY some strange freak Of fate tho
high-low light. feeling IN impulse Of
FRESH current. automatically .shiftsA
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
encs Of mind. Springing forward. he
spoke her name. mufllng her startled
ejaculation with his hand. gently laid
across her lips.
And then ~ her eyes biazed like
torches with their outraged fires. no
dropped to his knees beside the bed
and said hotiy:
you will never forgive me for this
and ! do not blame you. but some
day you will understand. I have done
nothing At Squirrel Inn to make .
gentleman blush for shame-except
this--and-I had to do II. thought I
could-could say good-by without
awakening you. an going now.
When hrst We met. you gave me .
kiss-or II you please, I stole II. In.
going ! an giving In return my heart.
and taking a. the sweetest memory
OF my life this last good-by!"
Bowling his head over the free OF
the half stupefied girl. he touched his
lips to hers reverently--and slipped
from the room.
A he did 40 . piercing shrek arose
The Judge" was coming to her own.
u was answered from below.
Bedight. scudding along the hall,
heard the answering cry and knew
the sheriff had arrived. Exit from
the hotel by way Of the staircase was
out OF the Question. He darted To
Bsss Winters room. tried the door ana
breathsd . sigh Of relief - II yielded
From the room Q veranda opened AND
from the floor OF the veranda To the
ground was not too much Of drop foi
an agile man. Bedight hung for . mo
ment on the rail. Then he let 60
landing almost In the arms Of an Of
ncer. evidently more surprised than
the mayor. who. quicker Of action.
pushed the deputy hcadlong and Ned
from the scene with speed that would
Do credit 10 Jackie vining.
Down the gravel walk sped Bsdight.
toward the main road. Already the
oflicsr had regained his feet and given
the alarm. The mayor heard . call
for help. . hurried explanation. and
then footballs II pursuit. Down the
road he ran toward the shadows At
The trees along the highway.
II Briggs vas there and ready. be
would set away IN time. Something
doomed black IN the shadows ahead.
Il vas the car! Bedight called %
be ran-but Briggs vas too surprised
to heed. i
Crank the cart" cried the mayor
excitsdly. dashins up 10 the machine.
But the pursuers were upon them
~ the bswildsrsd briggs sprang 10
the wheel. The mayor turned and
struck blindiy at the sheriff IN the
lead. whiried and sprsng Into the ma.
chine. The motor aroussd Instantly
and shot ahead. leaving the snragsd
pursuers powsrless In the road
.
chApTGN XII.
Il was 10 o'clock on the evening Of