The Detroit times., 1913-02-11


Arthur's father. IN,
III was his chest" explained Nellie,
Joe grunted BY this time ms wv
| elbows were planted on the euse VI
the table and his mouth was orousns
TO within six scant inches OF MS plate'
Tha handy-man's table manners were
: not his strong point
"Oh. | guess his chest Is all right"
he paused to say.
! Il thought twas best 20 be- on the
safe side. so took him uptown and
had his health examined by a doctor.
lie had TO take on his shirt so he
could hear Arthurs lungs"
Well. I'm damned--what did he do
that for?" cried Joe. profoundly as.
tonished.
1T was mercy I'd washed him
J first" added Nellie. not comprehend
ing the reason Of her husbands sud
den show of interest. though gratifed
by It.
Lord, thought you meant the doc
tor had took OF his shirt" said Joe.
Hes all right now, amt he?"
4 Yes. but he did. have such an
alarmin' cough; II hung on and hung
on, IL seemed TO me like II was on his
chest, but the doctor said no. and
was that relieved, ! used some OF
the twenty dollars TO pay him and 70
get medicine from the drug store"
Joe was examining his mouth full OF
cold meat and bread, and for the mo-
ment could not speak: when at length
be could and did, IL was to say:
Il hear Andy Gilmore's left town.
Yves, all OF sudden, and no one
knows where he's gone"
II guess he's had enough OF Mount
Hope, and | guess Mount Hopes had
enough OF him. remarked Joe,
They say the police was goin TO
stop the gamblin' in his rooms II he
hadn't gone when he did
Well, hope he'll catch hell wher-
ever he is" said Joe, with sullen
drop 10 his voice.
For a while after you left, joe they
didn't give me no peace al .all-the
police and detectives, | mean-they
was here every day, And Shrimplin
told me they was putin advertise
ments in the papers all over the coun-
try"
What for?' inquired Montgomery
uneasily.
They wanted TO find out where
you'd gone; II seemed like they was
determined TO get you back as a wit
ness for the trial." explained Nellie.
Montgomerys uneasiness increased.
He began to wonder fearfully II he
was in any danger, vague forebodings
assailed him. Suppose he was pinch
ed and sent up. His face blanched and
his small blue eyes slid around in
their sockets. Nellie was evidently
unaware OF the feeling OF terror her
words had inspired. for she continued:
But II didn't make no difference in
the end that you wasn't here, for
every body says 1t was you that hanged
John North you get all the credit for
that"
Montgomery's hands fell at his side:
Me hanged John North. Ne hang.
ed John North" he repeated. But he
amt hanged-God Almighty, he amt
hanged yeti"
His voice shot up into a wall Of
Mortified protest. Nellie regarded him
with look OF establishment She had
been rather sorry for young John
North, but she had also felt certain
wifely pride In Joe's connection with
the case
mo, he amt hanged yet but he viii
be In the morning" she said.
The handy-man sprang to his fee;
knocking over the chair in which he
had been seated.
What's that?" he roared
Why, haven't you heard7 He's to
! be hung In the morning."
Joe glared at her with starting eyes.
What will they do that for-hans
him-hang John North" He tore of
his ragged cap and dashed II 10 the
floor at his feet. ITO hell with Andy
Gilmore and to hell with Marsh Lang
ham-that's why they drove me out
OF town-to hell with 'em both" he
shouted, and his great chest seemed
bursting with pent-up fury.
Why, whatever do you mean, Joe?"
cried Nellie.
He never done it-you hear me-
and they know it. You sure you got
the straight of this-they are goin'
to hang young John North" He seized
her roughly by the shoulders.
"Yes-how you take on, joe
Take on" he shouted. YOU'D take
on too II you stood In my place
You're sure you know what you're
talkin' about7"
'T seen the fence around the jail
yard where they're goin' to hang him;
went over on purpose yesterday with
one OF the neighbors and took Arthur:
thought It would be improvin'. but
he'd seen It before There amt much
he don't see-for all I can do he just
runs the streets"
Joe's resolution had been formed
while she was speaking. and now he
snatched his ragged cap from the
floor.
You stay right here TIL I get back"
he said gruffly
II was not his habit 10 discuss az
fairs OF any moment with Mrs. Mont
| gomery. since In a general way he
| doubted the clearness Of the feminine
Judgment, and in the present instance
he had no intention OF taking her into
his confidence. The great problem by
which he was confronted he would set.
tie In his own fashion.
You amt in any trouble. Joe2" and
Nellie's eyes widened with the birth
OF sudden fear.
The handy-man was standing by the
door, and she went to his side
Me? No, guess not: but got an
eyerlastin' dose OF II for. the other
tellowI and he reached for the knob
was II what said about the police
,, Wantin' you?" his wife asked timidly.
: Sne knew that his dealings with the
police had never been OF an especially
! fortunate nature Hshook on the
, hanu she had placed on his arm.