The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-02-13

am square as die in all matters not
connected-well, not connected with
my profession" he smiled in a burst
of that whimsical humor, which not
even the seriousness of the moment
could quite suppress.
And what surety have l that you
do not consider this very matter OF
mine as coming within the bounds you
, speak Off"
None. But you must trust me that
far"
Brotherson surveyed him with an
irony which conveyed very differ.
ent message to the detective than any
he had intended. Then quickly:
ITO how many have you spoken, d.
lating upon this device. and publish.
ing abroad my secret?"
II have spoken to no one, not even
10 Mr.. Gryce. That shows my honesty
ls nothing else can"
you have kept my secret intact?"
Entirely SO. si-."
$50 that no one, here or elsewhere.
shares our knowledge OF the new
points in this mechanism?
Il say SO, sir"
Then if l should kill you," came in
ferocious accents, "now-here-"
You would be the only one to own
that knowledge. But you won't kill
me-"
"Why?"
Need 1 go into reasons?"
why? l say"
Because your conscience is already
too heavily laden to bear the burden
of another unprcvohed crime"
Brotherson. staring back, glared
with open ferocity upon the man who
dared to face him with such an accu-
sation.
God! why didn't shoot you on en-
trance!" he cried. Your courage is
certainly colossal"
A fine smile, without even the hint
of humor now, touched the daring de-
tective's lip. Brotherson's anger
seemed to grow under 1t, and he loud
ly repeated:
its more than colossal; it's abnor-
with ironic pauses-"and quite unnec-
essary save as matter of display. un-
less you think you need it to sustain
you through the ordeal you are court
ing. You wish to help me finish and
prepare for fiight?"
II sincerely do
you consider yourself competent"
81 do"
Brotherson's eyes fell and he walked
once to the extremity of the oval hoor.
ing and back.
Well, we will grant that. But that's
ments demand q companion in my
first fight. Will you go up in the car
with me on Saturday night?'
A quick affirmative was or. Sweet
waters lips but the glimpse which he
got of the speakers face gloweriIg
upon him from the shadows into which
Brotherson had withdrawn, stoppe3 its
utterance. and the silence grew heavy
Though it may not have lasted Gong
by the clock, the instant of breathless
contemplation of each others features
across the intervening space was OF
incalculable moment to Sweetwater,
and, possibly, to Brotherson. AS
drowning men are said to live over
their whole history between their first
plunge and their final rise to light and
air, SO through the mind of the de-
tective rushed the memories of his
past and the fast fading glories Of his
future; and rebelling at the subtle
peril he saw in that sardonic eye, he
vociferated an impulsive:
mo! I'll not" and paused, caught
by new and irresistible sensation.
A breath of wind-the first he had
felt that night-had swept in through
some crcvice in the curving wall, TAP
ping the canvas enveloping the great
car. 1t acted like a peal to battle.
After all, a man must take some risks
in this life, and his heart was in this
trial of redoubtable mechanism in
which he had full faith. He could not
say no to the prospect of being the
first to share triumph which would
send his name to the ends of the
earth; and, changing the trend of his
sentence, he repeated with a calmness
which had the force of a great de-
cision:
Il will not fail you in anything. If
she rises" here his trembling hand
fell on the curtain shutting off his
view of the ship, "she shall take me
with her, SO that when she descends l
may be the first to congratulate the
proud inventor of such a marvel"
$50 be it," shot from the others
lips, his eyes losing their threatening
look, and his whole countenance sud-
denly aglow with the enthusiasm Of
awakened genius.
Coming from the shadows, he laid
his hand On the cord regulating the
rise and fall Of the concealing curtain.
Here she isl" he cried and drew
the cord.
The canvas shook, gathered itself
into great folds and disappeared in
the shadows from which he had Just
stepped.
The air-car stood revealed start
ling. because wholly unique. vision.
Long did Sweetwater survey it.
then turning with beaming face upon
the watchful inventor, he uttered a
loud hlIrrah