Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-03-19

his fathers anxiety. he vas FAR from
resigning himself to a further delay
Of his return. On the contrary. he at
once began an inquiry as to sailing
dates. discovering. to his intense dis
gust. that no ship was scheduled to
leave for New York within several
days. He PINNED to borrow the pas
age money from his friends when the
time came, and accompany his letter
northward. Meanwhile he devoted biz
time to sight seeing with his hostess.
Edith Cortlandt was a woman very
sure of herself in most things. A att
untion that might have proved enlhar-
RAISING to one less tactful she accepted
quite as Il matter OF course. rather en-
joying the exercise Of her influenco
and never doubling her power to keep
the friendship ON any footing she chose.
Kinks frank, boyish gratitude tor the
favors he had received made u easy
for her to encourage the growth OF an
intimacy that she Acknowledged
charming. while she sincerely believed
that he would be helped BY It. Find
ing him responsive. she deliberately ct
herself to please him. She was %
longer brilliant and chilly. buA gay.
smiling and unaffected.
Once In while Cortlandt went With
them. but he was usually uncommuni-
cative. and they scarcely felt his psss-
ence. When he did talk be TALKED 80.
lily and well.
Several days passed thus. during
which Anthony fully recovered from
his experience at Colon. Then ship
arrived from New York, but beforo he
had summoned courage to ask bis
friends for loan he received letter
forwarded from Colon BY the ADeei-
can consul. Il rerlsnl of whk.h MT eOly
dumfounded him. but entirely altered
his plans.
1t was typewriter on plain station
cry; there was neither heading nor Gig.
nature, yet he knew quite web from
whom 1t came 1t read az fOllOyvs:
Don't cable again or the stupidity Of the
police may fail to protect you The others
got away safely. and you would be mad
you now. This time you went too far.
You have made your bed. nov lie In e. 1
don't believe in miracles. but II you can
straighten up and make man Of your
self I'll help you face this trouble. other
wise don't call on me for anything. I'm
through.
Kirk reread this amazing epistle sew
eral times before its full significance
struck him: then. when he realized
what it meant. he felt himself break
into sweat of apprehension. That
plain clothes man had died! The Do
lice were looking for him. There could
be no other explanation, else why had
Higgins and the rest fed the country!
Perhaps he was already indicted. Kfrk
saw himself accused Of manssaughtex,
arrested and tried. What could he do
If his father refused to help? Evident
~ the governor believed him guilty. In
that case the young man knew that ex-
plantations would he futile Even the
letter he had sent would do no good
When Darwin X Anthony said lle was
through he was through.
Finding secluded corner Of the ~
randa. he sat down to think this mat
ter out, but the more he reflected on It
the more serious it appeared. OF one
thing he became quickly convinced:
New York mt present was no place for
him. He rose quickly and entered the
hotel. where lie bought all the latest
New York papers and found an ac-
count Of Mr. I'adden's efforts to dis
prove his connection with an aHnuit
upon the person of detective named
Williams. who had come from st
Louis But nowhere was there a
word about the present condition of
the plain clothes man. nor the slightest
hint toward explaining the conduct OF
the mysterious Jefferson Locke. for
whom he had been searching. Who the
devil was Locke. anyhow? The article
did not even state the charge npOn
Which he was to be arrested. In an
other paper Kirk found something
that relieved his mind a bit. Evidently
Williams had not died prior to the
time of going to press. although he
was reported In critical condition.
i.
could stay here no longer us the Cort-
landts suest-he had already incur.
red an obligation which he would
have difficulty in discharging.
Conquering his sense Of humiliation
as best he could lie called up the COrt-
Iandts' suit.
Edith answered saying that her hus-
band was out. Then. in response to
his request. she came down herself.
What has gone wrong? Why this
face of tragedy" she inquired al she
seated herself beside him.
i've received my declaration Of H.
dependence. I've heard from my
dad" He told her everything without
reserve. then showed her the letter
and the newspapers In his hand. She
scrutinized them with quiet serious
ness that seemed to make bis trouble
her own. Turning her bright eyes
upon him. she inquired. "How does u
feel to be disinherited?''
Blamed uncomfortable! ! must tell
Mr. Cortlandt at once"
LET me-" she offered. quickly. n
would not show any one that sletter.sif
were you. nor advertise the fact that
you are in danger Of arrest. It will
be quite enough II tell him that you
have quarrelled with your father-hss
is peculiar man."
Kirk signified his agreement
Now what do you intend doinRr
I'm going to work."
Good. Goodw She clapped hef,