Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1914-09-09
CHAPTER XIII.
Two Potent Aids,

his right hand and the thought
came to him that should there be
only that one man-Michael Kearney-
he would be tempted to STAY.
On the blue nose Of his weapon was
screwed a Maxim silencer. The voice
Of death would be dropped to whis-
per. The end Of the sleuth would
never be known by the outside world.
Before him loomed the brown horror
of a cell and sunless. skyless days.
The heart Of Molly Bryan would be
broken as the heart Of his mother had
been broken
If he killed would it not be in self
defense and in the highest and fullest
meaning Of the phrase? There are
things worse than death.
There was slight sound against
the side of the house beneath the win
dow he faced. Whoever this was.
coming as thief in the night. would
soon show his head over the sill. The
weight of the revolver in his hand
seemed to increase. He was no man
to take human life. He realized it
suddenly. Moisture exuded from his
fingers and blurred the steel Of his
weapon in the dark.
He had said to himself that no one
would know Of the death Of the relent-
less hound that had pursued him from
pit Of despond to Already. God and
his conscience would know it!
He crossed the room on his toes
rapidly and replaced the weapon in his
desk.
The terrible injustice that had blast
ed his life at twenty-one. that had
SCARED and branded him forever. that
had sent his sweet. patient little
mother to a sorrowful death and that
had penned him in a cage for the first
five years Of his maturity. had drawn
him closer to his Maker A sound
came from the window sill and was
repeated. 1t came steadily for few
seconds and ended with snap as the
latch over the window sash gave I'm.
der the upward pressure Of jimmy,
The sash was raised slowly, cautiously.
Nelson's eyes. accustomed to the
darkness, recognized the heavy shout
ders and the squat figure as the mar
entered.
"Bill!' he whispered. depressing 3
cry Of joy that rose from his heart.
kid" came the answer.
They strobe to each other and clasp.
ed hands.
SIS it safe. boy?" asked the old bur.
glar. els there any one else In the
house?"
Not soul'
THANK Godw
"Come to the top floor. 1t will be
even safer there"
Nelson took the old man to the at
tic, drew the blinds and switched on 8
light.
He looked at the old convict for 8
moment and then placed his arms
about his shoulders as would a son
embracing a father after long years
Of separation. Bill stood in the glare
of the light. scanning the face Of the
younger man.
BOY" said the old probationer, II
come to you because I knew you need
ed me. That hound at headquarters
turned me loose so that he could fol-
low me and get you"
Nelson started.
But don't worry Hawkins assured
him. "for I'm an old fox and hard to
follow"
"Why did you come in by the win
dow?'
1T was the safest way" explained
Bill. "Athough l felt certain that no
one was shadowing me. could not be
dead sure. So l thought Id come in
as burglar. and if there was any
shadow after me he'd think was back
in the old game. II l was caught
they'd get me for the old sin. The
shadow wouldn't know that John Mel.
son was Jim Montgomery"
Hawkins dropped into chair. looked
about the room and began studying
the bars, weights and trapezes.
Them things?' he asked, with the
wave of hand.
Il work with them every day and
have changed my measurements" ex.
'biained Nelson. Il am taller and
broader, and my arms and legs are
longer"
Hawkins nodded.
Il doubt if they'd recognize you," he
said.
How did you find me?' asked Mel.
son. II was afraid to put name in
the personal"
After l reached Greenville it didn't
take me long to hear about John Mel
son." he replied. Il mingled with the
machinists as a labOrer, heard about
your inventions and success and about
your work with the poor people. Wher
/ found out where your place was
travelled on foot. l got bed an6
lodging in cabin two miles away. Al
soon as everybody was asleep slipped
out of the cabin. and here am"
They were both silent for a moment
Il know what you're thinking about
Kid" said Hawkins finally.
THE guilty man," Nelson said slow
~.
You want me to try to get him."
Eyes. l have plenty of money now
but l did not dare hire detectives"
"Thev couldn't get him after tel
years."
Can any one find him?"
Bill felt the anxiety and eagerness
the hunger for q real hope, In Nelson
voice.
If any one can get him I'm the one.
he replied slowly. I'm gonna get hin
too. gotta get him, boy. l owe yo'