The evening world., 1914-01-31

His father. william Keegles. was In
tho hardware business with man
named Langford-David Dowd Lang
ford. You see. I couldn't be mis-
taken In tho name OF the man-its
such an uncommon one"
lie smiled significantly at Shcila.
and an odd expression came into her
face, for she remembered that on the
night Of her coming no had made tho
same remark.
One day Ned keeglcs got sick and
took me into his confidence. Ho
wasn't In the West for his health. he
said. He was IA fugitive from tho
law, accused Of numbering hts father.
II wasn't "A nice story to hear. but
he told II. thinking he was going to
die"
Dakota smiled enigmatically at
Sheila and colby ut the now shrink
tho fireplace.
One day keegles went into his faith
er's office. His fathers partner. DaviI
Dowd l.angford, was there, taking to
his father. They'd had hard words.
Keegle's father had discovered that
Langford had appropriated II large
sum OF tho firms money. BY forging
his partners signature he had es-
capped detection until one day when
the elder keeEles had accidentally dis
covered the fraud-which was the day
on which Ned Kcegles visited his
father. II isn't necessary TO 60 into
detail. but II was perfectly plain that
Langford was guilty.
There were hard words. n I have
said. Tho elder Keegles threatened to
prosecute. lanEford seized a sample
knife that had been lying on the elder
keegle's desk, and stabbed him. KILL
Ing him instantly. Then. while Ned
Koegles stood by. stunned by the sud
denneas Of the attack. Langford cool
~ walked TO a telephone and notified
the police of the murder, Hanging ny
the receiver, he raised tho hue and
cry, and q dozen clerks burst into tho
ONCE. 70 md Ned keeGles banding
over his father. trying to withdraw
the knife.
"Langford accused Ned keegles Of
the murder. He protested. OF course.
but seeing that the evidence was
against him. he fought his way out of
the Office and escaped. He went to
Dakota-where I met him."
He hesltated and looked steadily at
EDO YOU 80 how the trails have
crossed-the crooked ono ana the
straight ons?"
Langford was leaning forward In his
chair, a scared. wild expression In his
eyes, his teeth and hands clenched In
an effort to control his emotions.
"it's a iis!" he shouted. II didn't
kin himi Ned Kssgiss''-
"Waitl" Dakota rose from his
chair and walked to . shelf. from
which he took n box. returning &c
; Iangford's side and opening u. He
drew out . knife. showing y bsfore
I.angford's eyes and pointing on,
some rust spots on the blade.
This knife was Gtven to me- BY
Ned Keeeles." ne said slowly. ''Thece
rust spots on the blade are from BIZ
fathers blood. Look at taem!" he
said sharply. for Langford had turned
his head.
At the command he swung around
his gaze resting on tho knife. "Thata
q pretty story" he sneered.
Dakota's laugh when he returned
tho knife TO tho box chilled Sheiis
when she had heard II during heS
irst night In the country-in this
same cabin. with Dakota sitting a
tho table--a bitter. mockins laugh
that had In II q savaEery controlled
by an iron Will.
He turned abruptly and walked tc
his chair. seating himself.
"Yes." ne said. ITS n pretty story
, But It hasn't ali been told. with q
which were with him all the time
, life wasn't exactly a Joyful ono fol
Ned Keegles. He was young. yol
rec, and Il all preyed on his mind
But after a while II hardened him.
, He'd hit town with the rest OF tn
, boys, and he'd drink whiskey unit
, he'd forget. hut no couldn't forge
II L. q AAs ~
!, Langford: nights he'd start from
/. his blankets, living over and ovel
/ again tho incident Of the murder
lie got 90 he couldn't stay In Dakota
:; He came down hero and tried u
: forget. II WAS Just tho same-ther'
: was no forgetfulness.
:, zone night when he was on the trAi
!. near here he met q woman. II wa
!. raining and the woman had lost tn
trail. He took the woman In. 6he in
:, terested him. and he questioned her
. daughter Of the man who had muir
2 dered his father--the daughter o
y David Dowd Langford!"
Langford cringed and looked q
3 Sheila, who was looking straight u
3 Dakota, her eyes slight with knowl
: edge.
= Med Keegles kept his silence. a
4 he had kept It for ten years." re
n sumed Dakota. But the coming q
:, the woman brought back the bite
: memories. and while the woman slep
:. In his cabin ne turned 10 the whiske
bottle for comfort. AZ he drank hi
troubles danced before him-magni
=, fed.
!. "He thought II would be fine re-
vengc II he should force the woma
-, to marry him. for he figured that
" would be n blow at the fathers pride
', II II hadn't been for "A cowardly par
son and the whiskey the marriag
" would never have occurred-Ne
II Keegles would not have thought OF 4
D. I,nt he didn't hurt the woman; sh
o left him pure as she came--mentall
10 and physically"
u Langford slowly rose from his chai
his lips twitching. his face workin
:. strangely. his eyes wide and glaring
you say she married him--Ne
" Kecgles?" he said. his voice hig
keyed and shrill. He turned to Shell
"a after catching Dnkota's nod. rs thl
a true?" he demanded sharply "Di
10 you marry him an this man says yo
70 did,"
Is Eyes: married him." retnrne
Shei;a duly. and Langford sank limp
10 ly INTO his chair,
a. Dakota smiled with flashing eye
- and continued:
a.