The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-12-01

In his hand covered the dark form Of
the man standing al the rear window
with the faint CLEAN OF dark lantern
ON the floor beside him
Yet even Lewis Thompson was
speechIess when after his trembling
fingers had turned on the rear light he
saw the man before him was none 9th
er than Malcolm Dalzell. who stood
white and quiet facing his captor.
81 can't comprehend" Thompson
almost stammered. still covering the
marauder with his revolver. "You-
of all peoplew
The man before him moistened his
lips. Lewis" he said at last, 'will
you believe me If say. in spite of this
I'm not the robber--that it's just un.
fortunate circumstances that have
brought this about? VIII your
Lewis Thompson recovered his cool.
ness. and he laughed shortly. sarcas.
tically, glancing significantly at the
dark lantern, the fallen jimmy. the
goods piled at hand for removal.
II don't see any one but you, Dal-
zell," he said curtly. you've got to
take your medicine You can plead
kleptomania. you know. Rising young
business man. easy circumstances. no
need to rob- why. OF course. it's klep.
tOmania!'
There was a little triumph edglng
into his laugh as what this meant to
his rival dawned upon him. And It
was likewise dawning upon his cap
tive, who shut his jaw when the mar.
shal. hastily summoned. almost re-
fused to obey Thompson's command to
take the prisoner to the Jail.
go ahead. Smith," was all that NAL
colin Dalzell would say. and he walked
to the lookup with his head in the air.
The whole town shared the sensa.
tions of Smith the next morning, and
the ROsemont Banner exhausted all Its
heavy black faced type that evening
and paused only for absence of more
space. 1t was paralyzing, horrifyng,
this downfall Of man like Malcolm
Dalzell, one of those queer groupings
out of hidden tendencies that some
times destroy the worlds best
The three days that intervened be-
fore his preliminary hearing drew lines
in Dalzell's face and gave him pallor
that usually 1t takes age to bring. Yet
he maintained those close shut lips
and, further than stating he was not
| guilty, refused to talk
When he faced his friends and
neighbors ut the preliminary hearing
| there was trace Of proud defiance In
his glance that yet was strangely hurt,
| for on many faces he read Il dawning
wavering in allegiance to him.
Much talk hnd bred suspicion, and
every one knew OF the long rivalry be-
| tween the two men. What more natu
| raj than that Dalzell should attempt to
harass, to ruin his opponent? So they
waited for the sensational disclosures.
| The sensation came. AS usual with
sensations, 1t was quite different from
what was expected. This white faced
girl. with eyes reddened by tears, who
suddenly presented herself struck pity
from the heart OF the hardest She
spoke rapidly, breathlessly.
"Malcolm did not do It'll" she protest
ed, with tight casped hands. "if he
won't tell WILL now that ! know the
truth! 1t was Dick. my brother, and
Malcolm. who also was watching, SO "
him and entered Thompson's store t.
/, save him. to get him away. to help
him. and when Lewis Thompson came
upon him-he, Malcolm. would not tel
because"-
/
Milly Wainwright's voice died away
but the end of the sentence was fur
nlshed by Malcolm Dalzell's quick steI
to her side and hiding her tears on hi'
shoulder Both had made their sacri
fee for each other and out of the bit
terness had snatched happiness. Ant
Rosemont, with the liclileness OF the
human race, said II served Lewis
Thompson right and he should have
had more common sense.