The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-03-12

head. he exclaimed WITH wonderrui
softnesS:
My dear Mrs. Cortlandt. I'm very
sorry for you, indeed am Now
now. try to face it squarely. All good
women are brave. and you're a good
woman. We both love him. and |
know we can save him if we pull to-
gether"
Yes. yes! She raised her drawn.
white face eagerly to his. 1T will
only take word. but | have been like
mad woman. couldn't bear TO give
him up. and when learned the truth
| thought ] could let him-suffer But
couldn't He is the first and only
man
IL know" He patted her in a way
that said more than words
Il couldn't have stood out much
longer
Then you have proof?'. His face
was wild with eagerness
This. Take it quickly | only found
it last night. 1t had been mislaid in
the confusion. meant to give it up
really did" With clumsy fingers she
drew from the front of her dress an
| unSeaed letter and handed it to him
stephen was not bad man. you see,
and he had no intention of wronging
an innocent person,
| Darwin X. Anthony's pallor matched
! hers as be read the sheet: then he ex
! claimed weakly: THANK God! Some
| thing told me to come straight to you
| Something always tells me where to
/ find the heart of things"
Kirk was considerably surprised that
afternoon when sergeant and two
/ policemen came to his cell. signifying
that he was to accompany them. He
could not make out where they were
| taking him. and, despite their unusual
poiteness. they were dense to all in
| quiries. The coach drew up at last
before large. white building, and he
was told to descend. Up flight of
stairs he was escorted. his pulses
quickeninc with apprehension. down a
long corridor and into Il large room.
where he saw Runnels. Colonel Jol-
son. Arson. Clifford. a dozen or more
Panamanian officials and-he stopped
in his tracks as his eyes fell upon a
huge white crowned figure that came
to meet him.
A certain harsh yet tender voice pro
nounced his name. He felt his hands
crushed in his fathers palms. found
the old mans arm about his shoulders
and saw the deep set. steel blue eyes
he loved so we'll wet and shiny. A
sudden sense of security swept over
hon ich oil
My kid" the old man said. shak
ingly. how have they treated you
Buster?' 1t was a nickname he had
given his son when be was sturdy
round faced urchin of eight
You came. didn't your" Kirk said
in voice not at all like his own.
"Of course came. the instant Cliff
ford cabled me that these idiots hac
arrested you BY - They'll sweat
for this. How are you anyhow. Kirk
Dammit you need a shave. Wouldnt
they give you a razor: Hey. Clifford
Colonel .IolSOn. come here. These
scoundrels wouldn't give him shave
| suppose you're hungry. too: we'll
som |. Well be out of here in a min
ute. then you show me the best place
in town. and We'll have a decent meal
just we two. the way we used to. III
paw the bill Great Scott! But I've
missed you BUSTER
Wait. dad Kirk was smiling. bu
his heart ached at his fathers emotion
I'm a jail bird. you know. The,
think I--Iliit,d a fellow. But | don
care much what they think NOW"
'.rhat'S all over" Clifford broke in
We've squared that and you'll 10
DISCHARGED in ten minutes
"Certainly." said The father. Cortland
shot himself Anybody but hlither
ing Spanish ass would have known i
1T the start We have Il letter b.
wrote to his wife an hour before b.
did it, She just found il and turned i
over She left here a moment ago. h.
the way all broken up She's grea
woman. Kirk That's not all. either
Clifford followed you that night an'
knows you didn't 20 near Cortlandt
oh. Won should have seen 'em jun
when we flushed it on EN- all at once
and they learned who waS.''
But those men who swore they say
me-
Bah. We've got that little fellow
a with the laustache, and both his wi,