The Meeker herald., 1915-05-29

| in his hand covered the dark form OF
| the man standing mt the rear "ihoo"
| with the faint gieam OF DARK 'ahte'"
ON the door beside him.
Yet even Lewis Thompson was
| speechIess when after his trembling
| fingers had turned OH the rear light he
| saw the man before him WAS none ON
er than Malcolm Dnlzell. VINO stoou
white and quiet facing his captor
IL can't comprehend" Thompson
almost stammered. still covering the
marauder with bis revolver. "fou-
Of all people,"
The man before him moistened his
lips. Lewis" he said at Inst. "wilI
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? Will 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. J.,
II don't see any one but you, 1al-
zell," he said curtly. "You'vo-teOf to
take your medicine. You can plead
kleptomanin. you know. Rising young
business man. easy circumstances. no
need to rob-why. Of course. it's klep-
tomnnia"
There was little triumph edging
into his laugh as what this meant to
his rival dawned upon him. And 1t
WIS 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 TINT Nal
colin DalzeIl 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. II was Rlralyzing. horrifylng.
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 interviewed be-
fore his preliminary hearing drew lines
in DalzeIl'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 Mt the preliminary hearing
there was trace of proud defiance In
his glance that yet was strangely hurt.
for on many faces lie read dawning
fnry In, oil n
Much talk had bred suspicion. and
every one knew of the long rivalry be-
tween the two men. What more natu-
raj than that DaIzell should attempt to
harass. to ruin his Opponent7 So they
| waited for the sensational disclosures.
The sensation came. AS usual with
sensations 1t was quite different from
what was expected This white fnced
girl, with eyes Redeemed by tears. who
suddenly presented herself struck pity
from the heart Of the hardest She
spoke rapidly. breathlessly.
MALCOLM did not do itr' she protest
ed. with tight clasped hands. "lf he
won't tell will. now that know the
truth! 1t was Dick. my brother. and
Malcolm. who also was watching. saw
him and entered ThompsOn's store to
save him. to get him away. to help
him. and when Lewis Thompson came
upon him-he, Malcolm. would not tell
because
Milly Wainwright's voice died away.
but the end of the sentence was FUR
nishcd by Malcolm Dalzell's quick step
to her side and hiding her tears on his
shoulder. Both had made their sacri-
fee for each other and out of the bit
terness had snatched happiness. And
Rosemont. with the fckleness of the
human race, said 1t served Lewis
Thompson right and he should have
had more common sense.