The Monte Vista journal., 1915-07-03

hearts DESIRE" but with this thought
this possibility, OF quick. certain
vengeance. his pulse quickened and
determined.to-ris expression per-
meated his every part. and he had
surcease OF his cowardly fears Of
moment before. He stopped suddenly
in his nervous pacing, the sound OF
footsteps on the incorporating ce-
ment floor adown the corridor cAus.
ing his heart to beat such inbounding
thumps as his highly sensitive imag-
nation made him certain would be
heard in the adjacent cells. When they
arrived outside his door and the turn
key inserted his key. its grating In
the iron door aroused the cells occu-
pant. and he jumped up, shielding his
ewes in well-feigned fear. as he ap-
preached the light.
Good evening, turnkey" and then.
without looking at the other, "1o,
Electrician Come to fix that globe?"
Yeah"
The door swung wide and the cleo
trician entered and swung his leather
bag on the cot. The turnkey stood
started to pace with slow. even steps
outside the door.
The electrician opened his bag, and
with his right hand took out a heavy
roll OF green-wound wire. 1t entirely
hid his left hand furthest from the
cell door, which hand deftly lifted
something blue and shining and
slipped it under the mattress.
The job took but few minutes.
the old wire was pieced, new globe
screwed into the socket, and the cell
lit With a cheerless goodnight
the two left, and Porter waited till
their footsteps died away, his power
of inhalation seeming inadequate to
supply greedy lungs.
A Colt, three files and a note! He
read it, holding it in the palm of his
great hand, with his back to the cell
door.
Have tip. Cole gone to Los An.
geles. Name of Richard Walker"
That was all. But, it was, to the
man who read 1t. an epistle satisfying
and complete. Slowly his mouth
twisted itself into a terrible smile
threatening, hideous. his eyes stared
hard as though through the heavy
walls, as though at something, clear.
distinct, attainable beyond, and he
drew his fingers in gentle caress
across the barrel of the steelblue Colt.
An hour later, after changing clothes
with scare-crow in the fields, he
swung aboard a slowly moving freight
train and started westward toward
Los Angeles to find John Cole, now
Richard Walker-toward the attain
ment of his hearts desired"
That same night, Richard Walker
was a welcome visitor at the Hilton
residence. He spoke long and earnest
ly to Edith. pleading the sincerity OF
his love, and painting well, though not
too obviously WELL the splendid social
future of the future Mrs. Richard
Walker
When he left that night he was
happier than he had been In many
years; in fact the vision OF a gaunt
man behind incorporating steel
bars was almost obliterated from his
mind-almost. but not quite.
For Walker had made his plea well,
and had sealed it with kiss.
The bottom had dropped out OF A.
& NJ, and Hugh Keene, unable to
cover, stared ruin In the face. He
had already drawn $4,000 on Richard
Walkers deposit with him, and felt II
would be unsafe to go further. The
funds of the Sunset club, OF which he
was treasurer, were in his possession,
and he thought, uncertainty. of them
in considering Just where he stood"
A. & NJ. had broken badly, there was
no escaping that; but he felt sure 1t
was only bear" raid. from which
the stock would quickly rally. II only
he could hold on! He knew that, es.
sentially. all this trading" was the
rankest form of gamble. But this
this particular case of his, 1t was so
sure-so absolutely certain. He
soothed himself with the thought that
II he, as broker. knowing the risk
OF playing the market, was sure OF A.
& M, why then, If A. & NJ. disap-
pointed, whose fault was that?
To have stopped where he was, with
the already certain loss OF $4,000, not
his. would have been more level
headed than to have gone on; but to
stop now would have been tantamount