Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-01-21
25INIT8INN1NSS38a 38a71TSa5N8a7TENgg
downright bv w. G. Chapman)
onicle of the Strange Adventures of John Haynes
and His Gyroscope Vehicle
THE FIRST VICTIM


for the arrival of the devil-chair and
its devilish occupant He was deter
mined now to brazen out the affair
Once the confederates had put Haynes
away; they could do it again. he
slipped pistol into his pocket and
called his stenographer.
Miss Haynes!" he shouted
She came in Immediately; pretty,
fair-haired GIRL carrying sheaf Of pa
pers.
Never mind that, Eleanor he said,
leering at her. "Sit down. l want TO
talk to you, my dear"
She shot swift glance at him; she
saw that he had been drinking again.
On such occasions her fear of him
would almost overmaster her. She
would have left him long ago-but she
was his ward She was penniless, help
less, ignorant of the world of business
outside the Grand Valley. Jack Poole
had meant to keep her SO.
Come here, my dear" said Poole,
stretching out his arms toward her,
devilishly pretty girl?'
please, Mr. Poole!" she said i'm.
ploringly
please nothing!" he retorted. See
here, you imp, haven't you any graft
tude in your makeup? Didn't drag
you out of the gutter and adopt you,
put you to school, and take you into
my office when you left last year? And
when you refused to live in my house
and went to that cheap boarding place
| stood for it, /"
81 left your house, Mr.. Poole, when
your wife left YOU" she answered with
dignity. 81 could not have stayed un-
der the circumstances; you must know
that"
Well suppose you did have to con.
ciliate these narrow people in Grand
Valley" he grumbled, 'is that any rea-
son why you should refuse to act as
my ward? Amt you the same as a
daughter to me? And haven't you re-
fused to be seen with me in public,
or to have dinner with me-yes, even
at restaurant"
"Please, Mr. Poole"
please, Ms. Tcoie," he nimicked.
I'm mighty tired of this ingratiLude,
you" He checked himself upon the
mouthing of vile epithet. The
devil! What d'you suppose I've fed
you and clothed you and educated you
for all these years? Amt you going
to show any sense? Now see here
ne said, rising and staggering toward
ner I'm going to end this nonsense.
You're going to have dinner with me
IN a private room at Boards next
Friday evening, at seven, and after
ward-well, I'll tell you what when
we meet there. And If you defy me-
you can look for another job. And let
me tell you this, you won't get one III
Grand Valley. And | suppose You
haven't saved up too much money on
that five dollars week.? he
sneered.
"Now you think it over" he grum-
bled. You needn't show yourself here
again at all. If you act sensible and
meet me at Boards, you'll come back
TO my house and live in luxury; II you
don't you'd better get out Of town.
And therell be a new stenographer in
your place tomorrow"
She had risen, pale and terrified;
she moved toward the door. Poole
would have detained her, but into his
drink-soaked brain there stole the
shadow of his fears, those fears which
he had forgotten in the excitement OF
his chase. He grunted and turned back
to his desk
Finally, with a groan, he tore the
kilograms into small pieces and burned
.hem in his ash-tray. He called across
the partition:
Miss Mills, see that no more news
6apers are put on my desk until ! tell
YOU. I'm tired of them-I don't want
to see any more. I'm sick Of this devil
chair business" he muttered drunken
ty, as he put on his hat and staggered
into the hall.
He did not notice the crippled man
who slowly thumped his way, on
crutches, along the street behind him.
II he had done so he would not have
remembered him. But, though the
cripple saw him, he had no concern
with him just then; he was striving
desperately to keep In sight that little
figure that moved dejectedly along
Main street.
"How long d'you want room for?'
asked Mrs. Thompson, Of No. II Grand
avenue, looking suspiciously upon the
cripple at the door. He was not over
well attired, he had no baggage, and
under his long overcoat was a bulging
package shaped like an enormous
wheel.
"Just for two or three days." said
the cripple apologetically. I'm work
ing man." he added, seeing her glance
at the instrument which he was carry
ing, "a wheelwright. I'm on a job in
town and got separated from my suit
case. But can pay you in advance,
he said, land | won't want to sit at
your table unless you'd like me-"
It'll be four dollars for the weeks
rent" snapped Mrs. Thompson. Il
only rent by the week, and if you stay
part of week that counts as whole
one. And my tables full" She re-
ceived proffered five dollar bill, gave
him his change, and conducted him up
the stairs, shade more graciously
"You can have the large room on the
second" she said. "No, not that one