The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1915-12-31

story he was thinking Of. Il we his
own, his own idle, drifting. innog DIS
story. His mead stole round in .ita
OF his effort TO keep it from doin so
There they stood face to face. Il lse
The girls sables had fallen apart dis
| closing her peignoir. She had 5r7a
out like that Why the devil d iB,f
the man take her, take her? His
heart swelled with rage. But the rage
died as quickly as 1t had come CrsW.
ford swung the girl into his arms ali
the WEAKNESS gone from his scholarly
face. which was now TRANSPORTED with
something Forbes had never seen on
any mans face before.
Girl" said Crawford, I'm a brute
but ! wanted to be sure. Five years,
Well, this moment is worth it."
Tell her the truth" cried Forbes
hoarsely.
Why should /? In her heart of
hearts she knows it, knows that there
never was and never viii be another
woman Oh, Morti"-with a hand
outstretched over the girls shoulders
when l saw you come in could
have cursed you for | believed YOU
must have told her: and wanted
no other love than this, absolute, with.
out reservation. am an odd man. bur
| am as God made me- You wonder
why | did not explain long ago. She
accused me Of bringing her a second
hand love. deny that evineed fool.
ish pride when left her. She had
listened to idle gossip without first
hearing my side before she Judged.
Had she come to me at any time as
she has come tonight. What's
the use of going over all that? She is
mine now, even If you did bring her
to me-"
"On the contrary" said Forbes, Il
believe she brought me"
The girls arm wound about Craw-
ford's neck tightly.
Whats the matter?" asked Craw-
ford suddenly, as he marked the ex-
preston of establishment on his
friends face.
The answer came from behind.
Sorry sir. t interrupt" said Hag-
gerty, pushing the valet before him;
but duty's duty, an time don't wait"
For Haggerty, familiar as he was
with battle, murder and sudden death,
had never witnessed scene like this
one, and it had outlasted his patience.
And who the devil are your de-
manded Crawford, swinging about and
facing the detective.
The girl stepped back, her fingers
trembling with the collar Of her cloak.
Immediately she dropped her hands,
smiled and laid one hand on Craw-
ford's arm confidently. What did all
the other people in the world mat
ter?
81 am Haggerty Of tn central office"
Haggerty knew when to buster and
when not to.
What are you doing here in my
house?"
Forbes was beset by all his pre-, ious
doubts. A detective, and why should
he be here? He thought of a hou-
sand ways of overcoming Hagg srty,
of holding him till Crawford was safe
ly aboard the Celtic; and then reraem-
bered the surest and deadliest Of all
detectives-the wireless There was
no escape.
He would not inform me, SIR
spoke the valet, drawing down his
cuffs.
Was he threatening you, Mason?"
oh, no, sir. He merely desired you
to enter without suspecting his pres
ence. l don't understand him at all,
sir"
Well, Mr.. Haggerty?" said Craw-
ford.
You are James Crawford" began
Haggerty, walking over to the desk.
Il am"
"A rich man with fad for digging
up these things"-indicating the walls.
Yes"
All right; have little patience till
get tn shell off an down t tn meat
I'm waiting
This morning you got tickets in a
hurry for yourself an valet for Italy.
Ihen you did tn rounds of your banks.
You had lunch at your club with an OF
gent with whiskers who's Just back
rom Upper Egypt. You worked most
} tn afternoon here in this room.
Listen. On Tuesday night. tn second
week in June last you played poker
al six in tn morning in tn studio of
hat young chap over Herewith a
ERIK OF his head toward Forbes. You
Won three hundred dollars. Coming
lone that morning you gave ten dol
ars t tn oil apple woman on the cor
Ter near tn pawn shop. There's a fat
lot far away, with a young woman liv-
ng in it. No harm done in telling
hat since tn young lady here knows
III about it. l could a. told her YOU
vas straight an decent an that tn
'oung woman was living on your char
ty."
What in Gods name, is all this
'bout?' gasped Crawford
Mason the valet went to the side
window and threw it up. He remained
tanding by it, unnoticed.