Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1915-07-24

asked shortly.
AT your earliest convenience, and,
remember, l will keep my word as
you do yours. Let there be no giving
way to sympathy or inconsistencies.
| had all that has been done by you
in mind when | concealed you and
enabled you to escape the fate that
awaited you"
With that the Japanese turned and
strobe down the road toward Walton
vile never even turning round. His
slim, well proportional figure was
silhouetted against the snow. He ran
desperate chances, but he had guaged
his man. He knew Naldon, deserter
though he was, and forced renegade
and traitor to his country, would
never strike a blow in the back. 1t
was this trust in the remnants of the
deserter's honesty that told the most.
harrington slowly raised his head
above the pile of rails behind which
he had been laying in the snow and
saw Naldon, his head upon his arms
against the fence. There was no
sound, but it was evident from the
detection of the mans attitude that
he was suffering from one of those
fits of introspection that come unbid-
den to the worst of us. What vision
of home and mother, of an honored
father and loving sister fitted before
him none could tell, but that he was
suffering was evident from a dry sob
that fell upon the winter air.
Shaking the snow from his coat the
consul placed his hand in the side
pocket of his coat and stepped out
into the moonlight to await the COM
ing back to the grim present, of the
man whom a checkered past had
forced into the role of a desperate.
Had Naldon walked on to cody
carry out the commands of the Jap
anese, Darlington would have follow
ed the line of plain duty and turned
the deserter over to the authorities
of the United States, but this being
before him with the seeds of good still
sound rebelling against a further
crime, appealed to the chivalry in the
nature of the Consul, and to his sur
prise he found lump in his throat
when he essayed to speak, and his
eyes were moist. Who could know,
he thought, what temptation or provo
cation, what first false step had led to
another, and still another downward
step.
Jim" Barrington's voice though
low, fell upon the still cold air like
deep toned bell. Jim" he repeated.
q
What in hell are you doing here ?"
cried Naldon sweeping his hand back
ward toward his hip pocket"
Don't, jim, l have the drop on
you," replied Darlington quietly.
Its the second time il has occurred
tonight. You ought to have your gun
more handy"
well, damn it shoot" exclaimed
Naldon doggedly," you might as well
as to have a file Of soldiers do it.
What do you want, my gun? It's in
my hip pocket"
Il don't want your gum" replied
Darlington. I'm spite of your record
you are a man. If you were not you
would have stuck knife in the back
of your japanese friend. He knew
you would not, and if you will give
me your word not to draw that gun
of yours until after we have finished
talking, I'll transfer mine to my hip
pocket, so we will be on an even keel"
81 agree" Darlington was unable
to see the CLINT of admiration in the
eyes of the soldier, but the scene that
met his eyes when he arose from his
place of concealment was still to
fresh in his mind for him to have
any doubt as to the man before him.
That's right" he exclaimed heart
lily. Shake"
Naldon looked at him in open
mouthed surprise. you must have
heard it ALL" Darlington nodded.
"Then what are you trying to give
me? Coming the brotherly love dodge
so as to squeeze me as that little
brown rat has done ?" AS they all do
when they get man fouled ?"
Don't talk rot, JIM" exclaimed
harrington sharply. II thought there
was something that was not right
about you, but | did not know you
were in so deep. am sorry to hear
it, but glad that had the opportunity
of hearing my fate so calmly dis
cussed. What are you going to do?"
What can ! do?" retorted Naldon
dejectedly. II am up against it for
fair. If that little brown devil knew
you heard what has been said a knife