The Springdale news., 1915-12-17

ana too much exertiou. We shouldn't nave let you drive, Mir. Powell; you are hot strong enough yet for these things"
 Blair said nothing. He could have almost pitied Arthur that in so short q time as had elapsed since his injuries hls character had been so weakened from his hurts and the drugs admins tered that Arthur could be convinced that the evidence of his own eyes was but the phantom Of a disordered imag- nation
 Neither the coaChman nor the groom had understood the significance of his masters collapse at the sight of two gypsy musicians with piano, pony cart and monkey by the roadJde The eoaehman and groom, like the other servants at the Powell mansion. only sneW their master had never been men tally the same since his injuries at the mines and his first homecoming to his new, grand mansion. battered, shat tered, inSensible form on stretcher.
 In few moments the effect of the stimulating drug had calmed Arthur. and he Was sitting with closed eyes on the second seat, with Blair and Vivian and Durand The conspirators decided to return home.
 \ passing auto coming in the same direction slowed beside the coach, and the occupants called to the driver and the tallyho party that there was a man on behind
 He looks like a tough customer. tool" added the driver of the car
 The groom on the rear seat looked down and ordered the tough looking customer to get off The tough looking customer was Luke Lowell, who had come back to Los Angeles sullenly de termined to make an asset of his secret and blackmail either Arthur Stanley or Blair, preferably both
 Luke Lowell growled q curse back at the groom and held on. The coachman with practieed dexterity lashed the whip back of the coach at signal from the groom. The thong cut Luke across the face twice before he could shield himself. But again and again the lash cut and stung him cruelty on neck and shoulders, and despite his hardihood and determination 10 stand the onslaught Luke was compelled to let 20 and drop off. He limped to the sidewalk of the quiet suburban resi- dence street and sat in the shade of q tree by the curb
 Near him q leaking fire hydrant trick led. Luke mopped his brow and the burning cuts across his face with the cooling water. The pain slowly subsid- ed, and Luke looked about him.
 There. far off down the street. but vel distinct 10 the keen eyes of the gypsy, were two figures ploddng by pony piano cart. two figures he knew as well as he knew his own-Esther and Quabha
 Old emotions, old fealties stirred i'll Luke Lowell at the sight. Esther. daughter Of Hagar, the queen of the gypsies; Esther. whom he had always eazed upon with pride and dull long ing she was hot for him. Luke knew that But yet there stirred in him the old sense of affection and mingled with il sense of shame. Bad as the brute gypsy was there had always been some thing fine and tender in his regard for Esther. To injure her had been no part of all his wild plans to make mer- ehandse Of what he dimly surmised was the Stanley secret-and Hagar's.
 Luke's mental processes were slow. but he was quick to realize he had best have time to think of how he should meet with Esther again did he wish To regain her confidence, as he now desired to do,
 Luke Lowell rose from the curb even while cogitating upon these things and concealed himself behind the tree. But he could have stood plain upon the side walk for all he would have been seen. for Esther and Quabba, their heads