The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-03-02

1gAR2I Wy VIII u 601A ~
spare before his train was due to
start He sat down tn a corner of
the ~waiting-rocm and pulled out his
timetables. But. instead of porting
over them as he had intended, he gave
himself up to his thoughts.
Somehow, he could not get his land
lady's pretty daughter out of his mind.
He had tried hard to forget her, but
his thoughts always came around to
her again before long, and every now
and then he would ask himself how
she would regard him after she had
heard the news.
He glanced up at the line of people
sitting facing him on the opposite
benches, and over their heads to the
big clock on the wall. II seemed to
him that the minutes were dragging
terribly. He was getting nervous.
He gave a startled look over his
shoulder toward the entrance. He
could feel his heart humping against
his ribs, and as he looked down again
at the timetables no saw that his
hands were trembling.
And then a vision OF the gray, bleak
prison came before him. He heard
the changing of the great steel doors.
the sharp orders of the keepers. He
Strengthened up with a frightened gasp
and looked about in alarm. 1t was
reassuring to find that no one was
watching him. But would his train
never be called7
How he wished he was safe across
the Honduran borderi What a relief
it would be to feel that he need have
no fear of capturei
Again his ayes wandered about the
room, keenly observant of the crowd
this time. He glanced from one to
another of the long row of travellers
in front of him, slowly turned his gaze
10 the doors where the passengers
we're filing in from the ferries, and
then
"Dwyeri"
He choked back the cry that rose to
his lips and sank back in his seat,
white and trembling. Far down at
the other end of the room was the
man he had robbed.
For a moment canyons nerve de-
serted him completely. He felt that
he was lost, that Dryer would surely
search the room until he had discov-
cred him. and that escape was i'm
possible. Probably Dwyer had not
always policemen near at hand in
such a place.
Dwyer came forward very ieasurely.
For a man on the trail of a thief who
had relieved him of a fortune, he
seemed to be singularly unperturbed.
He even stopped to laugh at a crow
ing baby on one of the benches. Still,
it was just like the old man never to
betray his true feelings.
Never before had Lanyon been
through such agonizing moments Of
suspense. He felt that the strain was
more than he could bear, that his
nerves would give way, and he would
cry put If he had to endure it much
longer.
At last Dwyer saw him.
"I've beer looking for you. Lanyon,"
he called, as he stepped up to the
bench.
The old mar seated himself by Lam
yon's side. and. lounging back. chewed
thoughtfully at an unlighted cigar.
Apparently, he was dividing his at
tention between the cigar and the
clock on the wall, but Lanyon knew
that the tail of his eye was upon him
all the time. At last. he said slowly;
81 know all about that prison rec
ord, Lanyon. Your friend Berrian has
just given me the whole story"
"Berrianl He told you!" cried Lam
yon, and in that moment the remnants
of his faith in human nature van,
ished.
Yes. he told me-" Dryer conti-
nued. And, I've come here to let you
know l won't hold it up against you
You've done good, faithful work for
me for ten years, and / believe | can
trust you.
you weren't much nor than a boy
when that happened. You've learned
a good deal since then, | guess"
Lanyon felt as If he were in a
dream-a dream that had brought one
f1eeting glimpse of hope. and then hal
plunged him in despair. A mist came
into his eyes.
At last his hand went into his pocl-
ct, and he pulled out a roll of bills
"Mr. Dwyer," he said, this money
is yours. Even though | am a thief.
l couldn't rob a man that's treated
me as you have. But, you see. you
made a mistake about wanting me
back"
Without the least show of surprise.
Dwyer took the bills and counted them
very slowly. Then he put them care
fully away In his pocket
Il guess when a man goes wrong
than once there isn't one person
in a hundred who'd be willing to trust
him oUafp - he CafE /