The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-12-10

and too much exertion. We shouldn't
not strong enough yet for these things"
Blair said nothing. He could have
almost pitied Arthur that in SO short
a time as had elapsed since his injuries
his 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 disordered mag
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 roadside. The
coachman and groom. like the other
servants at the Powell mansion. only
knew their master had never been men.
tally the same since his injuries ut the
mines and his first homecoming to his
new, grand mansion. battered, shat
tered, insensible form on Il stretcher.
In few moments the effect Of the
stimulating drug had Gained Arthur.
and he was sitting with closed eyes on
the second seat, with Blair and Vivian
and Durand The conspirators decided
to return home.
A 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. too"
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 curse back III
the groom and held on The coachman
with practiced dexterity dashed 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 to stand
| the onslaught Luke was compelled TO
let go and drop off He limped to the
sidewalk OF the quiet suburban resi-.
dence street and sat in the shade of II
tree by the curb.
| Near him 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
yet distinct to the keen eyes Of the
gypsy, were two figures plodding by
a pony piano cart, two figures he knew
as well as he knew his own--EstheI
and Quabba.
Old emotions, old fealties stirred il
Luke Lowell at the sight. Esther
daughter OF Hagar, the queen of thu
gypsies; Esther, whom he had Away:
gazed upon with pride and dull long
ing-she was not for him. Luke knew
that. But yet there stirred in him TIN
old sense of affection and mingled witt
it sense Of shame. Bad as the brut
gypsy was there had always been some
thing fine and tender in his regard fo
Esther To injure her had been III
part of all his wild plans to make mer
chandise of what he dimly surmiset
was the Stanley secret-and Hagars.
Luke's mental processes were slow
but he was quick to realize he had beS
have time to think of how he shoult
meet with Esther again did he wis
to regain her confidence. as he nov
desired to do.
Luke Lowell rose from the curb eve
while cogitating upon these things an
concealed himself behind the tree. Blu
he could have stood plain upon the side
! walk for all he would have been seer
for Esther and Quabba. their head