Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-11-09

that there had not been at any mo-
Hient any escape from the crowding
circumstances other than that he had
,aken, step by step. If he had been
thrown into prison for a time, he would
not nave felt shame at the delay, for
those things he could not help. He
saw with new illumination that there
was no more shame to him from these
TRIVIAL and peculiar circumstances with
wilcn ne a been hemmed in since
ms start to New York than If he had
been checked by any more tragic OBJ
stacles. His only real misgiving was
ABOUT his marriage. Somehow it seemed
ms Iault, n he felt there ought to be
some way to confess his part at once
put how-without putting his message
In jeopardy-for no one would believe
unless they knew all.
But the time of danger was at hand,
ne plainly saw. The man whom he
cared not look closely at had turned
again and was walking parallel to
ihem, CHANGING now and again keenly
IN thelr direction. He was watching
him.
There was a moments delay at the
checklng counter while the attendant
searched for the suitcase, and Gordon
was convinced that the man had
stopped a few steps away merely for
the purpose OF watching him.
ne cared not look around or notice
the man, but he was sure he followed
them back to the rain. He felt his
presence as clearly as if he had been
able to see through the back of his
head.
But Gordon was cool and collected
now. 1t was as if the experiences of
me last two hours. with their embar-
rasslng predlcaments, had been wiped
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the homer when he left the Holman
mouse. He knew as we'll as if he had
watched them follow him that they had
discovered his MISUNDERSTANDING
ever 1t ought to be called, and he was
pelng searched for; and because of
What was at stake those men would
track him to death If they could. But
ne knew also that his disguise and his
companion were for the puz-
zllng this sleuth hound.
inns was probably not the only
Watcher about the station. There were
aetectlves, too, perhaps, hired hastily,
and all too ready to seize a suspect.
ne marVeled that he could walk so
aeilperately, swinging his suit case in
ms gioved hand, at SO momentous a
time. He smiled and talked easily with
tne pleasant follow who walked by his
size, and answered his questions with
very little idea of what he was saying:
making promises which his heart would
like to keep, but which he now saw no
way Of making good.
Thus they entered the train and came
TO the car where the bride and her
mother waited. There We're tears on the
race OF the girl, n she turned to the
window to hide them. Gordon's eyes
Iollowed her wistfully, and down
through the double glass, unnoticed by
her absent gaze. he saw the face Of the
man who had followed them. sharply
watching him.
Realizing that his hat was a partial
disguise, he kept it on in spite of the
presence Of the ladies'. The color rose
In his cheeks that he had to seem so
dlscourteous, but, to cover his embar-
lowed to take the elder lady to the
platform. as 1t really was almost time
FOR the train to start, and so he went
deliberately out to act the part Of bride
groom In the face of his recognized foe,
Ihe mother n Gordon stood for a
moment on the vestibule platform,
while Jefferson bade his sister goodbye
and tried to soothe her distress at part
ing from her mother.
He's all right, Celie; indeed he Isl
SAID the young fellow c~aressingly, lay
Ing his hand upon his sisters bowed
mead. He's going to be awfully good
10 you; he cares a lot for you, and he's
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he says he'll bring you back soon, and
he would never stand in the way OF
your being with US a lot. He did. in
deed! What do you think of that ?
isn't 1t quite different from what you
thought he would say? He doesn't seem
to think he's got to spend the rest OF
his days In Chicago either. He saws
there might something turn up that
would make it possible for him tic
change all his plans. Isn't that great? ?"
Celia tried to look UP and smile
! thrnneh her tears while the man out
side studied the situation a moment In
pefpleXlty, and then s<rolled slowly
back to watch Gordon and the elder
woman.
You will be good to my little girl
ne heard the woman's voice, pleading.
She has always been guarded, and she
VIII miss us all, even though she has
you The voice went through Gordon
like a knife. To stand much more of
this and not %denounce himself for a
~blackguard would be Impossible. Mel
Their could he keep his hat on in the
presence Of this wonderful motherhood
q motherhood that appealed to him ali
the more that he had never known a
mother of his own, and had ALWAYS
longed FOR one.
hat slightly, guarding as much as pos
sible his own face from the view Of the
mar on h station platform, who
was still walking deliberately. con-
siderately, up and down, often
passing near enough to hear what thew
were saving. In this reverent attitude.
Gordon said, as, though he were utter
ing a sacred now:
Il will guard her as If she were-as ii
| were--as If I were-you"-then he
paused a moment and added solemnly.
tenderly-'Mother!"
He wondered If 1t were not desecra-
ton to utter such words when all the
time he was utterly unable to perform
them in the way in which the mother
meant. "1mposter!!" was the word which
rang In his ears now. The clamor about
being hindered had ceased, for he was
doing his best, and not letting even a
woman's happiness stand in the way of
his duty.
Yet his heart had dictated the words
he had spoken. while his mind and
Judgment were busy with his perilous
position. He could not gainsay his heart
for he felt that in every way he could
he would guard and care for the girl
who was to be in his keeping at least
for a few minutes until he could con-
trive some way to get her back to her
friends without him.
4 EE NH - "a