The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-02-25

| called it. ! burned down our home to
get rid of my old woman. She beat 1t.
Else 1t would have been murder as
WELL"
Dear mel" muttered the young
man, staring hopelessly at the tramp.
my dear fellow, you--of course you're
| going to give yourself up to the po-
| lice"
"Police?" shouted Blister" III !
| wanted to do that could have done
| it any time the last three years. No,
what / want is to get square, to be for
| given"
| For half an hour Mr.. Saunders plead
ed with him in vain. Blister" appar-
emily had no intention Of paying the
penalty of his crimes, and at last
stalked off in a huff-to admit Red
"Mr. Saunders" Red" began. II
been thinking over your words about
getting square, and want to tell you
something that's been preying on my
mind for years." Red" could talk
quite well If he tried to. -Four years
| ago killed mani"
KILLED a mani" echoed the young
minister, staring at this new confidant
in absolute horror.
yep, in Chicago" said Red" 1T
was while l was engaged in a little
| private affair-well, sir, burglary.
He was an old guy, too, turned eighty,
l believe / smashed his head in
| with my jimmy. He shouldn't have
| interfered, at his age, unless he'd had
| a thicker head But, Mister Saun-
| ders, his last look has haunted me to
my dying day. want to get square"
John Saunders placed both his
hands on Reds" shoulders and
looked him earnestly in the eyes.
There is only one way in which
you can square and make atonement
| for your past" he said.
Il knew it," shouted Red" exultant-
| ly. Name it. I'll do it,
II will pay your fare back to Chi
! cago," answered the clergyman.
Reds" jaw dropped. What in
blazes would l want to go back to Chi
| cago for?" he asked. Il had trouble
enough getting away"
To give yourself up and satisfy the
law said Mr.. Saunders. THAT is the
only way in which you can square
yourself"
Il won't tell you," shouted Red"
And you won't snitch on me, neither.
l come to you and told you that in
| confidence. come to you to get
square and you want to kill mel"
And he flung himself out of the
clergyman's presence, leaving Mr..
Saunders white and shaking
All that night he thought over his
predicament Here were two of his
flock, one a murderer, the other with
two atrocious crimes unpublished.
Both were repentant; neither was
willing to pay the price of forgiveness.
What should he do? Could he betray
them?"
He was too sick to get up that
morning In the afternoon he rose
and dressed; just as he had complet
ed his toilet there came a tap at the
door and Miss Mary stood revealed,
carrying a tray on which hot lunch
was smoking.
81 was afraid you were ill., Mr. Saun-
ders, when you didn't come down to
breakfast" she explained. Il hope it
is nothing much?"
In spite of the weight upon the
young mans mind he could not help
thinking that he would like to catch
this vision and keep her to be his for
ever.
Miss Mary set down the tray and
came toward him, holding out her
hands impulsivelv. you are in trou-
ble," she said. Tell me what it is
He told her, sick and trembling.
When he had finished he asked for her
advice. But to his amazement Miss
Mary was actually smiling-smiling,
while the tears stood in her eyes.
ooh Mr.. Saunders!" she exclaimed.
"You didn't believe word those two
dreadful liars said? Why. saw them
plotting together last night. They are
both highly respectable men, Of their
kind, except for drink and shiftless-
ness. Mr.. Saunders, they wanted to
give you something to occupy your
mind, that's all. They tried that trick
with Mr.. Harrison once. You speak
to them and you'll find out"
The young man gasped. Are you
sure, Miss Mary?" he demanded, seiz.
ing her hands again.
Dead sure" she answered. And
suddenly silence fell between them.
Miss Mary" said John in an al.
tered voice, II am a fool. | need
| someone to look after me- VIII you
| won't you-will you try, dear?"
And Miss Mary promised that she