The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-11-16


house had been fooled somehow, and
she had run away. Perhaps her mother
and brother were gone with her. The
same threats that had made her bend
to him once should follow her wherever
she had gone. She wvoe& marry him
yet and pay AoT this folly q hundred
fold. He Mica d Stalking hand Of exc
Grafton esSyard the train which by this
time was vanishing into the dark open
ing at the end Of the station, where
signal lights like red berries ~festooned
themselves in an arch against the
blackness, and the lights of the last car
paled and vanished like a forgotten
dream.
Then he turned and hobbled slowly
back to the gates regardless of the
merriment he was arousing In the
genial trainmen; for he was spent and
bruised, and his appearance was any
thing but dignified. No member of the
wedding company had they seen him
at this juncture would have recognized
In him any resemblance to the hand
some gentleman who had played his
part in the wedding ceremony. No one
would have thought 1t possible that he
could be Celia Hathaway's bridegroom.
Slowly back to the gate he crept,
haggard, d~isheyelled, crestfallen; his
hair in its several isolated locks down
fallen over his forehead, his collar
wilted, his clothes smeared with chalk
and dust, his oyercoat dragging for
lornly behind him. He was trying to
decide what to do next, and realizing
the torment Of q perpetual thirst, when
a hand was laid suddenly upon him
and a voice that showhow had a IA
familiar twang, said: You will come
with me, sir"
He looked up and there before him In
the flesh were the eyes Of the man who
had haunted him for years, the very
eyes grown younger, and filled with
more than reproach. They were pierc-
Ing him with more than reproach. They
were piercing him with the keenness OF
retribution. They said, as plainly as
those eyes in the closet had spoken but
a brief hour before: "Your time Is
over. My time has come. You have
sinned. You shall suffer. Come now
and meet your reward"
He started back In horror. His hands
trembled and his brain reeied. He
MIN to meet this most extraordinary
emergency. Surely, something had hap.
pened to his nerves that he was seeing
these eyes In reality, and hearing the
voice, that old mans voice made young
oidding him come with him. It could
not De-, or course. He was unnerveo
with all he had been through. The
man a mistaken him for some one
or perhaps 1t was not q man after all
He glanced quickly around to see 81
others saw him. and at once became
aware that a crowd was collecting
about them.
The man with the strange eyes ant
the FAMILIAR voice was dressed In plair
clothes, but he seemed to have full
assurance that he was q real live mar
and had q right to dictate. Georg,
Hayne could not shake away his grasp
There was a determination about II
that struck terror to his soul, and ht
had a weak desire to scream and hid
his eyes. Could he be coming dowr
with delirtum tremens2 That brand,
must have been unusually strong tC
have lasted SO long in it's effects. Their
ne made q weak effort to speak, but his
voice ounde small and frightened
The eyes took his assurance from him
VINO are your he asked, and meant
to add, What right have you TO die.
tate to me?" but the words died AVA,
In his throat, for the plainclothes mar
had opened his coat and disclosed 3
badge that shone with a sinister Iigh,
straight into his eyes.
Il am Norman Brand" answered
the voice, "and I want you for what
you did to my father. It Is time VIC;
paid your debt. You were the caus,
or his humiliation and death. I haye
been watching for you for years. I saw
the notice OF your wedding in the papei
and was tracking you. It was for This
l entered the service. Come with me-"
With a cry Of horror George HAYNES
wrenched away from his captor and
turned to flee, but instantly three re-
yolvers were levelled at him, and he
found that two policemen in brass but.
tous were stationed behind him. and
the crowd closed In about him
Wherever he turned 1t was to look into
the barrel of a gun and there was nc
escape in any direction. -
They led him way to the patro,
wagon, h erstwhile bridegroom. and
In place of the immaculate linen he had
searched so frantically for in his apart
ment they put upon his wrists cuffs OF
iron. They put him in a cell and left
him with eyes OF the old man for com
pany and the haunting likeness of his
sons voice filling him with frenzy
The un~quenchable thirst came upor
him and he begged for brandy and
soda, but none came to Stake his thirst
for he had crossed the great gulf and
justice at last had him In her grip.