The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-08
EVENING STORY
The Two Passengers.
An Napoleon S. Zarick.

eyed detectives and shrewd policemen.
The pursued were smaller and more
agile, while the pursuers We're we'll
trained and stronger. 1t was famous
raid. The gamblers had been caught
in the act, the gambling devices, some
of them valuable, were all confiscated,
and the men, except one, were seized
after a long run.
The one who escaped was BOD
Crane, the owner of the hall.
\ That was the one drawback to the
whole thing, for he was known to the
law authorities to be the main leader
and organizer of the gang, and man
who has organized one gang is. as
rule, perfectly capable of organizing
another. In vain all searched, trying
to win the large reward offered for his
capture. But he had disappeared, as
if off the face of the earth, and his
captured friends, though closely ques-
toned, could not give the slightest
idea as to his whereabouts
But there was one person in the
city where the raid occurred who could
have told the searchers where Bob
Nellie Hayes. Nellie was tall girl,
with soft brown hair and large, blue
eyes. One afternoon after Bob had
left the gambling hall to get hght
lunch before going back to his even
ing work. he had decided to take a
walk thru one of the parks to relleve
his mind of the tip that he had re
ceived from one of his confederates
that his place was watched by num-
Der of the police officials.
While in this park he saw horse
madly running down the long smootn
drive. His heart gave a thump as ne
saw a girl dashing before the oncom-
n de- a 6pSDPrate
tempt to rescue the girl and succeed
ed in pulling her away from the DAN
ger This girl was Nellie Hayes, ana
later, when Bob first met her on the
street, nearly year before the ra1d,
he stopped short to look at her Be
ing a tall, square, good-looking chap
about "a years old, his gaze made her
eyes droop and the soft color rise into
her face. He then deliberately turned
and followed her at a respectful dis
lance to. her home on one of the fash
ionable streets of the town. Time
passed rapidly and before long he had
made friends with her father, and in
an amazingly short time the upper
class knew hin as the sweetheart of
pretty Nellie Hayes.
She knew nothing about him, but
just took him on trust, thinking him
to be an honest, upright man. But
she had been deceived, as many other
he had enemies she thot it was
because he was so good, and he had
not the heart nor the inclination to
undeceive her. Now, when he lodged
under the arm of a bluecoated pur
suer, and swung another one out of
the way with a blow of his big fist,
he ran, more from force of habit than
anything else. straight in at the half
open door of the Hayes home. Nellie
was standing in the hall as he rushed
in.
Bob" she cried, showing a little
excitement in her voice, as she came
toward him with her arms out
"Oh, what's the matter, DEAR"
Don't, Nellie" he said huskily, as
he looked embarrassed into her eyes,
you mustn't touch me now. 1 don't
know what I'm here for anyway, I'M
less it's to tell you the truth. You
have put too much confidence in me-
She gazed at him wonderingly. He
had looked forward in sorrow to the
time when he would have to confess
to her. And now the time had come.
Nellie's look caused him to say:
It'll be the best for you. Don't
look at me that way" he cried, as he
took step away from her I'm not
fit for you to touch, nor to look at.
nor to think of, Nellie. darling" He
choked back a sob before he con-
tinued, I'm bad man, and the po-
lice are looking everywhere for me
this minute, but 1 had to come and
tell you first that it's all true-what
you'll see in the papers today-that
Bob Crane is a gambler and sharper,
and that his business is to cheat men
out of their hard-earned wages I'm
this same Bob Crane" he confessed
to the only girl that he had ever
loved. I've been trying to get into
something else for your sake lately.
dear, but l couldn't seem to and old
ways are hard to break. So good-by,
Nellie, you'd best forget about me"
Bob, what are you going to do p"
she inquired anxiously as she glanced
pleadingly at him. why didn't YOU
tell me long before SO that L could
have helped you
I'm going to give myself up to the
ponce, he answered quickly as he
prepared toedepart
Bob, she hesitated; then she came
and laid her hands on his shoulders
to gaze into his eyes. Bob, dear. if
III get you out of the country and
keep them from finding YOU, will you
promise to be a good man as long as
you live?''
He caught his breath. Nellie. it's
too big a risk for you. Why do you
want to mix yourself in my troubles %
Promlse, she urged, as she grasp
ed him by his arm.
Il promise he said so1emnIy, and
then added, but it's leaving my heart
behind me, Nellie, dear"
She did not answer, but crossed the
nail and took small envelope from
a table drawer, then came and stood
before him again. Now listen. From
now on, Bob you're Mr.. John Ed
wards and you're going back to your
old home in Ireland. Your rooms and
passage were taken last Friday for
| today's boat. You see, Mr.. Edwards.
who bought this ticket, is i'll, and the
doctor said it would kill him to go.
His wife brought the ticket in here
last night and asked me to take it
| back to the stea mship office this
morning. So, Mr.. John Edwards i
will hire carriage for you and to-
night you'll be safe on your way to
the distant land" She glanced at
/ him; her eyes seemed to have plead
ing look in them. Bob, you'll keep
your promise, won't you? And YOU
must try and forget me-"
''EOl-Ref Won dar1inO1 And itsIJ he