Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-02-08

ifhnL n0nSenseID he answered.
kissing her. ut win do you good,
dear. You are as white as rag. Come,
want you to go of on a little trip
and freshen up
Dorothy consented, and Preston
spent a week Ia town alone. II was
on the third day that a tramp. shut
fling along the road, looked up AZ the
hfslss my Preston. and heatated,
Thea he went briizeIlly n, utth
and Stood before sain. Preston recoe.
nnized the mao and gnsped.
"Rankins he cried.
you've got me-" answered Rankin.
II thousSIt you were dead"
Il guess you both did. Where's Doro-
thyTe
Mrs Preston Is away said Preston
hotiy.
Rankin grinned and seated himself
upon the porch Lets talk like men,,
he said. How nuch7 How much
for me 10 80 away and never turn up
ngaInT
"You blackmailer-I,
sOh, cut out the adjecfiyes." said
Rankin. II guess it's worth Ave hun
drcd to you not 10 LET Dol mean Mrs.
Preston-know Five hundred ana you
don't hear Of me again."
Preston thought. his eyes fixed on
Rankln's face. He was In trap, and
for Dorothys sake he must submit.
"f1i give you Ave hundred" he said.
And listen, you houndl If ever
see you again IN XIII you. I'm a man
or my word and mean Just that"
That's all right, answered Rankin
easily. "FIve hundred goes
BE back In an hour" said Pres
ton. ''and you shall have it,
An hour later Preston handed RAN
kin his money and the man shufIled
out Of sight along the road. Preston
watched him. lie had meant whit he
snid For Dorothy's sake he was re-
solved TO kin Rankin II he entered
their lives again.
Rankin, who had lost the five hum
dred Ia gambling hell. took the Sec
ond amount 10 The place. He was sure
he could easily got ali he wanted out
u Preston lie Inquired aud learned
that Dorothy would not return for
day or two. The second i've hundred
followed the arst
Rankin did not call at Preston's
house again. Perhaps he had q Turk
Ing fear 81 violence; perhaps his nerve
was not equal 70 seeing Preston. Tie
wrote letter instead. asking for nse
ssss-es.a ----A, s.s-.a..--a--A.A-.- -
imploring. and winding up with the
statement that he meant TO take the
money and 80 West.
Preston received the letter when he
came home from business. When he
had read Il he sat with hardened face,
thinking. he saw this blackmaiier q
chronic feature Of his life. He saw
that IN the mans death lay the only
chance for Dorothy'a happiness. And
be meant 70 protect Dorothy at the
cost OF bis hfe--or Of bis soul.
Rankin had asked Preston TO meet
him on the bridge across the river
a lonely spot In deserted quarter Of
the town. given over only BY day to
factory activities. Preston put load
ed revolver into his pocket that night
and walked briskly through the town
until he reached the rendezvous.
As be stood on the bridge he saw
the ragged figure approaching him
from The low quarter OF the town In
which the Parker hotel was situated.
Rankin saw Preston and hurried for
ward. He stopped a few feet away
and looked az him inquirlngly.
Il got your letter. said Preston
calmly.
''Yes,T said Rankin, deceived by the
Others manner. Il meant 10 keep my
promise 20 you. But | was slugged
and robbed. And I've got TO 60 West.
and Tn stranded. II / stayed In town
you know I'd be recognized aud the
truth would come out
1T would Preston agreed.
@rve got to get out Of town, thea"
said Rankin. You'd better hand over
that 1--WE hundred, aud III take the
lirst train for California in the morn
Ing"
"Rankin," said Preston. ayoa are
supposed TO have died in that train
wreck"
yes. but / didn't, 80 what's the use
Of talklngT asked Rankin with a
sneer, thinking that the other was
temporizing.
Nobody knows you didn't de- said
Preston thoughtfully.
Il guess they win soon. If you don't
come ACROSS" said Rankin threaten
Ingiy.
"Tou are as good as dead. anyway
said Preston, as II talking to himself.
rs five hundred the least you win
take. Rankin
mot cent less, and it's that or ex-
posure." answered the other.
"TherA's an alternative"
There Is, ehT'' demanded Rankin.
awhatg"
'sThis." answered Preston, driving
the revolver from his pocket and aim
Ing It at Rankin's heart.
He saw the terror 10 the blackmaiI-
er's eyes; then, pressing the muzzle
10 his breast, he Aired. without d
sound the blackmaller toppled into
the sluggish stream.
Preston dropped In the weapon after
him and walked home.
Fifty vocatIons are taught In The
Quilted States navy.