Gilpin observer., 1917-01-11

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The. policeman gazed down at the
questioner. Slightly amused, he took
from her trembling hands photo
graph Of the carte-de-visite order, yel-
low with exposure, and much stained,
it might be, with tears.
"No, ma'am," he said after careful
scrutiny. "Who Is it?"
"My son." came the answer. II
haven't seen him for-t ten years, but q
man told me he believed he was in this
city,"
whats his trade" inquired the Of
ficer of the law kindly.
The wrinkled and tired face, already
pallid with fatigue, blanched a little
more.
"He used to be locksmith," she fall
tered, ''but-but-the man said-that
my boy wasn't workin' just now."
Then the policeman understood.
"NO," he said, II haven't seen him.
He can't be much of a tough, mother,
or I'd be sure to know him. So cheer
upl Sometimes things amt so bad as
people make 'em out. They're always
ready to say the worst, you know.
Tell you what-there's a sort of Set
tlement bureau in this town where
young folk who have gone wrong are
given a helpin' hand. You may find
out something about him there. Even
If Miss Grace Coe doesn't know him,
someone in the Settlement may be able
to assist you"
The woman had named the subject
of the photograph John William Ev-
ans" so the policeman was hardly to
blame If he failed to detect in the line
aments Of fairly handsome and intel
ligent looking youth the scowling fea-
lures of Two-Gun Jake. Nevertheless,
his counsel was good, since it led the
searcher's faltering steps to Grace Coe
at the very moment when the girl was
nearly distracted with terror and fore
boding as to the uncertain fate of the
man she loved.
Even in that hour of storm and
stress her sweet disposition and splen-
did self-control permitted her to listen
to the elderly woman's story. She
bent over the photograph, but could
only return it sadly.
NO." she said, II have never seen
your son, Mrs. Evans"
1t happened that Blanche Griffin was
standing near and heard what passed.
Though she, too, was racked with mis-
cry. she almost unconsciously scrutin-
lied the simpering youth in the print.
May look at that?" she asked.
Taking the little square of pasteboard
to window she examined 1t intently.
and a half-repressed cry Of amaze
ment brought Grace to her side.
ut is-it must be-Two-Gun Jake"
she whispered excitedly. "Of course,
Miss Coe, you don't know him as well
as do, but unfortunately have seen
good deal of him during the past
four years, and sometimes, when in
repose, he would look just like that.
oh, If this should be his mother, how
fortunate for us!'
But how" demanded Grace, intui-
lively realizing that Blanche would not
be SO disturbed without good cause. -
Don't you see, miss, he is wounded
and in the hospital, and he, If anyone,
would know where those wretched men
have taken Mr.. Burton and Bill Reilly.
Perhaps. II we bring his mother to him,
she may arouse his better nature,
and"
Grace caught the drift of the girls
notion at once.
"Oh, yes, yes !" she cried impulsively.
I'VE must not lose a second. Let us
act alone. Three weak women may
succeed where the police have failed"
Mrs. Evans was easily persuaded.
Indeed, she was ready to put the ut
most confidence in-Grace from the
first instant of their meeting. A car
was in waiting, and the three were
taken swiftly to the hospital. Blanche
was the first to alight, and was conse-
quently just in time to see Jake be-
ing helped into an automobile drawn
up by the curb at some distance from
the main building.
She recognized the man with him as
a particularly brutal and dangerous
member of the Hell-cats' gang, and ere
she could frame startled explana-
tion which could convey the truth to
Grace's ears while cOncealing it from
the hapless mother, the other vehicle
was vanishing down the road in u
swirl of dust.
"Follow that car" she said instantly
to the chauffeur.
The pursuit continued until the gun
mems automobile turned into an al
most disused track leading to the
house which held the prisoners. Luck
lily, Grace Goes driver detected the
maneuver and contrived TO pull up his
own car behind clump of trees.
Hence Jake's companlons-there were
two of them. together with the chauf-
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