The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-14

tipsy porch when from the door
''daws," half bull and the rest just
plain mongrei, launched itself at him.
The heavy wrench fell squarely on
the ugly head and over the brute went
in a heap.
Marshal raped on the door. There
was no sound. He stepped in-and
stopped.
On a shabby couch lay a man, so
emaciated he seemed in the last stages
of existence. His eyes were closed.
Marshal was tempted to get out and
get out quickly; but he had pent
money and effort. and he decided to
see the thing thru. ....
stirred. and the eyes opened-faded
and empty.
Does Clarke Sherman live here ?'
Marshal asked.
He bent to catch ehe faint whisper
Why = yes = I am-Clarke sher-
Marshars heart picked up its beat.
Did you ever know Martha Lane?"
The faded eyes seemed 10 darken
and the lean figure to stiffen.
Martha Lane, of Reedsboro?" the
whisper asked. "Yes-she died
twenty or more years ago."
mo, she didn't" Marshal said
bluntly. shes living now and wait
ing for you. I've seen her. / know"
Beating down thru the failing mind.
the words went like the summons that
brings life within the tomb; a faint
color gathered in the wan cheeks, and
the whisper came stronger
she is. She is, But" the coicr
began to fade and the shadows deep
ened in his eyes, she didn't write
At MarshaFs answer the figure
turned convulsively. "Why didn't you
write? She's been waiting all these
years to hear from you
The shrek of the automobile horn
drew his attention. He turned to face
the raging Seeker.
What are you doing here? Get out
or you'll get thrown OUT"
Thankful for the warning Of his
friend in the car, Marshal faced Seek
Grand realized that he still held the
wrench in his hand. Careful, Seek
err"
With an oath, Seeker jumped at
him, and Marshal met him half way
once more in his hotel room, in
spite of a throbbing head, Marshal
wrote letter to a business friend in
the New England village; and in it
were these paragraphs:
THE whole mystery is now clear
Sherman fell into the hands of this
Seeker, who, after Sherman's injury,
took charge of him, and managed to
get hold of his affairs. Learning that
Sherman was planning to return east.
L am fully convinced he fixed up some
scheme by which he made Sherman
certain that his sweetheart was dead.
and of course, it was easy for Seeker
to try a similar scheme on Miss Lane.
Sherman was crippled in an accident
and is an invalid now but he was
TAR from killed. Seeker is a man of
feroc1ous disposition, and everybody
left him severely alone. 1 guess. l
gave MIN pretty sound drubbing,
ana nave started legal action against
MN mere; and I'm going to see that
it's pushed through,
sherman is under the doctors
care here. He's strong enough to go
east in a short time. Seeker had con-
troll of Sherman's money and place
but we'll get it back, and 1 think
there's enough to keep the couple in
comfort as long as they live And, by
the way. he managed to write a letter
to Miss Lane. l imagine it will arrive
on the afternoon mail. Just to oblige
me. won't you go over to the office
and watch her when she received the
letter? You't see if am not mis-
taken-the dream Of a lifetime come
true,"- Copyright 1917, by the Nc
Clure Newspaper Syndicate