Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-12-24

woman, "but it will do no good I ha'i
daughter who went that way, aid
nothing could stop her. I'll do as you
wish, though"
She helped Gray get the girl into the
house and to couch. Gray insisted
on giving her money. She halted him
as he was about to depart with the
words: eff you please, sir, leave your
name. If any trouble comes of this,
year story might help me out of it."
Gray penciled his name and hotel
address on card, and went his way.
The crowd had dispersed, and the po-
liceman was not in sight. Gray had
done an act of kindness he could not
resist in the natural goodness Of his
heart. He returned to his room at
the hotel, sat down at table and
marked out the course he would now
pursue.
He had come to Paxton on business,
and his closest friend, a young physi-
clan named Lysle Everett, had accom-
panied him. The latter had gone far
Their down the road, but had arranged
to join Gray at his hotel at eight
o'clock that evening and return with
him to Lyndon.
At the time appointed Doctor Ever
EFT entered the hotel and the room
occupied by Gray. He was startled to
find the latter, his face buried in his
arms, outstretched across the table
and apparently asleep. He had been
writing, and two kilograms ready to
send lay upon the table. One was to
Miss Pearce and it read: II shall
never return to Lyndon. Think the
best of me that you cam" The other
was to the mayoralty campaign COM
mittee at Lyndon, and read: appoint
new mayoralty candidate at once. I
positively refuse to accept the office
Doctor Everett stood like one spell
bound. He could not figure out the
situation coherently. The widest the
cries filled his mind. Had Gray be-
come overcome with drink, or insan-
ity? He reused up his friend, shocked
ut the CHASTITY face revealed. Only one
point would Gray discuss-his resolve
to send the kilograms and disappear.
"Why?' came the challenging de-
mand, but there was no reply or ex-
PLANTATION.
"All right" finally spoke Everett, a
firm, reflective expression in his eyes.
At all hazards he must prevent his
friend from sending those kilograms,
which he believed were inspired by a
passing mental alteration. "Your
nerves are all upset. will give you
Strengthening draught and stay with
you to the last minute can spare"
Ten minutes later Barton Gray was
under the influence Of powerful Opt
ate. The doctor destroyed the tele-
grams. He employed two stalwart
men to watch Gray through the night
and the next day. leaving further doses
of the medicine to keep him in state
Of insensibility.
1t was nearly midnight Of that Sec
ond day when Gray awoke. The doc
tor had burst into the room. He was
joyous and excited.
ELECTED by the biggest majority
ever given in Lyndon!" he announced
in kind of cheer.
Gray stared at him vaguely. Just
then there was an Interruption. Some
one knocked at the door. The woman
he had hired to care for the fOrlOrn
girl appeared.
"Oh, sir!" she said, "that girl! got
her TO her home. On the way, telling
her of your rare kindness, she broke
down under it and made me wait until
she sent message to you. prom
ised to bring it," and the speaker pre-
sented an envelope.
The bewildered Gray opened it.
There was sheet which bore the rec
ord of Barton Gray" in a Canadian
prison. There was a note from the
girl 'You will never be troubled
again. Because you were kind to me,
weary of life, have solved the prob
lem for my uncle, myself and those
who schemed to blackmail you"
THAT isn't ALL" continued the old
woman. 'The girl and three others
were found dead from poison late this
afternoon"
The problem was, indeed, solved, but
not wholly, for Gray was innocent,
though he would never have tried to
prove it. His dearest friend it was
who had used his name to screen his
own, and who had undergone the pris-
on sentence. Redeemed now, occupy
ing high position, Gray had been
willing to sacrifice his own happiness
to protect him.
And amid his later life Of uninter-
rupted felicity, Barton Gray was al
ways saddened when he thought of
the wild, hayward girl who had
cleared up for him his tangled path Of
life.