Gilpin observer., 1917-06-07
BY yE.AlEXANDER POWELL


past is a closed book and I do not
wish it reopened. Good-by," and, with
out so much as offering her hand, she
turned, slowly retraced her steps up
the graveled path, and re-entered the
house.
And Holmes, suddenly become an
old, old man, stumbled on in the direc-
ton of the forest. Virginia alive
Why, it was impossible, unthinkable,
absurd 1t meant that Florence Mars
ton, the woman whom he had looked
on as his second wife, was not his
wife at all! 1t meant that their son
Stephen was illegitimate! 1t meant
that he himself was bigamist!
When, after having tramped the
woods aimlessly for s,hours, Rupert
Holmes stumbled into the office at the
construction camp, Carruthers sprang
to his feet, alarmed by his chiefs ap-
pearance.
"Why, Mr.. Holmes, what's the mat
teri" he cried. "Are you ill?"
ITS nothing, Carruthers," said
Holmes, dropping Imply into chair.
1--WE had little shock, but I'll be all
right in minute"
After lengthy discussion Of the
problems connected with the construc-
ton of the railway, Holmes rose to
go.
"By the way, Carruthers," he re-
marked casually, 'who lives in the
last cottage on the main street, just be-
fore you get to the wOOds?"
you mean the white one with the
green blinds, 1 guess" replied Car
ruthers. '"rhat belongs to Dave Daw-
son."
"How much Of family has Daw-
SON." Holmes inquired in as careless
a tone as he could manage.
"Well, there's his wife, and his son,
Tom-he's one of our engineers, and
mighty good one-and q Mrs. Holmes
Same name as yours, sir, come to
think Of it-who, understand is some
relation Of Dawes wife, and Helen
Dawson. Helen is really Mrs. Holmes
daughter, believe, but Dave adopted
her when she was baby, and she's
taken his name."
$50 Helen Dawson is Mrs. Holmes
daughter, eh?" said Holmes, medita-
lively, reaching for his hat and stick.
THAT puts things in another light"
and, with muttered Goodnight" he
opened the door and strobe off.
Holmes thoughts were as gloomy as
the forest through which he walked.
So Helen Dawson, the girl who had
saved his sons life, who had stopped
the runaway train, who had beaten
him at every turn, was his own daugh-
ter! The crying infant whom he re-
membered in its mothers arms in the
cabin on the Calapooia had grown into
this beautiful and clever woman. Did
she know that he was her father? he
wondered. Apparently not, or she
would have shown some signs of rec
ognition. Evidently Virginia Holmes
had never informed her daughter of
her fathers identity. But would she
continue to keep silence? he asked him.
self. We're she to tell what she knew,
1t would mean for him both CONNER
cial and social ruin.
Holmes dined alone in his warm and
brightly lighted car. Then, donning
lumberman's cap and mackinaw, he
went out into the darkness. The wind
had risen to a gale and the streets of
the little town were deserted. Quite
unconsciously, his steps led him in
the direction of the Dawson cottage,
whose roof, he now knew, sheltered
his wife and daughter. Overcome by
the desire to obtain another glimpse
of Virginia Holmes, he cautiously
opened the gate and stole forward on
noiseless feet. The shade of one Of
the windows was partly raised, and,
STOPPING. he peered eagerly into the
brightly lighted room. Seated about
the table, evidently in the midst of u
discussion, were Dave Dawson,
Michael Morissey and three of the 9TH
er independent owners. In rocking
chair, her profile toward him, sat Vir-
ginia Holmes. Her sewing was lying
forgotten In her lap and she was lost
In meditation. Despite the twenty-odd
years that had passed since he had
seen her, she still was, Holmes admit
| ted, beautiful woman. Helen and
Mrs. Dawson were not to be seen.
AS Holmes crouched there outside
the window, 1t suddenly came upon
him that the six people in that room
We're the cause of all his troubles.
Dawson, Morissey, and their associ-
ates, were his bitterest rivals. 1t was
them that he had to thank for the
blocking Of his schemes. And Vir-
ginia Holmes held not alone his future.
but the future of his wife and son, in
her hand. With those six people out
Of the way. he reflected bitterly, his
troubles would be ut an end. II they
were only out Of the way. But how ?
Fate answered his unspoken question.
for. as he turned away from the win.
dow, he came In violent collision with
a great FIR tree which stood only a few
yards from the house, and an ax.
which some careless workman had eyi.
IDENTIFY left leaning apainst thu traa