The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-09-20

and Gray noticed him approaching
from distance.
A sorrow-eyed woman stood in her
doorway regarding the scene with sad
and tear-stained face. Gray swept
aside the crowd. He seized the girl
by the arm and led her to the door
way where the woman stood.
Save this poor creature from that
crowd and the police" he said rap
idly. "Give her shelter till she is in
her right mind again, and I will pay
you for the trouble"
I'll do it without pay" sobbed the
woman, "but it will do no good. 1 had
a daughter who went that way, and
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: IF you please, sir, leave your
name. If any trouble comes of this,
your 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 q table and
marked out the course he would now
pursue.
He had come to Paxton ON business,
and his closest friend, young physf-
clan named Lysle Everett, had accom-
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
| hCFCA ACLOAh W AJAOOkl AAAAh LAO
best of me that you cam" The other
was to the mayoralty campaign COM
mittee atLyndon, and read: appoint
new nayoralty 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 filed his mind. Had Gray be-
come overcome with drink, or insan-
tty? He reused up his friend, shocked
at 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,
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. 1 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 a 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
Used to bring it," and the speaker pre-
scented an envelope.
The bewildered Gray opened it.
There was a sheet which bore the rec
ord of Barton Gray" in a Canadian
prison. There was note from the
girl. "You will never be troubled
again. Because you were kind to me,
weary of life, I have solved the prob
lem for my uncle, myself and those
who schemed to blackmail YOU"
"That isn't ALL" continued the old
woman. 1.-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 MIN his tangled path OF