Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-02-09
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RUPERT HUGHES

She stared ut the crowd. then On sud
den impulse ran down the steps To IA
policeman standing ~ the walk. Tim
Idly she tapped him on the arm. The
man who just wen by 50 hurriedly--
he was poorly dressed. had a SLOUGH
hat and Il beard. did you see which
way lie WENT she asked.
The policeman pointed 60 the right
and Gloria started Immediately to run
that way. The streets were iii lit and
poor. but she hurried on with hardly
il glance III her surroundings. To lose
the real murderer now was unthink-
able To her; 10 have had him there In
the very arms Of the law. the man
whom she had seen actually do her
lover TO death. only to have him cs-
cape again. drove her into a frenzy.
She ran on. peering into dark door
ways and alleys. Judge Freeman. /
whom she had watched all evening
mete out punishment 10 far lesser
crimes. had actually made no effort to
catch this demon for her. What was
the mystery Of IL all? Why were they
all In league to thwart her and 10 re-
fuse vengeance on Dicks slayer?
Her brain was whirling. her search
ing eyes ached and burned as they
pecrcd vuinly ahead for the dread fig
ure Of the tramp. So absorbed was
Gloria in her pursuit that she gave
no thought 10 the dangers she was
exposing herself 10, and the dangers
We're many. Ii was a bad district. NJ
very hotbed IF crime and poverty
The hour was midnight and she was
alone-a young ahd beautiful woman
carrying none and jewels. as well
as her own priceless girlhood. but the
impetus of her search carried her OF
without Il thought for her ~ safety
Doctor Royce and her father had
returned with her wraps 70 the court
house steps only To find her gone, and
wild with anxiety. they started reck-
lessly in pursuit. each taking a differ
ent direction. BY misfortune neither
Of them was right.
Meanwhile Gloria FASTENED N. She
actually caught a glimpse Of the tramp
ahead Of her: he was lettering in Il
doorway gnawing a crust Of bread
hungrily. and she redouhled her speed.
but he started on and turned the cor
ner Of a street while she was In the
middle Of a block and when she got
there he was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly she realized she was tired
and weak. that she could actually 20
no farther. ana that she must rest. As
she slackencd her pace She va
alarmed ut seeing a rough-lookin2
man cross the street toward her; he
reeled as he came on, 80 that She was
further aroused ~ danger az thinking
him under the influence of liquor.
She did not know that this was one of
the numerous lodges Of the pickpocket
and that she would have been safer
with IN actually intoxicated man. She
looked up ana down the street as far
rs she could see. bur there were no
policemen in sight, and, hearing steps
behind her. She turned TO seek pr0too
ton. only IA find three men more evil
looking than the oncoming drunkard.
Suddenly the whole world Of Gloria
Stafford seemed to cruInble before her
eyes. Her dreams Of vengeance, her
hopes Of ferreting out the murderer,
indeed the murder itself became I'M
real as the immediate danger to her
own person was felt. She longed to
scream for help, but pluckily stayed
quiet and. backing into the steps Of a
tenement suddenly. threw the follow
ing mel into surprise for an instant.
The thing who was crossing toward
her, however. came on without pause
and. lurching against the iron railing
10 which She chung, snatched the gold
bag she carried and fled with sure and
steady steps. the other three following
slowly In apparent oblivion Of the
theft.
With Il sigh Gloria sank to n sitting
posture on the steps behind her. The
loss Of a gold mesh bag with Its con-
tents meant nothing TO Gloria Stat
ford. The sudden plunge into a whole
new world-a world OF m~aliciousness
and crime; n world where murderers
went free and bandits gained their
aims unchallenged - appalled, her.
Breathing in little frightened gaspS
she leaned against the friendly rail.
Ing and tried 10 roassemble her scat.
tered views Of life.
SYNOPSIS
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