The Washington times., 1918-03-01
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Lord BOrradale's Mother Proud of
Her Son Wounded in Defending
Esther From Thugs Attack

out in your defense. ] would not
have had him act otherwise, even II
IL had cost him his life, and you
know what my son is to me"
81 Love Him Dearly" Sobbed Esthe
Il know; 1 know" sobbed the
girl. "and-and he is my very life
to me. l should not have told you
IL It had not been for this"-she
had fallen on her knees and buried
her head in the old lady's lap-"but
l love him, love him so dearly"
She had forgotten everything in
the emotion OF the moment; for
gotten her secret marriage, the
dangers that menaced her, the i'm
possibility OF ever realizing her
wild hopes.
II was not until the following day
that any mention was made OF the
wretched creature who had stab
bed Mr.. Borradale, and himself
been felled by the young mans
vigorous blow. Then a detective
came to Interview Esther, anu.
tired out as she was, she was bound
TO see him. II appeared that the
man had been lodged that night in
the village lookup, that he was
seriously hurt. having struck his
head heavily In the fall, and that
he had made no statement as to the
object OF his presence in the gar
den OF Helm Court
Was 1t Burglary?
at seems a strange thing" said
the policeman, that il burglary
was this mans object we can find
no trace OF an accomplice. OF
course, he MAJ have been working
alone: these fellows sometimes do.
must go carefully over the whole
ground, but I shall be obliged, Miss
Vassell, IL you will kindly give me
your account OF all that took place"
So Esther had 70 recapituIate,
as best she could, though she said
nothing OF any supposed intent OF
injury TO herself personally. Tho
police had naturally sprung to the
conclusion that burglary was the
object OF the intrusion, and upon
that hypothesis they were making
their Investigations.
The man is known'-Esther
looked up in surprise as the inspec-
tor made the statement. She had
hardly expected to hear that they
were dealing with an ordinary Grim
inal. The New York police recog-
nize him and his record is very
bad"
"As a burglar" she asked ner-
vously.
Murder Was His Speciality.
That among other things. He is
popularity known as the 'Slugger'
Race course sharping. blackmail,
and bullying seems to have been
his specialties. He has been con-
victed more than once OF violent
assault. and he has been suspected
of murder, though It has never
been brought home to him. He's a
bad lot, and it's q good thing that
he's been laid by the heels at last"
is his life in danger?" asked
Esther. She felt a sudden desire
TO see this man. She had not even
glanced at his face as he lay be-
meath the beech tree. A wild
thought passed through her mind
that the man to whom she had been
married was dressed as a convict;
could there be any relation between
the two: Her heart beat pain
fully.
HE has a fractured skull. The
doctor won't say definitely whether
he will live or not Certainly il
will be long time before they can
bring him up at the court. Did you
see him. Miss Vassell?"
Esther shook her head. 81 gave
all my attention TO Mr.. Borradale,"
she said.
Just so. but I was wondering II
there was any chance OF your
having seen him loafing about the
place before. A lot OF tramps pass
along this road. It would be well.
perhaps. for you to have a look at
him. There's no hurry, OF course,
but one day. soon"
Esther said that she would will
ingly do so. and upon this the in
terview terminated.
As il happened, however, she was
spared the unpleasant visit to
prison infirmary, for the "Slugger'
recovered sufficiently TO be brought
into a justice court, attendance at
which was an ordeal no less trying
for Esther. but which she was alb
solutely powerless 10 avoid.
Was Her Marriage Binding Or Not ?
During the hours that she sat
by the sick mans side and felt his
pleading eyes fixed upon her. she
came to a decision. She must know
whether her marriage was binding
upon her or not; she felt certain
that in the eyes OF the law she was
no mans wife-but the Church?
"The rector shall tell me-" she
murmured between her set teeth.
at Is to him / must go. II ] am
free to marry Harold, oh. then,
not my secret in some way con-
But first let me know II / can in
honor bind my life to his"
On the day before the hearing OF
the ''Slugger" she received an un-
expected visit from her cousin Guy.
I've come, Esther" he said be-
cause heard that YOU were in
trouble. and you know, I said that
I should always come to you then.
Yon don't mind seeing me-"
He bore all the outward signs OF
prosperity. His fair hair was more
carefully parted than was usual
with him, his face. perhaps. a little
less haggard.
Glad To See Guy.
why should mind seeing you?"
she smiled, especially here in your
fathers house, where l seem a kind
OF interIoper? Are you doing better
now?' she asked gently.
Il can't say / am-not candidly-
and l never want to deceive you.