The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1918-09-14
KNIGHTS OF ROAD
BY NEGLIGENT sLeyEa.

come over you-sone clear daryr
Coarse-graIned and hoarse-throated
n he was, there was more Of wonder
thnn ridIcuIe 10 the tones of Big Red.
dy. professional hobo. 1t was at the
camp Of 4 group of wandering ones
that Reddy had come across Mystery
Blair gazing fxedly at = photograph.
With Q qui.x flush Blair thrust the
picture out Of sight.
aust honest admiration Of 4 pretty
face" was the reply given. with .
forced laugh. II had quite an adven-
ture last evening and the original Of
that picture had 4 part In It,"
"Hello-there's trouble! Make for
covert" spoke Reddy sharply. There
had come from one of the Erorn pre-
pairing breakfast a birdlike CRY. q
signal. q warning with which every
schooled tramp was familiar. Two
strangers had suddenly intruded. One
wore an official badge. That's the
man." spoke his companion. and he
pointed to Blnir.
Instantly there was the closing in
Of the circle. The presentment vas
that Of the law against . coEr.de.
The group were staunch and loyal for
defense.
This Is no arrest" announced the
marshal.
"No. It is just contrary" added his
companion. 81 would like TO have you
accompany me to my ONCE" he adj
dressed himself to Blair. you were
something better than a hero hast
night. A. legal adviser Of Miss Ina
Trescott, whose life and property you
saved. am asked to talk over nat
tiers with you"
II don't see the use" replied Blair.
"rm glad II I did all you say"
"He did something. you can count on
that" broke In big Reddy. -for he
tossed all night with that burned hand
Of his
Mystery Blair for q moment looked
as though resentfui Of patronizing or
reward. Then his hand closed on the
half-burned photograph in his pocket
In the current Of unusual circum-
stances. he decided to allow It to drift
him whittier It would.
He had been dubbed "Mystefy"
Blair by his comrades. He had Joined
the hobo contingent one day. asking
the favor Of compnnionship and va
riety. telling them he had made q
failure Of business life and envied
them their unconventional existence.
The evening previous. passing .
charming little bungalow. Blair had
seen smoke and flames issuing from
It's front. Cries for help echoed from
the interior. He had burst In locked
door. Continued cries for deliversncs
nerved and guided him. He came upon
. young Eirl lying upon . couch. evi.
IDENTIFY an invalid. Blair seized q
counter-pane. wrapped her up in II
and breasted the blaze. Neixhbors
had gathered and he had placed the
girl In their charge. Then the mem
Org Of that conndinx face. the soft.
clinEinx arms. seemed an ideal. forcing
him to further effort.
Three hours after the call at the
hobo camp Mystery Blair was Q new
being In appearance. The lawyer had
insisted not only on medical attention
hut a complete rehabilitation.
you're spelling me for the road"
Blair had demonstrated. with . quiet
smile.
"why hit II againr challenged the
attorney. II fancy. Mr.. Blair. that
line Ia not your natural bent. Again,
we must he presentable when we call
upon Miss Trescott."
When he was In the presence Of the
fair young girl. just recovering from
spell Of sickness. and her hand
fingered gratefully In his own. there
stirred within him new and vivid emo
lions. He had arisen to depart when
his eye fell upon n little Trimmed pho
toRrnph on the medicine stand. He
gave quite a stnrt.
"wIll you pardon me-" he spoke In.
tcrestedly. "but have seen this young
man, I am sure"
"Oh. Mr.. Devon!" instantly cried
Miss Trcscott. greatly excited. tell
himi Can II be possible. that at
last"
The lawyer sIlenced her eager rev.
Citations with q gesture. He took up
the photograph and led Blair into an
adjoining room. II wns a graphic
story that he reiatcd-Of wild, reck-
less Julian Prescott. the brother Of
Ina. getting Into trouble foolishly. fee
Ing from friends who could protect
him and losing himself among tangled
highways.
Blair recalled the original Of the
picture. He was sure that nearly q
year buck he had met Its owner In his
wanderings. He was sure Of II when
he showed the picture to Residy.
"You know every knight Of the
road" BlnIr said to him. Gan this
one he found1"
1T would take some financing and
II mny be long. long TRAIL" submit
ted Retldy. and this was provided for.
and two months later Blnir reappeared