The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-18

ton, a clean, boyish feeling Of sane
tity, a scent
The roses The red, cool flower In
the fragrant hair of the daughter OF the
woman whom Dan had loved the image
and likeness Of her, as she had been
twenty years before, when he lapsed into
the nightmare Of evil. 1t seemed that It
had indeed been n nightmare, an IN
effectual foolish dream, from which ne
had suddenly awaked to find himself the
straight, clean, sane boy he had been
ere he slept.
All the cynical philosophy OF the
dreamer was gone with the dream. Dan
Carwood was awake-awake as the boy
of twenty years before, awake to the
unreality of the mad things OF the long
dream, and also to the ugly realities OF
the situation the awakened dreamer had
to face.
He looked upon the daughter in her
present situation as the young man OF
twenty years before would have looked
upon the mother under the same cir
cumstances. He glanced at Slemmer--
Slemmer who hac been his pal, his
benefactor, the man to whom he had
passed his word; and loathing almost
betrayed him. He masked his feeling OF
revulsion with a smirk and a wink.
Slemmer was an ugly reality remaining
from the evil trash of the long dream,
venomous reality to be banished by
the awakened Dan Carwood.
Dan knew that he had need for all his
cunning, and his cunning did not fail
him. He winked again at Slemmer and
bowed to the girl.
IT think we are all ready for the
ceremony" he said suavely. 'If you'll
step into the other room with me for a
moment, please? There are a few ques-
lions / must ask you before we pro-
ceed"
The girl nodded assent, and Dan mo-
toned her toward the open door Of the
front room. A CONFUSION of instinc-
tive suspicion twisted Slemmer's face.
He caught Dan by the arm.
whats the idea?" he demanded.
what"
shut upl" Dan whispered In his ear.
"Got to make the play good, you boob
The minister always has to ask the
bride a few fool questions. What's
ailing your"
''oh, all right" Slemmer saie,
Modified. Hurry up, though. ] want
to get this Job DONE"
won't be but a minute" Dan as
sured him easily.
Passing into the front room after the
girl, he closed the door behind him
closed it and carefully, silently locked
It. He walked across the room to the
front window, which opened upon a
free escape that led down to the street.
Then he turned to the girl and, taking
her by the shoulders, looked deep into
her clear, dark eyes.
"Can you be brave?" he asked gently.
The girls face blanched. She fell to
trembling violently.
"What-what is it?" she asked
Don't scream" Dan whispered.
Don't faint. You're in danger, and
you must keep your wits about you to
save yourself. Slemmer is a crook.
am not minister. Slemmer had planned
to make you the victim of a mock mar
riage. Steady, now! Have you friends
in this city,"
''Y-yes," the girl quavered. ''Oh.
Doctor Daniels, what"
''Do you believe meT' Dan inter-
rupted her.
The girl stared into Dams eyes for
a space, and nodded like one hypno-
tized.
'Yes!" she said family.
Get out Of that window and 20 down
the fire escape as fast as you can
travel" Dan directed her in a whisper.
"You say you have friends here in the
city; go to them as fast as you can. l
know your mother. If you ever tell her
anything of this, tell her that Dan Car
wood helped you out. That's my name"
'You-you know my mother?" the
girl whispered.
"Yes," Dan replied. "Go .now!'
Slemmer's voice came from the next
room, suspicious, urgent.
about ready?" he called.
''Be right out" Dan replied easily.
He helped the trembling girl over the
windowsill.
Wont you Gomez" she asked.
Dan smiled.
"I'll stay here and sort of keep Stem
mer worried" he said whimsically.
win they-hurt your"
II shall be all right" Dan parted.
"Will you let me have the rose in your
hair-to keep"
The girls fingers were trembling SO
that she was unable to pluck the flower
from her hair. Dan reached out to take
1t, and for moment his hand rested
on her dark hair, as if in benedictiop,
Slemmer's voice came to them, harsh,
ugly. The doorknob ratified as he tried
it.
Hurry! larry" Dan urged, and
shut the window.
Patroman Murdoch found him in an
alley. The officer gave evidence at the
coroner's inquest-which was perfume
tory, inasmuch as the police care little
about the manner of the death that such
as Carwood meet-that he had been
dragged there after be was murdered.
SIemmer testified at The INQUEST. He