Gilpin observer., 1919-02-27


dismissal. The man held his ground
doggedly, the voices became angrier.
"Nol No, tell you'll" the woman.
cried. II don't know who you are !!
VIII you go?"
| Suddenly man came along the
passage behind her. carrying walk
ing-cane with heavy handle. He
raised 1t and brought 1t crashing down
ON the others head.
The man fell to the ground, evident
ly half stunned by the blow. The man
with the cane raised it and brought 1t
down again and again upon the others
head and face, in succession of sick.
ening crashes.
Mark ran to the garden gate. The
man with the stick paused, raised his
head, and looked at him. Mark recog-
turn, recognized him. an angry sneer
'spread over his face.
"My dear Wallace, what the dickens
are you doing here?" he demanded.
Are you trying to kill this manr
asked Mark.
Kellerman seemed nonplussed for
the moment.
81 hope I've given him his lesson"
he answered. "He came here and de.
manded money, and nearly frightened
Mrs. KensOn out of her senses. Let
me present you"
Mark looked into the keen, apprais.
ing eyes of Mrs. Kenson with dislike
and disgust.
you'd better let him go, Major KeL
lerman," he said. AS he spoke he saw
Mrs. Kenson bite her lip vindictively.
"Oh. I'll leave him to you," respond.
ed Kellerman airily. you'll excuse me,
Wallace, I'm sure, but Mrs. Kenson's
auto will be here In a few moments"
Mark, hot with Indignation, answer.
ed nothing, but raised the man from
the ground and got him outside the
gate. AS he did SO he heard the door
of the house close softly.
The tramp was half unconscious,
and muttering vaguely.
-Four years since I've seen her," he
mumbled. II didn't want money. Only
the word. God knows wouldn't have
taken money from her as he said, the
cur"
"Was she your wife?" asked Mark,
thinking that he saw light.
"God forbid!" CALCULATED the man
with convincing spontaneity. "Who
are you, anyway" he demanded, look.
ing at him directly for the first time.
what were you doing in that placer"
He grasped Mark by the arm. "Are
you another friend of hers?" he asked.
"Or didn't you know that it's tire swell.
est gambling house in Washington I
Mark took him by the shoulders.
"What's your name and where do you
live?" he asked. 81 haven't time to
waste on you, but I'm ready to help
you if can"
my name? Hartley. Good enough
name, isn't it?' Live? I haven't lived
for more years than I remember. I'm
| corpse-see? wanted to live
That's why 1 came here when 1 heard
she was in Washington. Walked from
New York. Why should she be here
| now, unless there's another poor young
| fool like me for her? Where the car.
cass is, there are the eagles--or is 1t
vultures?"
Mark drew the mans arm through
his and led him away. Presently q
cab came crawling up. He hailed II
and gave his address.
He took him home and played the
Good Samaritan, washed his wounds
plastered them, and gave the man q
bed in his living room. Hartley had
subsided into state of frightened ST.
lence. He looked obviously at Mark
all the while he was receiving his min.
istrations. and would say nothing.
"NOw, please understand" SAID
Mark, "Ive brought you here because
you seem to me to be up against 1t
The doors unlocked. And I'm trusting
you with my things. Those cups are
silver, Hartley-I won them at West
Point That little picture is by Griffin
and worth about seven hundred. That's
about all, l think-but I want you tc
understand you're free, and I'll helT
you If l can"
Hartley flushed rather oddly, Mark
thought, but said not "A word. 1t was
a foolish act, he thought repeatedly
before he fell asleep; but he must win
the mans confidence IL he was to learn
the mystery. And he was satisfied
that his interest In Eleanors move
ment boded no harm to her.
In the morning, Hartley was gone
as he expected. But he had taken mel
ther the cups nor the picture.
\