Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-09-05
Dead or Alive
II
By R. RAY BAKER
NSopyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndica's)

NS0PsIisnt 1918. BY the Mcclure News
paper syndica's)
Grimes stuffed the remnants Of
sodden doughnut into his mouth and
washed them down with the last of
the hot coffee, which he had brewed
himself, and which was more hot than
1t was coffee.
Tiptoeing TO the beo he touched his
lips to the forehead of the wan, girIish
face, and with glistening eyes, watched
a shaft of early sunlight dart through
the window and blend with the pure
gold hair curled on the pillow.
"A ray of hope-mebbe," Grimes
unused. He sighed slightly, and his
firm, white upper teeth drew his low
er lip beneath them and crushed the
skin with a pain he did not notice.
] Turning from the bed, he reached to-
ward the chair he had just vacated
and struggled into a shiny brown coat
that had been draped over its back
From nan on the wall ne took
gray-checkered cap with rain-ruined
frontispiece and pushed it back over
his contrary black locks.
Grimes paused with his hand on the
knob of the door and looked back at
the bed. The golden hair and the sum
light were vieing in contest of bril-
| iancy. Something like a smile, in
which hope merged with pride. crept
across his tanned young face. but it
faded instantly, and his dark eyes glis-
tened again when a hacking cough
from the bed confirmed the tale told
by red spot on either cheek Of the
occupant.
He opened the door and stepped out
on the board sidewalk just as a hell
diver swooped down from the blue and
snatched n breakfast from placid
Traverse bay. With vigorous stride
ne started on his Commute walk to
the exclusive Harbor Beach colony
II won't have her this time next
| year unless get her out West by next
FAIL" was the trend of Grimes Thought
as he passed the slumbering castles in
which the idle wealthy of the cities
sought rustication. Lord knows driv-
| ing Archibald's speed cruiser wouldn't
bring enough coin in two years to do
! It."
AS he skirted the cluster of trees
| that sheltered the clubhouse veranda
from the complexion-ruining morning
sun and came in sight of the Archi-
bald palace, gazing down haughtily
from lofty bluff. he was so absorbed
in cogitation he all but colided with
rugged fiorid-visaged pleasantly ro-
tund little man attired in blue and
wearing an ofticial-looking cap on
which a gold lighthouse cleaned.
"Ahoyl" called the lightkeeper.
"Veer off or you'l hit this rock of Glib
raltar What's the matter with yer
compass. me boy?"
AS they came to n halt Grimes was
obliged to smile away his gloom as in
reflection of the beaming, weather
cracked lines of the others counte-
nance
AN how's the wife this morning."
ratified on the guardian of the beacon
in that genuinely hearty, sympathetic
| tone. San whyfOr the big rusll about
beginnin the daily labor? Sure OF
I
five O'Clock for a pleasure spin-you
can't tell me that"
mo better" was Grimes rueful re-
| joinder to the first query. I'm going
to take a run out on the bay and see
! II / can't make the fourth cylinder hit
as 1t ought TO-" he added. '@Fhe boss
was talking of showing off the Light
ming to some speed demon"
Now, amt that too bad about the
wife," observed the lightkeeper real
commiseration in his voice. EN- have
me own woman run over to yer shack
! this afternoon an see If she can chase
some o. the gloom away. BY the way,
o course you amt heard the startIin'
news from the Springs?"
Thank. you. captain; hate to leave
| her there alone all the time. What
startling news do you mean?"
"Mebbe YOU wouldn't call 1t start
| lin" responded the captain, broad
| grin manifesting his enjoyment Of the
role of sensation monger "Tt's jest
the little matter o. $4,000 helm stole
from the First National last night or
early this mornin' The safe was
bowed open in a regular professional
manner. jest happened over to the
Springs at an unusual hour and there's
excitement galore. A thousand dollars
reward has already been offered for
the capture of the burglar. dead or
| alivei"
| Grimes started.
But don't worry. me boy" went on
the captain. '1The First National has
plenty to make good all the savin's ac-
counts, and the loss Of $4,000 amt
goin' to start Do run on the institution.
They say it looks like q one-man job.
You better look sharp on the bay. lie
might be stickjH' around somewhere.
though II amt likely he taried long in
the vicinity. Well. I'VE gossiped long
enough. Gotta be movin' on"