The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-07-16
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Dead or Alive.
BY r. RAY Baker.
ttcopyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)

by ne M 6NnCh.
Copyright, 1919, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate)
|MNRIMES stuffed the remnants OF
II ssodden doughnut into his mouth
and washed them down. with the
last of the hot coffee. which he had
bFewed himself. and which was more
hot than II was coffee.
Tiptoctng to the bed, he touched his
lips 70 the forehead of the wan. girlish
[ face. and, with glistening eyes. watch
ed q 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 lower
lip beneath them and crushed the
skin with pain he did not notice,
+ Turning from the bed, he reached to-
ward the chair he had Just vacated and
stfl,ggled into shiny brown coat that
Z had been draped over its back. From
+ mail on the wall he took gray check
cred cap with rain ruined frontispiece
and pushed 1t back over his contrary
/ black locks.
Grimes paused with his hand on the
knob offhe door and looked back at the
bed. The golden hair and the sunlight
were vieing in contest OF brilliancy.
Something like smile, in which hope
Merged with pride. crept across his
tanned Young face. but 1t faded instant
ly. and his dark eyes glistened again
when hacking cough from the bed
confirmed the tale told by red spot
on either cheek Of the occupant
1a Anarad ha dnnr md ctannn6 nut
! on the board sidewalk just as hell
I diver swooped down from the blue and
ksnatched "a breakfast from placid
Traverse bay. With vigorous stride
he started on his twenty.mirute walk
TO the exclusive Harbor Beach colony.
II won't have her this time next year
unless get her out west by next fall"
was the trend OF Grimes thought as he
passed the slumbering castles in which
the idle wealthy OF the cities sough.
r,istication. Lord knows driving
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 club house veranda
from the complexion running morning
I 1n and came within sight Of the
Archibald palace. gazing down haugh.-
lily from lofty bluff, he was 50 alb
sorbed in cogitation that he all but
cotlided with a rugged, florid-visaged.
Cleasantly rotund little man attired in
lue and wearing an official looking
cap on which golden lighthouse
cleaned.
sAhoy." called the lightkeeper
Neer OF or you'll hit this rock of Glib
N.Y. Al. .s.k
compass. me boy?"
AS they came to halt Grimes was
Obliged 10 smile away his gloom as in
! reflection OF the beaming. weather
: cracked lines OF the others counte-
nance.
An how's the wife this rnornin'?"
ratified on the guardian of the beacon
In that genuinely hearty, sympathetic
( beginnin' the daily labor? Sure, oil
s o'clock for pleasure spin--you
can't tell me that"
No better" was Grimes rueful re-
joinder to the first query I'm going
to take run out on the bay and see
III can make the fourth cylinder hit
as It ought to-" he added, THE boss
Athg to some speed demon"
Nov, amt that too bad about the
wife" observed the lightkeeper. real
Z commiseration in his voice. I'll have
me own woman run over to yer shack
this afternoon an see II she can chase
some o. the gloom away. By the way,
o. course you amt heard the startlin'
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 it start
lin'." responded the captain, broad
grin manifesting his enjoyment of the
: role of sensation monger. Its jest
tbs little matter o. $4,000 bein' stole
from, the First National last night or
early this mornin'. The safe was blow.
: ed open in reg'lar professional man
ner i jest happened over to the
Springs at an unusual hour and there's
excitement galore A thousand dol
I lars' reward has already been offered
for the capture Of the burglar, dead or
!, alive
Grimes started.
"But don't worry. me boy" went on
a|>AQ SaRI0A8s hS chSI 4NdLlOudl udS
I 0enty 10 make good all the savin's &c.
&nnts. and the loss of $4,000 amt
gpin' to start no run on the institution.
y They say It looks like. one-man job.
You better look sharp on the bay He
might be stick!n' around somewhere,
Thought II amt likely he terried long
10 the vicinity. Yell. I've gossipel
: long enough. Gotta be movin' on
As the lightkeeper with wave of a
hand, vanished behind the trees,
Grimes hurried out on the Archibald
dock, where the Lightning was
n,cored. He drew the boat to the
landing by means of the painter. leap.
eed aboard. and. STOPPING, entered the
little cabin that sheltered the engine
{ and crew in stormy weather.
When he Strengthened up inside the
cabin Grimes looked into the barrel OF
\ 3 revolver clutched in a huge, hairy
hand "A giant OF a man with bushy
49, syn Swhiskers lowered back of the
slcome, little stranger" said the
with the gun champing viciously
cnd OF tobacco.
" Crimes grew white beneath the tan