The Hope pioneer., 1920-12-23
CHAPTER n.
The Master Of the Dirty Mary,

The Master Of the Dirty Mary.
A week before This story opens,
Uriah Devon h3i steamed the length
of the lake, anchoriny his boat as near
Ithaca as he dared. Even to his wife.
Edith he had not conhled why he had
brought her to town where yawning
prison doors gGpel for her every pass
ing hour.
II won't go Riah." Mrs. Devon had
cried when her husband had made the
statement tl.at he Intended to visit
Ithaca. 'Ycu couldn't get me near
that place with rope around my
neck"
But the very fact that she now sat
on a small bench against the boat rail.
gazing mcodily Mt the water, proved
that Uriali Devon had contrived to
have his way.
Occasionally Mrs. Devon lifted her
head to listen and turned her eyes to
the west where a narrow path zig
Jagged it's length up the hill to the
boulevard. Into her tortured soul
had come belief since the night be-
fore, that Tony's "Gloriest God,"
would send her man home.
! Suddenly the sound of heavy foot
steps in the forest path brought her
sharply around. At last he was COM
ing. this man she loved, perhaps
drunk, perhaps to beat her; but nev-
ertheltss he was coming, and that was
all she cared about.
Uriah Devon slowly walked up the
gangr;ank in silence.
"Wslere you been?" the woman
forced herself to say. But instead OF
replying, he demanded:
"Ehere's TonnibeI?"
II Dunno" was the answer. "a min
ute ago she was over there not ten of
yous legs jumps from here.
WhNre you been all this week?
He'd been on terrible spree, she
decided. He looked as if he had been
drunk for days. That he had some
thing unusual on his mind, she knew,
ana she knew, too. it was about Ton
nisel, for hadn't he asked for the kid
dh. moment he'd returned?
SITS about time we was doing
things, Ede," he said, turning grimly.
":.'ve waited as long as dared. Rege
says Paul Pendlehaven hasn't an inch
heeway before he's in his coffin'"
Mrs. Devon's face grew dcathly
pale.
What do you mean, honey?" she
faltered.
1--WE live like rats in a hole" took
up the man. after pause, "while if
Tony was made to do her part, we'd
be on easy street. That's what mean.
We've got to have money and lots of
it. Reggie's willing to marry the kid
If you mind your business afterward.
His marryin' her amt sayin' he'll stick
to her. But we got to have Doodle,
and we can't get il only through her."
"He shan't have 'er," the woman
said, with hard tones and flashing
eyes, "How many times We l got to
say it over to you? If that's the why
you've come to Ithaca, you might as
we'll turn the old scow north and go
back again. He's bum" she went
on. "a dude and a fool and every
thing else that's bad. He's thief,
too"
Devon laughed.
$50 am l, Ede," said he. $50 re YOU
for that matter. If Reggie knew that
Tony was Paul Pendlehaven's kid, we
wouldn't get one d-n cent Of her
money. He SWITCHES from the Pendle-
havens and his mother because he
don't get cash enough other ways. A
feller's got to have spendin' money"
"Pretty small pickin's." sneered
Edith Devon. "Stealin from folks al
most in the grave amt my style. Reg
ge's some secOnd-story man, that
young dufrsr is"
you sneaked paul's kid" taunted
Devon. ''He wouldn't be almost in
his grave now II you'd kept your
hands off'n Tony"
The woman turned on him saw, ,.zely,
paying no heed to his words.
"Get your blasted Reggie to steal
enough for us all from the Pendleha-
vens," she said. "God knows they've
got it and to spare. It's better'n
handin' Tony over to i'm. He lives mt
Fendlchaven's. don't he?"
"He won't do it," cut In Devon
"Iteggie amt got the nerve to burn his
fingers too deep. Paul Pendelhaven'd
send him up for that. If he caugh,
islin. My plan is to get Tony married
t" Regr. and before the lids screwed
d0wo on I'endlehaven's fuce. shov.