The citizen., 1920-02-19

tegrating amid Its own wreckage
Dave ran the car a little to one side
OF the rond, locked the switch and
walked on with the boy.
Zine business !" Dave repeated to
himself. "And this is how our big
success was made. Well. the sue
cess has vanished as quickly as II
came. suppose there is law some
where that is not mocked."
They were passing through set
tlement OF crude houses. dlmly visible
In the starlight and by occasional vel
low blurs from their windows. Before
one Of the mcanest Of these the boy
at last stopped, pulled the door oper
and Dave entered. At first he was
conscious Of very small and stuffy
room. with n peculiar odor which he
attributed to an oil lamp burning or
a box. He walked over and turned
the lamp up. but the oil was con
sumed; red. sullcn. smoking wicl
was Its only response. Then he felt
In his pocket and struck match.
The light revealed the dinginess Of
the little room. There was n bed
covered with musty. ragged clothing /:
n table Uttered with broken and dirty
dishes and pieces Of stale food; y
stove cracked and greasy. and one or
two bare boxes serving ns articles Of
furniture But II was 10 the bed
Dave turned. and with another match
bent over the shrunken form that
lay almost concealed amid the coarse
coverings. He brought his face down
close. then Strengthened up and stead
led himself for moment.
Hell soon be well. don't you think.
mister1 He said he would he well
when the holidays"
But Dawes expression stopped the
boy. whose own face went suddenly
Wild with fear. "IIe Is well now.
Charlie" he said. as steadily as he
could. 'It Is all holidays now for
him."
The match Ind burned out and the
room wns In utter darkness. Dave
heard the child drawing his feet
ncross the floor. then suddenly whim-
pering like n thing that had been NOR
tally hurt He groped toward him.
and at length his fingers found his
shock OF hair. He drew the boy
,'owiy into his arms; then very, very
tight. After all. they were or
phans together.
You will come with me-" he said
~ length. 81 will see that you are
pf lvided for. The doctor will soon
he here. or we will meet him on the
way, and he will make the arrange
ments for-the arrangements That
have TO be made. you know"
They retraced their steps toward
the town. meeting the doctor at the
broken bridge. Dave exchanged n
few words with him in low tones. and
they passcl on. Soon they were
swinging again through the city
streets. Even with the Developments
OF the evening pressing heavily upon
his mind Dave could not resist the
temptation 10 stop and listen for n
moment to bulletins being read
through n megaphone.
"The kaiser has stripped OF his
British regalla." said the announcer
"He says he win never again wear
British uniform"
A chuckle OF derlsive laughter ran
through the mob; then someone struck
up a well-known refrain-"What the
r. do we careT Up and down the
street voices caught up the chorus
Within year the bones Of
many In that thoughtless crowd,
bleaching on the fields OF Flanders.
showed how much they cared.
Dave drove direct to the Hardy home.
After some delay Irene met him nj
the door. and Dave explained the sit
uatlon In few words I'VE must
take care OF him. Reenie." he said. II
feel a personal responsibility"
"Of course we will take him." she
answered. "He will live here until
we have a-some place OF our own"
Her face was bright with something
which must be tenderness. Bring
him upstairs. We will allot him a
room and introduce him first to-the
bathroom. And tomorrow we shall
have an excursion downtown. and get
some new clothes for Charlle-El.
den."
As they moved up the stairs Con-
ward. who had been In another room
In conversation with Mrs. Hardy. fol-
lowed them unseen. The evening had
been intermlnable for Coward. For
three hours he had awaited word that
his victim had been trapped. and for
three hours no word had come. II
his plans had miscarried, II Dave had
discovered the plot. we'll And here
at length was Dave. engrossed In a
very different matter. Coward fol-
lowed them up the stairs.
Irene and Dave chatted with the
boy for a few moments. then Irene
turned to some arrangements for his
comfort and Dave started downstairs.
In the passage he was met by Con
ward
"What are you doing herei" Dave
demanded. as he felt his head begin
ming TO swim In anger.
Coward leered only the more Of
fensively. and walked down the stairs
beside him. AT the foot he coolly lit
another cigarette. He held the match