Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-06-19
10

"Heu me HpliHaNS-
But Dawes expression stopped the
boy, whose own face went suddenly
Wlld with fear. "Ic is well now,
Charlie" he said, as steadily as he
could. at is all holidays now for
him"
The match had burned out and the
room was in utter darkness. Dave
heard the child drawing his feet
across the floor, then suddenly whim-
pering like thing that had been NOR
tally hurt He CROPPED toward him.
and Mt length his fingers found his
shock Of hair. lie drew the boy
slowly into his arms; then very, very
tight. After all, they were or
phans together.
you will come with me-" he said
at length. 81 will see that you are
provided for The doctor will soon
be 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 dOctOt at the
broken bridge. Dave exchN nged a
few words with him in low tdles, and
they passed on. Soon thay were
swinging again through the city
streets. Even with the developments
of the evening pressing heavily upon
his mind Dave could not resist the
.cmptatiOn to stop and listen for n
moment TO bulletins being read
through megaphone.
THE kaiser has stripped off his
British regalia." said the announcer.
He says he will never again wear
British uniform"
A chuckle of derisive laughter ran
through the mob; then someone struck
up well-known refrain-"What the
Ii do we carer" Up and down the
street voices caught up the chorus.
Within year the bones of
nany 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 at
the door, and Dave explained the sit
uatiOn In few words 1--WE must
take care of him, Reenie." he said. IL
feel 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 q
-Oo1n and Introduce him first to--the
isathroem4 And tomorrow we shall
have an excursion downtown. and get
some new clothes for Charlie-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. If
his plans had miscarried, If Dave had
discovered the plot, we'll And here
at length was Dave, engrossed in a
very inherent matter. OOnWuru 1Ol-
lowed them up the stairs.
Irene and Dave chatted with the
hoy for n 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 here?" 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 cooIly lit
another cigarette. He held the match
before him and calmly watched II
burn out. Then he extended 1t toward
Dave.
You remember our wager, Eden.
present you with-a burned-Out
match"
you liar" cried Dave. You in
famous liar"
ASK her" Coward replied. "She
will deny it. of course. All women
do"
Dave felt his muscles tighten, and
knew that i'm moment he would tear
his victim 10 pieces. As his cienChed
fist came to the side of his body =.
struck something hard. His re
volver, lie had forgotten; he was
not in the habit of carrying it. In an
instant he had Coward covered.
Dave did not press the trigger at
once. He took fierce delight in tor
turing the man who had wrecked his
Iifc-eveH while he told himself he
could not believe his boast. Now he
watched the color fade from Con
wards cheek; the eyes stand out i'm
his face; the tfvid btOtches more tivid
still: the cigarette drop from his
neryeleSs lips.
You are brave man, Coward"
he said. and there was the rasp of
hate and contempt in his voice. You
are very brave man."
Mrs. Hardy. sensing something
wrong. came out from her sitting
room. With little cry she Swo0ned
away.
Coward tried To speak. but words
stuck in his throat. With dry
tongue he licked his drier lips.
"Do you believe in hell. Conward?"
Dave continued. I've always had
some doubt myself, but in thirty sec