The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-02-19


hand Of cribbage with her mother.
Poring over his correspondence,
Dave, with his ear cooked for the cry
OF the latest extra. spent the evening
hours in valiant effort at concentra-
ton
There came tfnid knock at the door
Come in" he called.
No one entered, but presently he
heard the knock again. He rose and
walked to the door. Outside stood
young woman
IF you please" she said. EXCUSE
me, but-yOu are Mr. Eden, aren't
you?"
Eyes. Can help you in any way?"
The woman Uttered moment, but
resumed Soberly: you will wonder
country. Did you think thatT'
Il suspected it," said Dave with a
smile. You knocked" He paused.
"Yes?"
Like country girl" he said, boldly
She Uttered again. 'WeIl, I'm bst,"
she confessed. st got off the train a
short time ago. My aunt was to meet
me, but there are such crowds in the
street, I must have missed her. And
saw your name on the window and I
had heard of you. So just thought
that I'd ask-if you wouldn't mind
showing me to this address,"
She fumbled in her pocket, and Dave
invited her into the office There she
produced a torn piece of paper with
an address.
why, that's just few blocks -
said Dave. I'll walk around with
you" He turned for his hat, but at
that moment there was another timid
knock on the door, He opened it. A
boy of eight or ten years stood outside.
What is it, sOn?''
The lad looked Shyly about the of
flee. 1t was evident he was impressed
with its magnifcence. Are you Mr..
Eden that sells lOts?''
Eyes. We're you thinking of buying
a few lots?'
did you sell lots to my father?"
"Weli, if knew your fathers name
perhaps 1 could tell you. Who is your
father?"
He's Mr.. Merton. I'm his son. And
he said to me, before he got so bad, he
said, There's just one honest man in
this city, and that's Mr.. Eden Is
that you, Mr.. Elden?"
well, I hope it is, but won't claim
such distinction 1 remember your
father very well. Did he send you to
me?''
mo, sir. He's too sick. He don't
know anybody now. He didn't know
thick and he stopped and swallowed.
And then remembered what he said
about you, and just came"
Have you help = a doctor - a
nurse|'
mo. sir. We haven't any money.
My father spent it all for the lots that
he bought from you"
Dave WINGED. Then, turning to the
young woman: I'm afraid this IS a
more urgent case than yours. I'll call
a taxi to take you to your address,
To his surprise, his visitor broke out
in ribald laugh. She had seated her
self on a desk and was swinging one
foot jauntily.
Its all off," she said. Say, Dave,
you couldn't lose me in this burg.
You don't remember me, do you? Well,
all the better. I'm rather glad broke
down on this job. 1 used to be some
thing of an actress, and I'd have put
it over if it hadn't been for the kid.
The fact is, Dave" she continued, ST
was sent up here to decOy you. 1t
wasn't fair fighting, and I didn't like
it, but money has been mighty slow
of late. I wOnder-hOw much you'd
give to know who sent me?''
Dave pulled some bills from his
pocket and held them before her. She
took them from his hand.
Coward" she said.
Dawes blood went to his head. 1.-The
scoundrel ~ he cried. 1.-The low-down
dog! There's more in this than APP
pears on the surface"
''Sure there isl she said. There's
another woman. There always is
Eden walked to his desk. From a
drawer he took revolver, tOyed with
it a moment in his hands, broke it
open, crushed it full of cartridges, and
thrust it in his pocket.
The girl watched with friendly in
terest. Believe me, Dave" she said,
eff Coward turns up missing I won't
know thing-nOt d thing"
For moment he stood irresOlute
He could only guess what Conward's
plan had been, but that it had been
and cowardly, and that it
concerned Irene. he had no doubt. His
impulse was to Immediately confront
Coward, force a confession, and deal
with him as the occasion might seem
to require. But his eye fell on the boy,
with his shock of brown hair and wist-
full, half-frightened face.
I'll go with you first" he said. with
quick decision. Then to the girl, "Sor-
~ must turn you out, but this case is
That's all right" she said. I'm
used to being turned out" And before
he knew it she was in the street.
"An right, son." said Dave, taking
up the matter now in hand. whats
your nam@your first name?'
Charlie"
land your address?"
The boy mentioned a distant sub
division.
THAT is out, isn't it? Well, Wen
take the car. 1 guess I'd better call