Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-02-05
10

could at is all holidays now fol
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 a thing that had been NOR
tally hurt. He CROPPED toward him
and at length his fingers found his
shock of hair. He 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. Il 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 doctor at the
broken bridge. Dave exchanged
few words with him in low tones, and
they passed 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 to stop and listen for
moment to bulletins being read
through a megaphone.
"The kaiser has stripped off his
British regalia," said the announcer.
HE says he will never again wear
a British uniform"
A chuckle of derisive laughter ran
through the mob; then someone struck
up a well-known refrain-"What the
b do we care" Up and down the
street voices caught up the chorus.
. Within a 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 at
the door, and Dave explained the sit
uation in a few words. eve must |
take care of him, Reenie," he said. Il
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
room and introduce him first to-the
bathroom. And tomorrow we shall
nave an excursion downtown, and get
some new clothes for Charlie-El-
1en."
AS they moved up the stairs Con-
ward, who had been in another room
n conversation with Mrs. Hardy, fol-
owed them unseen. The evening had
'een interminable for Coward. For
hree hours he had awaited word that
lis victim had been trapped, and for
hree hours no word had come. If
lis plans had miscarried, if Dave had
discovered the plot, we'll And here
t length was Dave, engrossed in a
cry different matter. Coward fol-
owed them up the stairs.
Irene and Dave chatted with the
oy for a few moments, then Irene
lrned to some arrangements for his
omfort and Dave started downstairs. I
q the passage he was met by Con- I
ard. b
"What are you doing here" Dave v
as he felt his head begin Y
ing to swim in anger. t
Coward leered only the more Of h
and walked down the stairs II
eside him. At the foot he coolly lit V
mother cigarette. He held the match h
afore him and calmly watched it il
i'm out. Then he extended it toward o
ave.
You remember our wager, Eden. p,
present you with-a burned-out pI
atch." ri
you liarr cried Dave. "You in pt
mous liar!" et
ASK her." Coward replied. "She bl
Ill deny 1t, of course. All women OF
J." a
Dave felt his muscles tighten, and
lew that in moment he would tear w
s victim to pieces. AS his clenched lie
It came to the side of his body i. pt
ruck something hard. His re- W
liver! He had forgotten; he was pl
t in the habit of carrying it. In an Sc
slant he had Coward covered. co
Dave did not press the trigger at la
&c. He took fierce delight in tor at
ring the man who had wrecked his no
e--even while he told himself he V;
uld not believe his boast. Now he sh
ltched the color fade from Con- co
Ird's cheek; the eyes stand out In su
, face; the livid blotches more livid tn
IL; the cigarette drop from his ha
rveless lips. wi
You are n brave man, Coward ia,
said, and there was the rasp of pc
he and contempt in his voice. you sw
, a very brave man." liz
Yrs. Hardy, sensing something en-
ong, came out from her sitting lns
I'm. With a little cry she swooned tn,
ny. 10y
Coward tried to speak, but words sin
ok II his throat. With a dry TIL,
Igup he licked his drier lips. hir
Do you believe in hell, Conward?" wa