The state herald., 1920-03-26

seeundrslls Hs Cried.
dog! There's more In this than ap-
pears on the surface"
Sure there L." she said. '.ThersDI
another woman. There always H."
Elden walked to his desk. From al
drawer be took . revolver. toyed with
It . moment In his hands. broke I'll
open. crushed II full Of cartridges. and
thrust II In his pocket.
The girl watched with friendly In
terest. "Believe me. Dave" she said.
III Coward turns up missing I won't
know . thing-not q D. thing"
For . moment he stood irresolute.
He could only guess what Conward's
plan had been, but that It had been
diabollcal and cowardly. and that II
concerned Irene. he had no doubt. His
impulse was to Immediately confront
Coward. force a confession. and deal
with him MS the occasion might seem
to require. But his eye fell on the boy.
with his shock Of brown hair and visit
full. half-frlghtened face.
I'm so with you first" he said, with
quick decision. Then TO the girl. "Sor-
ry must turn you out. but this case Is
urgent"
THAT'S NIL right" she said. I'm
used TO being turned out" And before
he knew II she was In the street.
"All right, son." said oave. taking
up the matter now In hand. whats
your name-your first namef'
| Charlie"
"And your address1"
The boy mentioned n distant sub
division.
That is out. isn't III Well. well
take the cur. guess I'd better call
n doctor at once"
He went to the telephone and gave
some directions. Then he and the
boy walked to 4 garage and In Z few
moments were humming along the BY
streets into the country. Dave had
already become ensrossed 10 bis err
rand Of mercy and his rage at Con-
ward. II not forgotten. was tempo
rarily dismissed from his mind.
He chatted With the boy.
"You 20 to schoolt"
mot this year. Father has besa
too sick. OF course. these ass holidays.
and he says hs'li b all hight before
they're over"
Dave smiled grimly. The incurabls
optimism Of H." he muruYred to him
self. Then outwardly: "Of course be
will. Well nx hin. up IN no time
with Q good doctor and good nurse."
They drove % through the calm
oasAt. lsaviag ~ eity streets behind
and following WAat was little more
than . country tfail. Here and there
they bumped over pieces Of graded
street. Infinitely roughef than the nat
uni prairie; once Dave dropped his
front wheels Into Q eollapsing water
trench; once hs Just grased an leo.
lated hydrant.
"And this IL one Of our choice res
identinl subdivisions.' said Dave to
himself. "Ftns businessi Fine bust.
ness I"
A. the journey continued the sense
Of self.reproach which had been
static In him for many months became
more insistent. The Intrusion Of Con-
ward Into his mind sent the blood 10
his head. but at that moment his ~
Elections were cut short BY the boy.
1--WE wifi have to get out here" hs
said. '-rhe bridge ID down.
Investigation proved him to BE-
right. A bridge over . small stream
hnd collapsed and wns slowly disin-
tcgrnting amid IT. own wreckags.
Dave ran the chr q little to one side
Of the rond. locked the switch and
walked on with the boy.
"Finc busincssi" Dave repeated to
himself. "And this 10 how our big
success wns mnde. Well. the sue.
cess has vanished ns quickly ns II
came. ] suppose there IL law some
whcrc That is not mocked"
They We're passing through set.
tlcment Of crude houses. dlmiy visible
In the starlight and by occasional ycl.
low blurs from their windows. Before
one OF tho mcanert OF these the boy
(Continued pcxt week