The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-02-26

boy, whose own face went suddenly
wild with fear HE is we'll now,
Charlie" he said, as steadily as he
could. "It 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 within
pering like 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. 81 will see that you are
provided for. The doctor will soon
be here. or We will meet him on the
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 a
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 Il
moment to bulletins being read
through a megaphOne.
1.-THE kaiser has stripped off his
British regalia," said the announcer.
'He says he will never again wear
a British uniform"
4 chuckle of derisiye laughter ran
through the mob; then someone struck
up a well-known refrain-''What the
l" 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 n few words. 1--WE 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 alIot him a
room and Introduce him first to-the
bathroom. 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 interrninable 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 different matter. Coward fol-
lowed them up the stairs.
Irene and Dave chatted with the
boy for 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 it
burn out. Then he extended it toward |
Dave.
You remember our wager, Eden. |
present you with-a burned-out
match"
You liar!" cried Dave. "You in
famous Iiar!'
ASK her." Coward replied. "She |
will deny 1t, of course All women |
do"
Dave felt his muscles tighten. and
knew that in a moment he would tear |
his victim to pieces. AS his clenched |
fist came to the side of his body =
struck something hard. His re-
volver! He 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 q fierce delight in tor
turing the man who had wrecked his |
while he told himself he /
could not believe his boast. Now he |
watched the color fade from Con- |
wards cheek; the eyes stand out in |
his face; the livid blotches more Iivid |
still; the cigarette drop from his |
lips.
''You are a brave man, Coward" |
he said. and there was the rasp of |
hate and contempt in his voice. "You |
are a very brave man."
Mrs. Hardy. sensing something |
wrong. came out from her sitting |
room. With a little cry she swooned |
away.
Coward tried to speak. but words
stuck in his throat. With n dry
tongue he licked his dtier lips
do you believe in hell, COnward?" |
Dave continued. I've always had
some doubt myself, but in thirty sec
onds-youIl know"
Irene appeared on the stairway.
For a moment her eyes refused to
grasp the scene before them: Con-
ward covering terror-stricken; Dave
fierce. steely, impIacable. with his re-
volver lined on Conward's brain.