Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-07-16

Hell soon be well, don't you think,
mister? He said he would be well
when the holidays"
But Dawes expression stopped the
boy, whose own face went suddenly
wild with fear. "He is well now,
Charlie" he said, as steadily as he
could. ut 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 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
rhans together.
"You will come with me-" he said
ut length. II 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 a
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
h 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.
the door, and Dave explained the sit
uation in a 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
room and introduce him first to--the
bathroom. And tomorrow we shall
have an excursion downtown. and get
some new clothes for Charlie-El.
ien."
AS they moved up the stairs Con-
ward. who had been in another room
in conversation with Mrs. Hardy. fol-
owed them unseen. The evening had
been interminable for Coward. For
three hours he had awaited word that
MS victim had been trapped, and for
three hours no word had come. If
MS 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-
owed them up the stairs.
Irene and Dave chatted with the
boy for few moments, then Irene
,urned 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
ling to swim in anger.
Coward leered only the more of
.ensively, and walked down the stairs
beside him. AT the foot he coolly lit
another cigarette. He held the match
lefore him and calmly watched 1t
ourn 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 liur!'
ASK her." Coward replied. "She
Till deny it, of course. All women
TO-"
Dave felt his muscles tighten. and
Knew that in a moment he would tear
MS victim to pieces AS his clenched
ist came to the side of his body a.
struck something hard. His re-
Tolver! He had forgotten; he was
aot 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
curing the man who had wrecked his
iife--eyen while he told himself he
could not believe his boast Now he
watched the color fade from Con-
yards cheek; the eyes stand out in
ais face; the iyid blotches more livid
still; the cigarette drop from his
lerveless lips.
you are brave man, Coward"
ne 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 little cry she swooned
away.
Coward tried to speak, but words
stuck in his throat. With a dry