Evening star., 1921-08-07

ing" he ordered. "Get Doc Morton
for him-and stow him away in a
quiet place till he decides to forget
It."
Then he borrowed the hammer and
nails and used them. The exhibit was
ready for Nick Burton.
"And Frits," he added. send out
after Burton and ask him to come
here. Say I got his message. He'll
understand. And when he comes.
show him these-and tell him that he
won't live long II he ever SO much as
thinks of Denver!"
From the Office issued a whimper-
ing. An ungentle hand was over
Joe's mouth, but 1t was hardly neces-
sary. He was too near fafnting to
yell.
Kiely listened as he returned from
washing his hands.
That's better" he nodded. ''see he
keeps quiet. Have the Doc do the
best he can for him. II Burton hur-
ries to get his eyeful, maybe the Doc
can sew Joe's ears on again.!
Conny Kiely went to see his wife:
1t was advisable to get her out OF
the way. Burton might squeal on her
and run.
fKIELYS wife was the one tender
~ ness in his Itfe-his wife and
their boy. When she fled from the
charge in Denver snd found haven
with friends Of Kiely's, he met her.
Tho haunted fright in her eyes
attracted him at first. Her seclusion
aroused his curiosity--a curiosity that
was not inquisitiveness. but created
only by a growing interest In the girl
herself. Her story. confided one day
when he was jollying her to go out,
impelled his sympathy. She TOLD OF
the incident frankly. without reserva-
ton. She did not give him a hard
luck story. She was not seeking sym
pathy. It was because Kiely had vol
unfairly given her his own story that
she confided in him. because it easeo
her mind to tell him. She wanted him
to know about her before-before
that light which she could inspire IN
his steady eyes became too oriliiant
She asked him to decide whetner she
should go back to face the charge.
The man she had stabbed had be.
come ugly because she had withheld
herself from him. His grip mac
crushed the flesh Of her arm Wniie
he called her-names. In a second
Of panic and rage it had been done
There had been a scene as she rose
still holding her and mouthing vile
ness, She had no clear recollection
Of snatching up the knife. Her vision
had cleared to behold him bleed
ing from q jagged wound on the race.
another on the side Of the neck. TWO
Other witnesses who had not seen II
ALL had not heard the man. hao
testified against her. or half and half
The indictment had been returned
Afraid. she had jumped her ball.
If Kiely had told her to go oacK
she would have gone. Not trusting
the law, as is the habit OF his KIND
because he had known justice to bt
bought-and injustice-he had al
| vised her not to surrender.
In return he recounted to her thu
story Of his own life. Shortly the!
were married.
conny Kiely did not regard himsel
as a dangerous citizen On the con
trary. he was peaceable unless pro
voked to conflict. He preferred peace
HE was living in the environment t
| which he had been bred. He did no
count it against himself that whel
need had arisen he had sent his gun
|against rival forces, that he himsei
had fought and brought down M
Ily-only for what he believed to b.
his rights. And according to hi
teachings. they were his rights. Hi
business might be unlawful. but .
were others. That did not alter tn
fact that he had built it up. Recog
tnizing the rights Of others as wei
founded-or as badly-as his own. h
never had encroached. Wasn't It fai
Ito expect others not to infringe upo
Sometimes his agents might hav
shot from ambush. He would sa
that they were justified. They wer
engaeed in enerrilla warfare againf
never would hesitate to take an ad
vantage. Guerilla fighting knew n
rules. He did not consider that mur
der had been done when a gunma
fell. Therefore. by his code. b
never had been party to q murder.
all was fair fghting-.as these me
engaged in it viewed fairness Hin
, self he took his chances. Twice
this contest with Burton he had bee
fired upon in the darkness. Yet h
had not carried a weapon for year
. He stood on his strength. on the fes
, Of him that kept the hired gunma
from coming close enough to max
land the extent of their courage.
, Mary Kiely was sitting on the Law
In front Of the broad. cozy bungalo,
a garden spot out by the city lin
with Conny Junior toddling roun
!. her. She looked up with surprise
the fast-driren machine halted at u
gate. Catching up the baby. 'sf
, went to meet her husband. Som
, thing Of the fear that had drawn hi
3 to her was in her eyes. 1t was an VI
} usual hour for Conny to come hom
t The speed Of the car bespoke
emergency
49, xhot cnu1d ho awakene
only by his wife and his boy. 4
/ was long practiced in masking h
thoughts.
Il There's nothing wrong. dearest
t ihe assured her; and there was a tom
3 quality in his ordinarily fiat voic
S Il just developed notion that II
time we had a vacation: Sob
8 eayety was perfect as he boosted Il
: chortling Junior TO his shoulder ar
v ran an arm about his wife-"I can
\ charging out to get started before
t change my mind"
:! She glanced at him doubtfuily
I they walked across the lawn: but 81
i. did not express her doubt. Only
"You could have phoned." 81
laughed uncertainty, "and saved you
self the hurry-up. You dear FOOLS
you can't expect me to start in NJ
minutes
His seriousness confirmed her mi
) giving as he Interrupted: But d
!; Not exactly five minutes. but with
an hour"
"But COMFY" she protested. ''v
have to pack and-and all that"
'We'n grab a coupl" of grips al
), get what we need along the wa
!. Well travel light"
7 + X X
"fcHE pressed his arm and looked 8
!. - berlv into his face. "where a
!,r> erofpo And-and why Couny?"