Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-02

centcred around this one. time pawn
shop Of Paul veniza: but Hawkins, Of
them all, was tho one he was least able,
from what he had seen Of the man, to
fathom. And yet, somehow, he liked
Hawkins. r..
know" he said a little brusquely
"And"--he eyed Hawkins once more
with cool appraisal-"1 think you are
the man best able to supply the infor-
nation"
Hawkins began to tumble with his
hat again.
T-I-why do you say that?' be
faltered, q sudden note Of what seemed
almost trepidation in his voice.
John Bruce shrugged his shoulders.
Possibly It is just hunch." he
said calmly. ''But you, were the one
who was driving that old bus on a Ger.
tain night-you remember? And you
seem to hang around hero about as you
please. Therefore you must stand in op
a fairly intimate basis with the family
circle. I'd like to know what; hold a
rotten crook like Doctor. Crang has got
on Claire Veniza that she should be
willing to marry him when she doesn't I
love him. Id like to know why girl
like Claire Veniza drives alone at night
"That's enough" Hawkins voice
rose abruptly, peremptorily. He ad-
vanced again threateningly on John
Bruce. Don't you dare to say one
word against notwithstanding
her. I'll choke the life out Of you, II
you do! Who are you, anyway? You are
asking n lot of questions. How did you
get here in the first place? You an
swer that! I've always meant to DIX
you. You answer that-and leave Claire
out Of i'll"
John Bruce whistled softly.
II can't very we'll do that he said
quietly, because it was Claire who
brought me here"
"Claire brought you!" The old blue
eyes grew very hard and very steady.
That's a lie! She never saw you after
you got out at the corner that night
until you came in through the window
here.
She didn't invite you here. She's not
be, I'll not keep my hands OF you'
"Steady, Hawkins--steady" said
John Bruce, his voice as quiet as be-
fore. 1--WE seem to possess common
bond. You seem to be pretty fond OF
Claire. Well, so am l. That ought
to make us allies" He held out his
hand suddenly to the old man. II had
just asked Claire to marry me when
you came to the door,
Hawkins stared from the outstretchcd
hand into John Bruce's eyes. and back
again at the outstretched, hand. Be-
wilderment, hesitation, a curious eS-
citanenf WAS in his face.
"You asked Claire to marry you?"
to marry Claire? I--why?'
"Why?" John Bruce echoed help
lessly. Good Lord. Hawkins. you are
a queer one! Barring beasts like Crang
why docs a man ordinarily ask a woman
to marry him? Because he loves her
Well, l love Claire. 1 loved her from
the moment I saw her. followed her,
or. rather, that old bus Of yours. here
that night. And that is how, after that
fight at Ratti's when got out the back
door and into the lane, crawled over
here for sanctuary. I said Claire
brought me here. You understand now,
don't you? That's how she brought me
here-becausc I loved her that night.
But It is because Of Crang his voice
grew hard-''that ] am telling You this.
l love her now--and a great deal toe
much, whether she could ever care for
mo or not, to see her in the clutches
Of a crook, and her life wrecked by, a
degenerate cur. And somehow his
hand was still extended-"I thought
you seemed to think enough of her tc
feel the same way about this marriage
for I imagine you must know about
II. Well, Hawkins, where do you stand
There's something rotten here. Are you
for Claire or the dope -eater?"
"Oh, my God" Hawkins whispered
huskily. And then almost blindly h,
snatched at John Bruce's hand ant
straight" he choked. IT know yo,
are. can see It in your eyes.