Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-04-29

SON He leaves Barry timber hold
ings In Tabernacle only on condition
that a high output be maintained
Mysterious accidents in the mill hav,
prevented this and Houston. arriving
. from Boston, finds that he has been be.
trayed by his mill superintendent
FRED TEANER. Houston discharges
Thayer First the mill Is burned
down and then Houston is deprived
by forged lease. OF the rights to hif
timber lands. With the aid OF
BATISTE RENAUD. an eccentr1,
French-Canadian. whose life has beer
: saddened by the double tragedy Of his
sons death In France and the IN.
solved murder OF his WIFE Houston
continues the fight. During his stay
in Tabernacle, Houston has been at
tracted by
MEDAEVE ROBINETTE. owner o.
neighboring timber lands He tells
her that Thayer's statement that he
was accused Of murder is true.
A slight gasp Travelled over the
lips Of Medaine still by the window.
Ba'tiste. his features old and lined.
reached out with one big hand and
patted the man on the shoulder.
then for a long time. there was
silence.
"Eet is the lie. eh?"
"Ba'tiste." Houston turned ap-
pealingly to him. "as I live, that's
all know. never saw Langdon
after he took the mallet from me.
Only one shred OF evidence was pre-
sented in my behalf. II was by a
woman who had worked for about
six months for my father - Miss
Jierdon. She testified to having
passed in a taxicab just at the end
Of our quarrel. and that Langdon
had the mallet."
Miss Jierdon is the same one
who is out here?"
Yes"
she testified in your behalf?"
Yes. And Miss Robinette. II
you'll only talk to her - II you'll
only ask her about it. she'll tell you
the story exactly as I've told It. She
trusted me; she was the only bright
spot in all the blackness. I may not
be able to convince you but she
could. Miss RobiDette. II you'll
only"
Would you guarantee the truth
of anything she should tell me?"
Absolutely"
'I'm-Tm sorry" She turned
again to the window. Houston went
forward
Sorry? Why? There's nothing"
Miss Jierdon has told me-" came
in a strained voice, that she did
pass as you were struggling. That
she saw the blow strickland that
It was you who struck it,"
Miss Robinettel"
That further. you confessed 10
her and told her why you had killed
Langdon-because he had discov-
cred something in your own fathers
life that would serve as blSckmail.
That she loved you. And that be-
cause she loved you, she went on the
stand and perjured herself to save
you from a conviction OF murder
when she knew in her heart that
you were guilty."
CHAPTER XI
II was blow greater, far greater
than one that could have been struck
in mere physical contact Houston
reeled with the effect OF Il: he gasp
ed, he struggled aimlessly. futiley, I
for words TO answer II. Vaguely, |
dizzlly. Houston started to the door, /
only to be pulled back in the gigantic /
grip OF Ba'tiste Renaud.
mol MOI You shall not gol You /
tell Medaine that is a liel"
1T IS" Houston heard his voice 4
as though coming from far away, /
but I don't know how to answer It. /
Where is Miss Jierdon?"
Miss Jierdon." Medain Robi-
nette answered with an effort. went
back to camp last night"
They drove on in silence.
Ten minutes later. Houston leap
ed from the buggy and knocked at
the door OF the cottage.
Il want to see Miss Jierdon," he
told the cook who had opened the
door.
The cook hustled back into the
house. to return with a sealed en-
velope addressed to Houston.
Dearest Barry:
Hate awfuliy to run away like
this without seeing you. but IL can't
be helped. Have an offer OF a posi-
ton in st. Louis that I can't very
we'll refuse. VIII write you from
there.
Love ana Kisses,
AGNES"
Ba'tiste slapped the reins on the
horses back.
'She IS like the Judas. eh?" he
asked quietly. as they went back to
the cottage. Ba'tiste soon went
forth into the night. Later came a
scratch on the door. Il was Cole
mar followed a moment later by a
grinning. twinkling-eyed Batiste.
Bon! Goodw he exclaimed.
"Now-alert. mon ami! The pencil
and the paper!"
He slumped into a chair and dived
into a pocket OF his red shirt. to
bring forth a mass of scrubbed
sheets. TO stare at them striving {
studiously to make out the writing
"Eet is-the copy of the bid"
The copy? The bid"
From the Blackburn mill. There
is no one aroun'. Bateese. he go
through a window. M'sieu Houston. /
he too will bid. But he will make
It lower"
But what with, Ba'tiste? We
haven't min to saw the stuff, in the ;
first place. This thing we're set
ting up now couldn't even begin to !
turn out the ties alone"
"Ah, oui! But the man who is
drowning, he will what-you-say.
grab at a haystack."
And together they settled to the
making OF a bid that ran into the II
millions. an overture for a contract
FOR which they had neither mill, nor
timber. nor flume, nor resources to
MI