South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-15
THE WAY SMITH CAME BACK
INTO MADGE'S LIFE.

1t was but for a second that l
stood erect, in the position 10 which
l invOluntarily had sprung when /
heard the voices of the horsemen
coming down the lonely wood lane.
Then. still obeying the instructive
impulse Of concealment which had
seized me az the sound of the sec
ond voice / swiftly moved TO the
tree against which Dicky's car rest
ed. seated myself there in such
manner thatsthe machine almost
concealed my presence, and adjust
ed my hat so that its brim dropped
over my forehead 1 thanked my lit
tie joss that my hat had a brim, and
that IL was not the hat / had worn
in the Catskills. With some autumn
branches in my hand I made a pre-
tense OF stripping the leaves from
them. but had 10 stop all move
ment and grip the branches tight
ly TO still the trembling of my
hands.
Remember. Anton"
For. if my ears and my memory
had not deceived me. the somewhat
servile voice Of the second APP
preaching horseman was that of the
imam Smith. whom I had last seen
in the Catskill mountains. and who
was now a fugitive from the JUS
tice which he had so mysteriously
! escaped that memorable night
when our fishing party had dis
covered the wounded trooper in the
reservoir grounds If it were he.
knew that the servility was only as
sumed, that the arrogance Of the
man was only concealed his cunning
working swiftly and surely.
And then the two men on horse
back moved into my view from the
reccsses of the forest path, and
from underneath my hat brim
looked furtively at them.
The first man I knew, In the
casual, friendly fashion OF the coun-
tryside, as the big man" Of the
neighborhood. a retired farmer.
wealthy. public-spirited respected
and liked by his neighbCrs. That he
could know anything of the real
personality Of Smith, the second
man really were Smith-was. OF
course. unthinkable And that the
relation between them was that OF
kindly efficient master and new SER
want. I cleaned from the elder
mans words as they rode toward
me.
Remember Anton. the one thing
above all others which I viii not
have is brutality TO animals" he was
saying. II discharged the man just
before you for that"
Il will remember" Anton said
slowly. and then his eyes fell on
Diclzy's car. and I saw him start
unmistakably. Z wondered II. with
the keen perez tions which I guess
Z ed 10 be E. he had recognized
( the car, Ia yirg remembered seeing
/ il upon that night which had seen
/ his eXrosur
For I hal convinced myself now
that beyond all doubt the man, An
I ton. evidcat,y a new man-of-all-
work Of ny neighbor. Mr.. Briggs.
I was the same man. Smith. who had
I been the opllent autocrat OF the
I Catskill mountain region in which
/ he had his barricaded estate. And
! yet barring their height. which the
man Anton. made less by appearing
/ slightly stopped. there was little out
ward similarity between the two.
/ Smith had beer a commanding
figure. erect and broad -shouldered
with a well fed appearance. This
man was thin. almost 10 emaciatlOn,
and his clothing hung loosely on
him. Smiths appearance had been
/ that OF a scrUpulously fasudious
man. accustomed 20 luxurious bath
!ng appurtenances who would al
most have died rather than appear
unshaven. a man with many changes
OF clothing
Anton" had az least p three-days'
growth OF beard upon his Sace. his
/ clothing was grimy and hung loose
/ " on him. and his hands were dis
tinctly suggestive OF the earth.
Around his forehead ne wore a dirty
( bandage. which ! noted with rising
+ excitement completely concealed
( his eyebrows
: gave him another furtivs but