The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-08-26

i
your reat-grandfather's diary.
Doubtless you've never heard Of 1t"
John Clarewood was interested.
He knew little of his great grand
father except that he had held some
public offices and had been mem
Der of the legislature.
"Now sir" continued Wardell
with his trusted smile,," that was so
interesting that / brought 1t back to
Elliston with me- keep it in safe
place, but l typewrote the most in
teresting parts Of it and have the
copy with me.
1 had a reputable handwriting
expert compare the penmanship with
certain signatures. and other writ
ings of Thomas Clarewood in the
state and county records. In short,
| have evidence of the genuineness
of the diary that will stand in any
court"
Clarewood said nothing and wait
ed. With an air of triumph Wardell
took from his pocket large enve-
lope that bulged with its contents.
He laid 1t on the library table and
rose.
81 don't need to be present when
you read this" he said airily. I'll
leave II with you. But | warn YOU
If your present activities do not
cease the original diary will be pub
lished in every newspaper in this
state"
"Then it will surely be publish
ed" said Clarewood grimly.
"You won't say that when you've
read It, Goodnight, Mister District
Attorney"
Wardelrs tone was so sarcastic
that Clarewood moved toward him,
whereupon Wardell made for the
door.
"Oh, you needn't rum" said Clare
wood scornfully. 81 wouldn't hit
you--Tm only going to put your
crowd in jail"
When the house was clear Of
Wardell John Clarewood returned to
the library For a little while he
stood beside the table looking at
the bulky envelope Wardell had
left He was not In hurry to open
1t because he knew that nothing in
it could halt him in his pursuit of
the vice crowd. Wardell had SEEM
ed sure of II but men like Wardell
were always judging others by them
selves; to them an hoest man was
something unheard of. II could
hardly be that Thomas Clarewood
had done something disgraceful. If
SO, his great-grandson would GER
tainly have heard of It before, If
its exposure were enough to ruin
him.
He took up the envelope, then
laid 1t down, and walked to. the end
OF the room where portrait Of his
great-grandfather hung. 1t was an
old fashioned crayon enlargement of
daguerreotype. Such washed-out
expressionless portraits give a poor
idea Of the original, but enough
remained of Thomas Clarewood's
face to give general outline Of his
character 1t was the face of
fearless man who would do what he
thought was right regardless of pri-
vate or public opinion.
NO" said John reverently, 'T
have nothing to fear from Thomas
Clarewood.
He thought of his great grand
mother, whom he had never seen.
From all accounts she had been as
remarkable as her husband. Johns
father now dead, had spoken of her
as an angel. Mother Harriet. as they
called her, had been the guardian
spirit OF the family, Thomas Clare
woods courtship had been romantic:
mother Harriet had saved him
from snakebite, sucking the poison
from the wound, and soon afterward
nad married him. And now. John
Clarewood, of their fourth genera
ton, stood musing about them.
me Clarewoods were of old and
honorable lineage. The first Of
them, Huguenot, had escaped from
France to America. His name was
Jean Clair du Bots, which had been
translated and otherg Use metamor-
pnosed INTO John Glarewood For
the past forr generations the Clare
woods had been among the first
citizens OF Elliston, mon of public
nonor, social position, and some
means. No family had a higher
standing in the city. and something
OF celebration had been held
when John Clarewood was elected
district attorney 70 clean up the
city and restore It's coed name.
John Clarewood came out OF his
musings and going back to the IL
nrary table he took up tie envelope.
he opened it and pulled out the
sneets, about twent Of Il EN-, closely
typwritten on thin paper. He settled
himself under the lamp in his arm
chair to enjoy the ancestral diary.
he soon became absorbed, smiling
ana glowing as he turned the pages.
~ the seventeenth page he re-
coiied IN his chair as If bullet
had struck him. He sprang up with
a cry, his hair standing on end.
God Almighty This cannot bel"
ITO be continued next week.