Evening star., 1922-05-07
By Meredith Nicholson

L
misc his danger by hiding food In
widely separated places. She had
several times drawn upon the stores
| secreted in the cove on the mainland
while the lake was frozen. draggias
them on a sledge across the ice. Al
ways the fear of apprehension hung
over them.
She talked simply, uncomplaining-
! ly. speaking of her father with un-
were the act of an irresponsible
child.
When it's all over. after he goes
away, 1 shall want to straighten out
his affairs at home
with the state, you mean!
Yes. I've kept account of every
| cent we've spent. 1t hasn't been
much, just enough to live on as we've
gone from one hiding place to an
other. Papa, had some money OF his
| own, and we've used very little Of
the state funds. I've held on to that
when had to throw away food to
| carry it."
| In her wretchedness she had clung
steadfastly to the thought of restitu-
! tion. Shields original plan had been
| to bury himself in Central or South
| America and live life of ease, but
his courage failed him.
| Its incredible he ever believed
! he'd get away with 1t. You're sure
| the moneys safe?"
ITS in that little bay where you
! saw me. in trunk pushed into a hole
dug out Of the cliff. II anything
| should happen to me-
Nothing will happen to you" he
| said, and clasped her hand. her
! pathetic little hand, roughened' by
toll.
Wrapped in his blankets, he lay all
night outside the cabin door.
THE next day he took turns with
MiIlicent watching the sick man.
In the afternoon he urged her to rest,
! and she flung herself on the cot and
slept the profound sleep Of weary
child.
Tarleton was aware that Shields
was studying him carefully.
| I'm all in" whispered the de-
faulter, hoarsely. That's what the
doctor said?'
TITS a matter of days" Tarleton
| answered.
I've known all winter that was
done for. I shouldn't care but for
the little girl. and now I'm snesking
| out Of it like a coward and leaving
her with q heritage Of disgrace"
I'VE all make mistakes In this
| world. I know enough about you to
make me anxious to do everything
| in my power to aid and protect your
daughter"
The sick mans eyes blurred with
tears, and his hand sought and rest
ed on TarIston's knee.
| DO you mean that? I'm . bad lot.
but rvs learned what honor means.
I'm putting her as 4 trust in your
hands; you will not betray q dead
| man."
I've given my promise to her and
/ repeat 1t to you. You may rely
on me-"
THAT money-you understand
must be paid back. She knows where
It is. It's in the same shape in which
/ took it-only = few thousand dol
lars short"
He seemed vastly relieved by
ITarleton's assurance that the plunder
would be returned. He exacted from
Tafleton a. promise to; accompany
Millieent to the state capital and as
sist her in delivering the stolen
funds direct to the governor.
| "Rawlins was my friend. He help
cd me to get the nomination. fol-
treasurer. He had all the confidence
in the world in me"
Tears of coatrition and weakness
coursed down his cheeks. Tarleton
admonished him to calm himself, tell
Ing him that he knew the governor: =
When Millicent woke, Tarleton took
her field glasses and rife and made q
circuit Of the island. He swept the
lske with the glass, feeling that
Gray might be passing southwark n
any time. It was almost o'clock
when he espied b speck on the water
concealing himself behind d clump Of
bushes, he watched 1t sfntehtly until
| its near approsch satisfied him that
II was Gray. Gray's return-the care
with which he was studying the shore
was omifIous.
Gray landed where Tarleton camp.
ed the night he found Miiffeents-- The
detective drew his canoe, far. up the
shore, as though he meant to remain
some time, and Tafieten saw him
sweep the water and the islands with
his glass. Then he climbed the shelv-
ing bank and disappeared. Tarleton
found q canoe concealed where MILL
cent kept her boat, and taking her
rife, he padded boldly for the main
land. !
His immediate object was to pro-
tect the stolen money. and he drove
/ the canoe through the little stream
1 to the hidden pool. Even in daylight
it was q dark and fofbidding pface
The farther bank. in which the
4 treasure was concealed. rose to
height Of seventy Or eighty feet and
was covered with q dense growth Of
vegetation.
| A few strokes brought the canos
| to the prostrate tree where Mill.
cents boat had lodged. ana Tafletoh
waited. Save for the lappins of the
dark water and the Occasional cry
Of a bird, silence held the w1ndlesf
air. An hour passed, when the' sway:
ing Of q cedar brought Tarleton
sharply to attention.
| without lowering his eyes he reach:
ed for the rife, and instantly Gray
! thrust his hesd out Of the tangle and