Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-16

eaash, our man without your valuable -
stslAnos-
Caught Mister stuart sEin' hahf'
-sursS- Tho deiartiss made 10 conceal
nssnt Of triumph a. he nodded towards his
car.
Up 10 this moment old Nat had esen ~
kssa In watching for his opportunity To
dodge that he hadn't looked At anybody e.
cspt Mr.. Fosyj4w. Nov be glanced in The
car. ssancrd and Eazed With eyes and mouth
popping open wider At what he saw On
tho rear snat. between two silent efnesrs.
sat third man wearing the familiar ridins
brcoches. the gray coat and the nep brimmed
hat pulled low above his eyes. but not low
enough TO hide h.s funny little mustashe
and COATES.
-Mister Stuart" Nat Ereaned.
THAT'S him." said tho detective step
lively now and tell Major Stark that the
US his telephone
"Unity States. Egzaetiy. sub. egZaetly.'
Tho bewiidered Negro paused and stared
again at tho prisoner who sat all hump"d
up as II he didn't want folks TO be looking
at him. Then Nat turned and went shufiinx
through the hallway as he proclaimed.
20. major! o. doctor! Run here quick
De Unity States eonstabes is done grabbed
Mister Stuart! ! tole you 10! toie you SOL"
The ciamor Of Mats excitement brought
Barbara running through tho rear door.
Just ~ her father stalked from his room
and came hobbling to the front. where Mr..
Foxytaw grimly introduced himself. One
squint at his badge convinced old Nat that
he must be an extremely high constable
what can I do for you. sir7" the major
inquired.
II must call up New Orleans-in hurry.
Help yourself, sir. Nat. bring light
With Q wave Of his hand Major Starx indi-
Gated the phone. upon table outside of DR..
Humphreys door. which was Slated door
like those used on steamboats, for ventiia-
ton.
A blind man could see that Major Stark
was nightly provoked. and Nat guessed
Mr.. Raxilly had been telling tales about the
note. So the Negroes hand trembled and
the lamp chimney jingled as Nat placed =
light on the table. showing the tense face
Of Miss Barbara. who listened while Mr..
Fo1yjaw exulted in the capture Of Stuart
Clayton.
But what has Mr.. Clayton done?" she
demanded. then hushed for fear Of rousins
her father. and the major himself blurted
out:
For what crime Is this fellow asrestedr
"We arc not permitted to answer ques-
tions." said Mr.. Foxyjaw. smiling like wise
little weasel, who knew plenty Of things
that he was keeping to himself. Then hs
volunteered that certain charges against
the defendant would be investigated before
Che federal court at New Orleans.
"Is It a serious offense?' Barbara par.
sisted. and her voice wavered as she asked.
Must be pretty bad, miss. or the govern.
ment wouldn't be searching four states to
catch him.
"Where Is he now?
"out there In my car"
MAY speak to him?"
you? Certainly not" Her father
wheeled upon her, humping his cane upon
tho door, and adding. Barbara. this Is no
affair Of ours"
he was bursting to hear. It was character
istic Of the obstinate Major Stark to pay no
tribute Of glance In the direction Of the
automobile. And Uncle Nat considered that
be hated to look towards Clayton. or have
anything to DO with Clayton. BY holding
his mouth tight scaled and letting Of no
steam, the major stood swelling with wrath
as Mr.. Foxyjaw put In his call for New Or.
leans
In the equally determined Barbara these
family traits found wholly different express
sion. She did not argue or contradict, which
could only result in locking horns with her
father. and getting nowhere. She meant
to do something. and her jaw set firmly like
tho majors a. she drifted to the doorway
and looked out upon the car.
Through the gathering dusk she could not
SEQ the prisoners face, only the lower part
Of his body. the well remembered leggings.
tho riding breeches Of Bedford cord. These.
and his present attitude Of detection, recalled
the enigma over which she had puzzled since
their frst meeting beside the lake. Always
he had seemed uneasy. and constantly ON
the alert. She remembered when she spoke
Of 1t being dangerous for him to tell her that
he was Stuart Clayton, on his way back to
Salamanca. Now she remembered every
word. and hero was the result-a guard Of
four United States marshals.
Barbara Stark could laugh at him when
he was most in earnest, she could taunt
him when she knew It hurt: she had even
told falsehood when terrified by his
strength and overmastery. But now. with
every instinct and every impulse. she ached
10 help him. She moved out of the door and
nearer to the auto without considering what
might bs dooe; only reGlixing that she
wanted to see him. to tell him tho truth
lhout who she was, and to say that ahs
could never believe him guilty Of any crime.