Evening star., 1923-11-24

'0S uPoH MS ll1e-lt was John Bruce.
Claire caught her hands suddenly
TO her breast. John Bruce! She was
sun afraid-for John Bruce And
tonight, all evening, that fear had
peen growing stronger, chilling her
Win a sense of evil premonition and
Iorebodlns Was 1t only premoni-
tlon! Crang had threatened She
had heard the threats And she
knew out of her own terrible ex-
perlence that Crang, as between hu-
man life and his own desires, held
human life as naught. And vet, sure
ly John Bruce was safe from him
now-at least his life was safe. That
was how Crang had wrung the
promise from her. No. she was not
SO sure! There was personal enmity
thing happened she would not be
able to bring it to Crang's door
Crang would take care of that and
her promise would still hold And SO
| she was afraid.
She had not seen Crang since the
| night that John Bruce had thrown
him down the stairs She had
| thanked God for the relief his abb
| sence had brought he-but now,
here again. she was not SO surei
What had kept him away? Where
was John Bruce? Ihe began to re-
gret that she had told John Bruce
ne must not attempt to see her or
| communicate with her any more.
she had been afraid for his sake
| that 1t would but arouse the very
worst in Dr. Crang. Perhaps John
| Bruce had yielded to her pleading
and had left the city. She shook her
loved at all, John Bruce would run
| from no one, and
Claire halted abruptly She had
| reached the dingy rooming house
| her hand resolutely across her eyes
as she mounted the steps. The tears
had come after all, for her lashes
were wet.
1t was not necessary either to ring
| Or knock; the door was always un-
! astened; and besides, she had been
| mere SO many, many times that she
knew the house almost as well as
! her own home She opened the door,
| stepped into black hallway, and
| began TO feel her way up the creak-
ing staircase. There was the posi-
| Dliity, of course, that Hawkins was
| either out or already in bed. but IL
| ne We're out she would leave a note
N his room for him so that he would
| :ome over to the old pawnshop when
| he returned. and If he were already
| n bed her message delivered through
I me door would soon bring Hawkins
| ut of il again--H hawkins, since he
nd been driving that old car which
! lc had created. was well accustomed
| o calls at all hours of the night.
| thin, Irregular streak of light,
he only sign of light she had seen
| -nywhere in the house. showed now
| at the threshold under Hawkins Ill
| :@tting door, as she reached the land
| ng. She stepped quickly TO the door
| nd Knocked. There was no answer.
| -he knocked gain There was still
| no answer Ctaire smiled a little
| "+himsically + 'Hk ms was growing
rXtravagant ~ lad gone out and
| eft the light burning. She tried the
| Coor, and, finding Il unlocked, opened
=, stepped forw ri INTO the room
and with sudden. low. half-hurt.
3aif- frightened cry, stood still.
! Hawkins was neither out. nor was he
| in bed. Hawkins was sprawled
partly on the roor and partly across
: chair in which he had obviously
| Dean unable to preserve his balance
Several bottles al empty but one
stood upon the table. There were
TWO dirty glasses b-s!d,s the bottle
and another one, broken in the fioof
| Hawkins was snoring s.ertorously.
| 1t seemed somehow to Claire stand
| ing there thai this was the last straw
| and yet. too, there was only {
world OF pity in her heart for the old
man. All the years rolled before her
She remembered as q child climbing
upon his knee and pleading for the
| tick -tick-that great cumbersome
silver watch, which, fallen out of his
pocket now, dangled by its chain
and swung in jerky rhythm to his
breathing. She remembered the
| days when. a little older. she had
dressed herself in her best clothes.
and to Hawkins huge delight had
played at princess, while he drove
her about in his old ramshackle han
som cab
She could not leave him like this,
but she was not strong enough alone
to carry him to his bed She turned
and ran hurriedly downstairs. There
was the Widow Hedges, of course,
the old landlady.
Back at the end of the lower hall
Claire pounded upon a door. Pres
A moment later light appeared as
the door was opened. and with 1t an
apparition in an old gingham wrapper
and curl papers.
"Oh it's you. Miss Claire" the
woman exclaimed in surprise. What's
brought you over here tonight, dear"
Is your father worse?"
NO, Claire answered. He wanted
! Hawkins. and"
)! Mrs Hedges shook her head
Hawkins amt in," she said, but
I'll see that he gets the message
with the car quite a little while ago
with some men he had with him"
with the carr" Claire found her
self suddenly a little frightened, she
did not know why. We'll. he's back
now, Mrs. Hedges"
positively. Il might not have heard
him going upstairs. but l would have
heard the car coming in. 1t amt
come back yet"
But Hawkins is upstairs" said
Claire a little heavily. 1--we been
up"
To I,a continued fnu,orraxw