The Dolores star., 1923-03-16

| expected niin TO nftntN yce- S""
| ing thai, Euion-knowin. that, l want
| to call your attention to the peculiar
| ity OF our mutual positions on the
4 train. You had asked for and were
occupying Section Three In the thiru
| sleeper. in order-I assume ana. l ne
| lieye. correctly--to avoid being put IN
the same car with me. In the night.
the second sleeper-Ihe car next IN
/ front OF yours-wss cut on from the
/ train and left behind. That made me
/ occupy in relation to the forward part
| uf the train exactly the same position
as YOU had occupied before the car
| ahead OF you had been cut out.
was In Section Three In the third
sleeper from the front"
Eaton stared nt Santoine, fasci-
nnied: what had been only vague,
half felt. half formed with himself
was becoming definite, tangible. under
the blind mans reasoning. His hands
closed instinctivcly in his emotion.
What do you mean?'
you understand already" Santoine
asserted The attack made on me
was meant for you. Someone stealing
through the cars from the front to
the rear Of the T. II and carrying in
his mind the location of Section Three
in the third car. struck through the
curtains by mistake at me instead OF
you. Who was that. Eaton?"
Il don't know" Eaton answered.
You mean you prefer TO sEield
him?"
shield himf"
That is what you are doing. Is I,
not? For. even If you don't know the
man directly, you know In whose
cause and under whose direction nc
murdered Warden-and why aud for
whom he is attempting to murder
YOU"
Eaton remained silent
In Ms intensity. Suntolne had lift
ed himself from his pillows. who is
that mani" he challenged. And what
Is that connection between you and
me which. when the attack found and
disabled me instead of you, told him
that-in spite OF his mistake-his re
suit had been accomplished? told him
that. II | was dying. a repetition OF
the attack against you was unneces-
saryf"
Eaton knew that he had grown very
pale: Harriet must he aware OF the
effect Santoine's words had on him,
but he did not dare look at her now
to see how much she was comprehend
ing.
Il don't understand" He fought to
compose himself.
at is perfectly plain" Santoine said
patiently. at was believed at first
that had been fatally hurt; 1t was
even reported at one time-I under
stand-that | was dead: only Intimate
friends have been Informed of my ac-
tual condition. Yesterday, for the
first time. the newspapers announced
the certainty of my recovery: and to-
day an attack is made on you. They
cid not hesitate to attack you In sight
of my daughter"
But"
you are merely challenging my de-
ductions VIII you reply to my ques-
tons?-tell me the connection be.
tween us?-who you are?"
mo"
"Come here%
"What?" said Eaton.
Come here-close to me. beside the
bed"
Eaton hesltated, and then obeyed.
Bend Overt"
Eaton stopped, and the blind mans
hands seized him. Instantly Eaton
withdrew.
WaitH Santoine warned. "If you
do not stay. shall call help" One
hand went to the bell beside his bed
Harriet had risen; she met Eatons
gaze warnlngly and nodded to him to
comply. He bent again over the bed
He felt the blind mans sensitive fin.
gers searching his features. his head
his throat. Eaton gaZed at SantoIne's
face while the fingers were examining
him; he could see that Santoine was
merely finding confirmation of an i'm
preston already gained from what he
mad been told him about Eaton. San
toine showed nothing more than this
confirmation; certainly he did not rec
osniZe Eaton. More than this. Eaton
could not tell.
Now your hands," Santoire or.
dered.
Eaton extended one hand and then
the other; the blind man felt over
them from wrists to the tips of the
fingers; then he let himself sink beck
against the pillows. absorbed in
thought.
"You may 60" Santoine said at last
go" Eaton asked.
"You may leave the room. Blatcb
ford will meet you downstairs"
Santolne reached for the house tel.
ephone beside his bed-receIver and
transmitter on one light bar-and
gave directions to have Blatchford
await Eaton In the hall below,