The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1924-11-21
Claud Deering
Smoothed His
Path of Love
BY H. M. EGBERT
C. 1924 Western NeWspaper Union.l

clHdteu Dy Cne rogue WHO WdHleu tie
legacy that her father had left her.
John Brooks was man of the world
and, having got possession of her
small fortune, had left her for another
woman, three months after the mar
riage. Later came news of his death
in brawl in low saloon and Ray re-
sumed her maiden name.
AS Deering sat in his office, dream
ing over the happiness in store for
her there came a knock at the door, A
ragged tramp was standing outside.
Doc Deering?" he inquired, with q
surly scowl
That's right" answered the doctor,
heartily Come In and sit down"
The man collapsed into chair, and
then Deering saw that he was In the
last stage Of emaciation.
II heard heard that you were go
Ing to marry Ray Brooks tomorrow"
he muttered. That's why l came. I'm
I'm John, her husband"
Deering took the blow quite calmly,
as man should. He took the tramp's
arm in his hands and began feeling
the pulse. You're in a bad way, my
friend" he said You'd best go into
the hospital. I'll drive you there to-
night And let me tell you, you'll have
TO change your manner OF life II you
want to pull through"
That's all very WELL" sneered the
man, but you can't throw me of the
scent like that If you want to marry
Ray, you're going to pay for It,"
IF your statement Is true" Deering
answered quietly, "you have the situa-
ton in your own hands. But I'm
going to take you to the hospttall'
"I'll go!" muttered the man. "But
when | come out I'll make you pay"
Miss Lennox not on duty tonight7'
asked the doctor of the night nurse.
Shell be coming on at twelve, Doc
tor Deering" answered the young
woman.
"Tll wait for her." Deering an
swered. II am rather anxious to talk
with her about this case"
When the man opened his eyes
Deering felt that he was growing
stronger. In spite of himself, the
thought would come that this wreck
of fiotsam would be better off dead
Why should such useless lives linger
to make only misery?
The man leered at him.
"Say, Doc" he said, this LIS &
mighty comfortable bed to sleep In
It's weeks since | had bed like this
But I'm going to make you pay, JUS
the same, If you want Ray"
A groan broke from the doctors lips
He clenched his hands and strode vi
and down the room.
The sick mans eyes followed him.
Once" he said, when Deering re
turned to his bedside, you could hav
put that all over me. You could hay
won my gratitude and worked upol
my better nature. But l guess I'm to-
old bird to be caught by kindness
You'll pay fifteen hundred If you wan
; Ray"
Deering turned upon him.
.'Do you think / am bigamist?" b
cried. "If you are John Brooks, you'v
got me In your power. But you won
get chance to torture that helples
woman again"
The man did not answer him. Deer
| ing saw his eyes fixed in terror upo
something-some one on the opposit
side Of the room. He looked rount
Miss Lennox was approaching the bet
"Good-evefing," began Deering, an
stopped. There was the same look c
, terror upon the face Of the nurse.
. "Why" the doctor began. why
"Oh, / guess she remembers me-
ought to. We lived together Ion
enough for her to know my face"
! THAT man Is my husband, doctor
said the nurse. "Oh, why did yo
: bring him here?"
! when did this marriage occur?' il
quired Deering
Eight years ago." answered Mis-
| Lennox "Oh, why did you bring hi
: hereY'
II didn't know, my dear" answere
g Deering. Pm sorry. But he is just
patient and shall not trouble you."
II don't know about that" answere
Brooks with snarl.
But | know" answered Deerin
= sternly. IF you married Miss Lenne
eight years ago, your marriage wit
I Miss Clifford was a bigamous one
"Well, l guess she won't like to t
told she wasn't legally married
sneered Brooks.
Il "She will not be told" answered ii
doctor, quietly. "If you so much {
Q dare to let her see your face at ar
time shall have you clapped into ia
for bigamy."
And then an amazing thing hal
pened that changed his ideas of huma
nature For the nurse sank down b
side the man and put her arms rour
;. him and cried upon his breast
And when Deering looked at the fat
Of the man he saw two tears rolliT
down his cheeks.
e Silently he went out. He knew no
that his bride would never learn OF Il
G tragedy that had so nearly blighte
their happiness.