Evening star., 1924-01-03
CONTINUED from Yesterdays star.)


Lane She Is staunch and high
spirited but only a little slip of a
girl, defenseless in their hands, and
] knew Benkard:.I knew that nothing
/ thought the more desperate l grew,
and only one idea came to me; we
would have to elope. l got out my
was wrong with her lights ! ran her
to the place where Sim Perkins saw
me go ashore. and crept up the rear
path and across the lawn till stood
under Miss Mildred's window.
1T was dark, however and so was
all that side of the house, and l
didn't dare risk trying to arouse her
without waking up the rest. 1 de-
cided to wait till morning and then
get a message to her somehow, so
I started back down the path. when
all at once l saw the lights in the
the bench just inside the doors. a
sudden Impulse came to me to go
and have it out with him, tell him
once and for all just what l thought
tell him before and defy him to keep
Miss Mildred from me! l was almost
out of my head with jealousy and
resentment or l never, would have
course. while Miss Mildred was still
there under that roof. but had
almost reached the top of the terrace
steps before l came to my senses.
only the hand holding his cigar
moved and the last / saw of him
was with wreath of tobacco smoke
curling straightNup above his head.
again to the shore" Fupert broke
off. and then added with a groan:
I'm not thinking so much of my
self. Geoff; people aren't convicted
evidence as that in very many cases.
but the disgrace of the trial alone
be. especially If they never find out
would about Kin my mother and ruin
She would be alone for weeks, per-
haps months. under the influence of
her mother and Lane. and although
I know she'd stick to me, her shame
and suffering under their taunts
would be horrible! / might be con-
victed in the second degree and sent
to prison for years, for life, but even
If were acquitted l couldn't ask her
to share such future as mine would
who really killed Bernhard. You
know l didn't do it; if I thought you
doubted me for a minute l wouldn't
be sitting here. but in Gods name
can you help me?"
There was silence in the little kitch-
en- for a long time after the boys
appeal. Geoff sat lost in reflection.
his plain. rugged face growing, more
grave as each moment passed, and
when he spoke at last his voice was
deep with solemnity.
.Ashe. and I kin help you; reckon I'm
bout the only one who could. This
is what comes O. not mindin' my own
business, or mebbe its the Lords
you was sent TO me-, ! can't stop
your bein' took up, and there amt no
bail lowed in the first degree murder,
so mebbe you'll have to stay in Jail Jail
take time. But l kin git Doc Hood
TO fix 1t with the district attorney
not to have you formally indicted
till go to him and prove you amt
Rupert cried. Can you prove it?'
"I kin in a few days. mebbe a week
look of pain had come into his mild
brown eyes. There's one last step
that'l free you. sure. but 1 dent
want to take 1t IL there's any other
way out. If there ain't-well, tnat
steps gotta be took No matter what
happens. Mr.. Ashe, l pledge you my
word you won't never go to trial.
CHAPTER XVII
The Boy Who Lost.
Rupert Ashe broke down utterly
and buried his head in his arms on
the table, sobbing in uncomfortable
abandon. Geoff knew that it was as
much the reaction from the nervous
strain of the past few days as the
surety of his freedom from the
charge. hanging over his head.
Wisely, he let the boy alone to re-
cover himself; yet he was touched,
nevertheless. He had always been
aware of the opinion of most of his
neighbors. and it hadn't troubled him
any. They thought him a good car
penter and stonemascn, the best in
the country, maybe, as his father
had been before him, but cranky and
terrible set in his ways; and some
ed. going around the country and
picking up all kinds of stray animals,
dirty and MANNED and starved and
generally worthless.
little doctor had treated him like
real friend and one whose ideas
and notions were of some use in the
world, and now this rich city fellow
and all, and whom he'd seen shooting
up summer after summer from a
spindle-shanked little kid to a fine
young man-this here Rupert Ashe
first of all in his trouble and as much
as put his liberty and perhaps his
life in his hands.
But the task which confronted him
might be wasted The public was
clamoring for action. Police, head
lowed up their little community was
ready to take command of the situ-
alton over the heads of the local
authorities; The district attorney
his report. and speed him back with
a warrant as soon as the magistrate
could issue it,. He must work, and
work fast, ii that final step of which
Rupert raised his head at last.
coughing in embarrassed self-disgust.
Tn sorry. Geoff. 1 didn't think 1
self as this, but when I came to you,
although / knew you'd do your best
to help me, l hadn't any idea that
you had way of actually proving
there anything. can do?"
Yes, three. things, after you drink
this here coffee" Geoff poured out a
steaming cup and brought, it to his
moving his shoes. I'm goin to take
a swim in the crick and git into my
good clothes SOS kin make the next
1ou sra 10 to pr6mse 6e sty Frst thst n off want
over twice day reg'lar and feed and
water the mare and the dogs. If
you got took up, which is likely,
your folks. and Miss MiIlie and all
to fix 1t for one o. the men from
your pas place that you kin trust
to take care O. 'em stiddy till I git
home agin."
."I promise, Geoff. I'd move all
three of them over to our stable
now. but 1t might make the neigh
bors talk. They shall want for
"AlI right Now, when / get cooled
of in the crick SOS I can think clear
I'm goin to write letter. and I'd
like for you to take 1t to Doc Hood
Go as roundabout ways you kin
md to his house; I don't want no
norU folks 20 see you than you gotta
meet up With" Geoff picked up his