The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-07-22

as quickly as the light had risen. For
those affrighted ones It was like the
flying open of the doors Of hell. For
only fraction Of second they were
blinded by the glare Of its flames. 1t
may have revealed to one Of them the
fathomless deep Of his own wicked
ness. The girl gave little cry as they
fed. Hidden behind the broad base OF
the big tree Shad had not been able
to see them, but he had seen the light
ding Itself through the tops and
slender columns beyond-him. He sat
still. Out near the edge Of the thicket
he could dimly hear a sound like that
Of smothered sobbing. This for only
moment. Then receding footsteps!
Silence fell again. Not until long
after he had heard Miss Spenlow's
clock tolling the hour of midnight did
he arise from his station behind the
tree. As he did so he heard team
starting away from some point near
Smithers' store. Cropping in the dark
ness he found the camera and covered
its lens. He picked up his things and
set out for the Doctors house. His
learned friend slept in bedroom on
the first floor. Shad tapped on win
dow-pane in accordance with the doc
tors request. The good man arose
and opened the front door.
swell, what luck?"
'They came and l guess that I've
got the photograph"
Good work, my boy!" the doctor ex-
claimed as he patted the shoulder of
his young friend ''Ill put the camera
in my dark room and show you to
your bed. Perhaps we shall sleep bet
ter If we do not know what 1t has to
tell us until morning"
Shed went to bed. His excitement
kept him awake until the keen-eyed
cocks had seen the light Of dawn.
When he arose at eight o'clock his
venerable friend was at breakfast. He
looked very grave.
slave you developed the photo
graph?" Shad asked.
Eyes, and 1t is successful" said the
doctor. II was not surprised but I
was deeply saddened. The whole trag-
ic story is now as clear to me as the
street / see through yonder window.
I hope that you will not mind IL ask
you to let the secret lie with me until
it is given to Colonel Blake. 1t is
properly his secret. The situation has
come to its climax. The time for de-
cisive action has arrived. think that
you had better go to the county seat
and get In touch with the district at
torney wherever he may be and tell
him that he IL needed here at once.
am going down to- Ashfield and can
take you to the train as well as not.
Do you think that they saw you when
the flash camel"
II am sure that they did not. was
so hidden that could not see them."
He gave the scraps of conversation
that he had overheard.
"Ah! thought so. It's kind Of
verbal fiashlight on the past"
There was a call on the telephone.
The doctor answered 1t.
"I'll be there In a few minutes" he
said.
Turning to Shad he announced:
1.-The girl is sick this morning and no
wonder. While you finish your break
fast I'll go and see what can do for
her."
The doctor returned, saying: "Her
heart is bit troublesome. She'll get
better. Naturally she is little de-
pressed" .,e
He put a sealed envelope in Shad's
hands.
Therein is the photograph Of the
man who killed Oscar Perry. Please
give it to your chief and tell him how
we came by 1t. think that when he
looks at this photograph he will know
how it all came about. If not can
tell him."
They got into the blackboard and
drove away. Soon after they set out
Shad remarked: So
81 had waited a long time in the
darkness when heard Miss Spenlow's
clock strike eleven. A little later
heard team cross the bridge. knew
that It had come from Ashfield. It
stopped somewhere near. Probably in
the shed at Smithers' store. / said to
myself, There is Royce In little
while they walked into the trap"
"a curious kind of man" the doc
tor exclaimed. HE is Ill this morning
and has sent for me-"
81 wonder how he learned that the
girl was at Miss Spenlow's."
"How could every one help learning
It with dear Miss SpenlOw's tongue
as timber as 1t ISL"
They rode on in silence. Shad was
Just in time for his train. Near the
depot in Canton a little before twelve
O'Clock he met Ruth Blake. He was
on his way to the Office.
''You are going wrong" she said.
Elbow so?"
"Why because you are to eat lunch
con with mother and me. Mother
wants to have a talk with you. Come
on"
II have got to see your father"
"He will not get here until seven
o'clock tonight. He's been to Chi
4 cago."
but I want to go to my room ard