The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-31

next morning I came to in a box car, 50 miles out of town and still travelling.
 T was scared green when I re- rnembered what had happened. I stopped of at city down near the Oklahoma Texas line, and lay low waiting to find out how things stood. Then learned they'd got Rags. The cops had chased him and shot him, and he'd died on the way to jail; but before he died he'd gone and put all the blame on me-so here I was, wanted for murder" He stopped and patted her hand slowly once more, while she waited, breathless, for him to go on.
 Well, there it is," he said at last. T had to keep going. I left Oklahoma and I never went back. I came out this way, got into busi- ness, and did well. But all the time that things been hanging over me. If they should ever lay hands on me back in Oklahoma I'd be electro cuted sure as shooting-because who'd ever believe my story? I wouldn't have a chance.
 This business up in Dover was like told you-just a case of mis-. taken identity. But-do you see?- I didn't dare get arrested, even for something I hadn't done. Because if did, as like as not they'd start checking up in the files, the way they always do, and they'd find the handbills that were sent out from Oklahoma years ago-'Wanted: For Murder with a photograph, de- scription, and everything.
 "I'd be sent back to Oklahoma, and just as sure as you're 8 foot high I'd be sent up. So when I found out about this up in Dover, I-well, I got panicky!"
 He looked at her and grinned ruefully.
 "As matter of fact, I'd been in movie that Friday afternoon" | he went on. But who'd have be- lieved me? How coupld I have prov ed 1t? couldn't have. went all alone. There wasn't one chance in a hundred the cashier or any of the ushers would've remembered seeing me. I'd have been out of luck.
 Sol took advantage of you. You didn't remember what day we'd been out together, and it was too easy. And that fellow at the boathouse, he didn't remember either. went out to see him, and had him talked into thinking 1t had all happened on Friday, instead of Thursday, before he knew what was going on."
 He paused and looked at her soberly.
 T ask your pardon for having lied to you and got you mixed up in it," he said solemnly. Gan you forgive me?"
 Pity welled up in her, She squeez- ed his hand and said, "Oh, Sandy, of course! But why didn't you tell me?"
 T should have" he admitted. T wish I had. But-well, guess I was afraid to. You see. This eyes burned into hers-"I was afraid you'd not want to see me again, if you knew about this Oklahoma business"
 But it wasn't your fault!" she protested eagerly. T mean, it wasn't anything criminal"
 T know. But I couldn't be sure you'd look at it that way"
 He stared down at the brown wa ter of the river.
 You poor boy" she said softly, after pause. "Is this-this thing always going to be hanging over you?"
 He looked up and frightened. "Oh, I forgot to tell you about that part of it," he said. You see, I told MT. Montague all about it. He'd handled some legal business for a friend of mine, was how happened to hear about him and go to him. Well, hold him the whole story-not about how I'd received you; mean about the miXup in Oklahoma--and while he agreed that I couldn't afford to be arrested just then, he said there was nothing to worry about in the long run.
 He said he'd put a private de- tective agency to work, digging up evidence, and he was sure he could get enough proof to convince the authorities Back there of the truth of the matter. He's got these people working on 1t now. Before the end of the summer it ought to be all cleared up. Then I can come and go like anybody else, with noth- ing to be afraid of"
 He squared his shoulders and threw his head back, and Jean gave sigh of relief.
 Sandy" she said. I'm so glad
 She did not stop to analyze her emotions, to figure out why this last bit of news was like the lift ing of weight from her heart She did not realize that subcon- sciously she was thinking. "I'd never dare marry a man who had something like that hanging over him; nor did she realize that the wave of happiness that came over her at the promise that the affair would be cleaned up presently might mean that she would be ready to marry his particular man after all. She merely knew that she was glad that 1t had all been ex- plained. that she would not have to worry about Sandy's having de. ceived her, that Sandy would moi have to go on fearing that old &C., cusation in Oklahoma. Simply and guilelessly, she was glad, nor did fl occur to her to doubt word that he had said.
 Sandy looked around. The bench was secluded by clumps of bushes and trees, and the park was de- serted as only small-town park in I IL I l. Il