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Tim P.rTSlilNGTOTs' FKRH AM) TI.WRS: TTTintRDAr, FKMTvVATlT .10. 1010. 10 HP K!t...fS.'j at an m son By HALLHE ERMINiE RIVES, Author of "Hearts Courntfnotis," VAc. copvittcnr. me., ri:n noens - Mr.RfiiLf. companv 4" returned to tho empty chair, lie sr.vf berltig their old comradeship. "I"' w,ia Mrs. Ilnllornn whisper easterly with longing now to have this Influence es the lawyer, who turned iiwny, with u rrted to bring Hush to u belter itilml. puzzled look. In his bitterness the thinking of his eteriml welfare, of hu thought enmo to him tlmt the testl- , making his peace wit-Ids Maker, uionv hnd napped her conviction of his ! "Very well," ne Haul. "Cume, and led tin; way Into the ear. m Z Chapter S 9 j Li . . 3 TN the loti: hospital the it If was cool mill filtered, drali figures passed with -oft footfalls and i voices were measured and nuahed. Hut no i sense of coolness or re pose had come to the man whose raelt- , ed hody had boon tenderly borne there '.n the iiovj' dawn which unv the , blackened ruins of Anlstoa's most per- feet edltlee. j Hugh had stinl; Into unconsciousness i with the awe struck exclamation ring- I ins In Ills ears. "Hood (iod, It's Harry ' Sanderson!" had drifted liack to .'onsoious knowledge with the same i ivnrds racing In Ids brain They Im plied that so far as capture went the 'Id. curious resemblance would stand i's friend til! he betrayed himself or '"I the existence of the real Harry I 'uidei-Min at Smokv Mountain did so f 1 foj cr-ssoit to tne street: then, with the .ulnesH deep In his heart, entered the station to send n telegrntn. IltiRh'H haggard face peered nftel ilium through n rift In n window cur tain. What could she haro suspected? ; .Tesalra followed, her hands clinched 1 Nt (ho truthl And only that could bo j tightly, She saw tho couch, the prolllo trnv him Presently the bishop would ' on Ittf cushions turned toward the win- return, the train would start again, and dow white forest and stream rJIppcd i n,, ipot of terror would be behind pant-n face curiously H".o Hugh's! j ,ln what hnd he to do with Harry Yet It was different. Inciting the other' I Sanderson? " linvc learned lite true character dur ing thae ddi.?." himself could make the Journey with ! Innocence; that hlr. refusal to answer him He proposed this to the surgeon I her entreaties hnd been the last straw and with h!. approval put his plan In ! to tho load under which It had gone motion. In two days more Hugh found down; that she believed him Indeed the his coin-.: fully settled. I murderer of Morenu. To seem the The lien admirably (It ted Ills noccs-, cringing criminal, the pitiful Mar and f trend h, even Its refinement And ,1111s man had molded Hugh! These vague thoughts lost themselves In ! rtnntly hi the momentous surmise that Riled her Ininirlnatlou. The bishop put mtt his hand and touched the relaxed ; wotp,i nm nmn the station. r.rm The trepidation that darted Into tho 1 pnce wis silent nave for the throb of He bethought himself suddenly of the door. If come one should come In upon hlml Willi n qualm of fear he (stood tip, staggered to It and turned the key In tho lock. There was not tho The slly. The spat the bishop had selected ' wan quid and retired and. more, was ' near the port at which he could most ' readllv take s'dp lor South America Only me reflection made lilm sli'ver -the route laj through the town of Smoky Mountain. Yet who would dream of looking for a fugitive from the law In the secluded ear that carried actor In her eyes! The thought stung him. Her faith had meant so much. The ominous feeling weighed heavily on Polder when lie lose to continue tho testimony for the prisoner, so rudely disturbed the evening before. In such a cuminunlU' pettifogging was of no avail. Throwing expert dust In ItirorV ejes uould be worse than uselets. In a sick man'' The risk would be small I his opening words he made no attempt enough, and It was the one way open On the last afternoon before the de parture Hugh naked for the clothes lie had worn when he was brought to the hospital, found the gold pieces lie had snatched In the burning chapel and tied them In a handkerchief about his to conceal the weakness of the do fense. evidentially considered. Strip' bandaged face an It turned upon the glrlWi figure, the frosty fear that blanched the haggard countenance, poke Hugh's surprise and dread. It v.'!S she. and she knew the real Harry 'ande""!on was In Smoky Mountain Had she heard of the chapel fire, caiesstd tli" Imposture and come to denounce him, the guilty husband she lrd Hitch reann to hate' The twitch leg limbs Mlffen-d. ".Icsslca!" he said In a hoarse whisper. ; "Harry," unlet the bishop ".!isdca Is In great trouble she has eomu with cad ;iow.. Hugh, her husband, your old lied of nil husk, his was to be nn ap- i t'"lp"p """('- 1M ' lernme p-.siuon. peal to Caesar. 's aecieied of murder. I kept tho Through ti cloud of witnesses con- i newrpapers rrm you today because r-tselv. eonsisteutlv. vet with a winning i lmv ' "a oi u. the hntlrd engine, nnd the shadow of the train on the frosty plntform quiv ered like a criminal. A block away he saw the courthouse. Knots of peo ple were standing nboitt Its door wait ing for what? A (It of trembling seiz ed him. All his years Hugh had been n moral coward. Life, to him had heen sweet for the grosser, material pleasures It held. He had eared for nobody, hnd held nothing sacred. He had now only to keep silence, let Hnrry Sanderson pay the penalty, and ho need dread no more. Hugh Stlrcs, to the crsuaslon of the law, would be dead. As soon as might bo he could disappear, ns the rrclor of St. .lames' hail disappeared lie fore. He might change his mime nnd mctfu'ln-ss that "dlHarmed the ohjee- ! She had caught the meaning of tho vo at case In some quarter of the neck, sea passag". I lie one red counter lit had kept It was from henceforth to be a reminder of the good resolutions he lio.l mndf. n lfitit mrt .liu ulU.t.n.l l,r. The delusion must hold till . . ,., , ,.. olntl... i,n -nu i , .HI 111 il 11.1 IIU l.l'l WlJlt- lUMIUl HIM l.ll'l I lllll'.- 111,.. '""ini.ll W..J..V-- i n--- - , . . ,.., -I ... ..... , f .i ,!, i... uli v In li's tnin.-fm- i.pr. nut for lltich ! world, his alarm laid forever. 1 lll'J .Wllllll M U CC lO.IJUV IMS U"I13 ,M .11." JII vrot. ii iiii, .1- man iw ' I T . .11. ...... .1.1 .M ' . . i -M.- dm ,..i...i ...in..,it,.i.- lift ni" Hut a worse thing would haunt him icail lliem UU'lWHll III.' Mill-:. .11 v.i-.nn 1 - vi. r, ,.,,. ... be cm!. have hluielf moved to some, p'n ! here his secret would be safer, j '' ' . get 11 way 1 li-. thought grew swlfllv para-! 3 1 ! I' overlapped the rigid agony .f 1 '- 1 ':!' 'hat made the bed on wl 1 1 . lay 1 liery furnace: It gave niet'mr, ' 1 lil evry word and look, lie took il the dlfllcnlt part and. after the superlidal anguish dulled, com plained no 11, ore and successfully coun terfeited cheerfulness and betterment. He sen! nothing nf thf curiously re current and "lekenlng stab of pain, searching and deep seated, that took tils breath and left each time an In creasing giddiness. Whatever inner hurt this might betoken, lie must hide It tho sooner to leave the hospital, where each hour brought nearer tne in evitable disclosure. He thanked fortune now for tho Chapel game. Iew enough In Anlston would care to see the unfrocked, dis graced rector of St. James', lie did not know that the secret was P.tshop Lud low's own until the hour when he: opened his eyes after a fitful sleep j upon the latter's face. I The bishop was the tirst visitor, and It was ills lirsl Uslt. for lie had been in a distant city at the time of the lire Waiting the waking, he had been mys- tiOed at tho change u few months had wrought In the countenance of the man, whoso disappearance had est him sol many sleepless hours. The months of Indulgence and rich living . the I money he hud won from Harry had j Liken 11 w. y Hugh's sligluness. and hlii fnll t le . I.s were now of the contour of Ilii..'s own. Hut the bishop dis-1 tl'iguisi.eu new lines in the luce ou the! pdlov, ;. 1 e:.pre-:di.n unfamiliar and puzzling The lii iuness and strength ' were goi.e end in their place was a hau.iting !"::uthing that gave him a; flitting sus,;.'s.tlon of tho discarded that 1 lie could noi shake off. Waking, the unexpected sight of the bishop startled Hugh. To the good man's pain lie had turned his face , array. , "My dear boy," the bishop had said, i "they tell mo you are stronger and bet-1 tor. 1 thank God for it!" lie spoke gently nnd with deep feel-1 away, a suit of loose, comfortable tweed. Waiting restlessly for the hour of his going, Hugh asked for tho news paper . Since the llrst lie had had them read to him each day, listening fearfully for the hue and cry. Hut today the surgeon put his request aside. "After you are there," he said. "If P.tshop Ludlow will let you. Not now. You are almost out of my clutches, and I must tyrannize while I can." A quick look p.assed from him to his sslstant as lie spoke, for the newspa iers that afternoon had worn startling Cadilnes. The sordid affairs of a '.Sir. iowii acro.vi the ranges had lit- interest for Aniston. but the names .' I'tires nnd Moreau on the clicking :e had waked It thus late to the sen ! ,n. The professional caution of the .iter of human bodies wished, how that no excitement should lie !'d to the unavoidable fatigue of his I.r.U'r. t'eparture. : ::is fr.tlgre was near to spelling do- t. after ail. for the exertion brought .In t!:o dreidful stabbing pain, and tln:e It carried Hugh into a rc 1 where feeling ceased, couscious . passed and Ironi which ho strug : back finally to Hnd tho surgeon . 'h-.g nnslourly over him. i'.o.i't like that sinking spell," the . r confided t his assistant an hour ; en t.iey r ted looking through the . i','-i"' af; r the receding carriage. '. t ') pronounced. Yet lie li.i.s ..1 1 that hail followed the arrival of the , her head, "but they did not ten it an: " " '" """"v ...... . , . . . .1 .....(. I Anil (til IIM'I cif i-P.r,.iii.i, , .inn rint ,f tin. motii i. Did tne.v tell vou tliai lie is uiniiniiv. ". . of their on neighbors-Devlin, liar- ; wickedly accused by 1111 enemy' That, 1 ney McGinn. Mrs. Ilallorsin. who came though they inuy nmviet him, he Is In-j down weeplT'g lliey were made to see " cont innocent'" as In a cyoiornna the ntrugg'e for re- j The bishop looked at her In surprise. ' In sphe of all the past tho shameful, liabllltaiion against hatred and i;u?i 1- conseielieoless past and her own wrong rlon, the tourai.e that had dared for a sh loved and l;elieed In her bus-' child's life, the honesty of purpot.e band! that showed In self surrender. Iho' Hugh's h.ind lifted, wavered an In In the awfnl moment while he clung to the iron bars of tho collapsing rose window, witli the llamos clutching at him. Hugh had looked Into hell and shivered before the judgment, "The wages of sin Is death." In that fiery ordeal tho cheapuess nnd (swagger, tho ostentation nnd self esteem, had burn ed away, and I. Is soul had stood prlsoneirhe tald. had recovered his , Ktaut before his brow. Did she say ho ! ,l"kt''1 ns, A w ntpr wod' D,'lnK...1?fld1 will understand." The bishop drew a chair close, but her gaze did not waver from the face on the cushions tho face which she must read! As she told the broken tale the car wns still, save for the labored. Irreg ular breathing of the prostrate man and the mufiled roar that penetrated the walls, a multitudinous, elfin din. "You see," she ended, "th:t is why 1 memory before the accusation and as-1 was Innocnt? "I don't understand sorted his absolute innocence. Those who believed hhn guilty of tho nunler I of Dr. Morenu must believe him uluo a 1 vulgar liar and poseur. He left the nferenco clear: If the prisoner had tired that cowardly shot he knew it now; If ho lied now he had lied all along, nnd the later life ho had lived at Smoky Mountain, eloquent of fair dealing, straightforwardness of pur pote, kindliness and courage, had been hut hypocrisy, the bootless artlllco of a iihallow buffoon. The session was prolonged past tho noon hour, and when I'eider rested his rase it seemed that all that wan possi ble hnd been said. He had done his ut most He hnd drawn from the people of Smoky Mountain a dramatic story end hnd tilled In its outlines with color, force nnd feeling. And yet ns lie clos ed tho lawyer felt a sick sense of fail ure. Court ndjourned for an hour, nnd In the interim Folder lemained in a little room in the building, whither Dr. Prent was to send htm sandwiches and coffee from the hotel. "You made a line effort, Tom." the latter said us they stood for 11 moment not then been the austere terror. What . .. r ..... 1 Tl.. . nn..nftul I... he said hoarsely. !,. , T ....... ..,,,. 1,1., ,.,10 fct. 1 ntulYct Harry Sanderson was not afraid as though to search his secret soul 1 of the hereafter. He chose death calm- I.. , 1 . I . I TT..1. H.A1 I will tell it all." she said, "then you , '""iK wi.-n num.. o u.mt would be n condemned criminal, wait ing In tho shadow of the hempen noose, in Btich localities Justice was wlft There would be scant time be tween verdict and penality not enough, doubtless, for tho problem to solve It nelf. I"or the only solution possible was Hugh's dying In the hospital nt Antston. So tons as tho other lived he must ploy out the rolo And If Hugh did die, but died too late? What a r.ntlro on truth and Jus tice! The same error which put tho rope about his own ncic would fold the real Hugh In tho odor of sanctity. Ho would he In tho little Jail yard In a felon's grave, and Hugh in the ceme tery on the hill beneath a marble mon ument erected by St. .lames' parish to tho Itev. Henry Sanderson. In the rlock or In the coll, with the death watch sitting at ltn door, It was all one. He had elected the path, and if It led to the bleak edge of life, to the barren abyss of shame, ho must tread It. Ho wns powerless to help himself still. He had given over his life Into tho keep ing of a power In which his Ixiltcr manhood li.d trusted. If It exacted tho final tribute for those rib-aid yearn of Satan Sandm-son the price would be paid A step came in the corridor. A voice spoke his nnie. The summons had come. IWoro the opening of the door tho hum of voices in the courtroom sank to stillness Itself. The Jury had taken their places. Their looks were Miner nnd downcast. Tho Judge was in his seat, his hand combing his beard. Har ry faced him calmly. Tho door of a side room was partly open, and n girl's white face looked in, but he did not see. "Gentlemen of the Jury, have you ar rived at a verdict?" "W have," Thre was a confusion In the hall abrupt voices and the sound of feet Tho crowd stirred, and the Judge frownlngly lifted his gavel. "What sny you, guilty or not guilty?" The foreman did not answer. He was linlne forward, looking over the heads of the crowd. Th judge slood op. People turned, awl the room wns sndflnnly n-rnttle with surprised move ment. The crowd at the back of the 1 room p.irtrl, and up the center aisle i. i n eti i.i.j 1.. . 1, ..null and '. hop' purple of Into iiii.unm, flushed and: r.tlrred to the tou.-h of their goldi 11 lover nnd the silver water g.ish. 4 through the flume sang to n quick f melody. There was no wind, fiver v whore nave for tho breathing life of iu forest wns dreamy beauty and waiting peace. In the soft silliness Harry stood on the (1oorf"p of the hlll'lde cabin f .f tho last time. P.elow him In tho galclt lf if 01 V ''.Vi SIP. r s rf iiiii j Suppose he told the truth now and saved Harry. He had never done a brave deed for the sake of troth or righteousness or for the love of nny human being, but ho conld do one now. For the one red counter thnt had been IU dropprf on hh Uncc nwl tor.. h ImwU and kitted them. tho light glanced and sparkle 1 f ri the running flume, mid beyond ghi... mered the long street of the jwa where the dead past of Satan sn uler son had been burled forever aici th old reniovseful pain of 1 onset hat) found Its surcease. In the iar o.-iance, a tender haze softening iiic!:- nthno stood the violet silhouette of tne end ing ranges, and far bej'.iiil tliPtn lay Aniston. where waited his newer lite, his newer, better work and t:i.- hope that was the April of I. is dreams Since that trawie day in the court room he had seen Jessica once jidy l:i the hour when ,iic ni-uopV v.ieuir ""dust to dust" had been spoken aboi'C the man who had been her hii-liaud One tluinght had comforted hi town of Smoky Mountain hid Known, need never know, !,e of her wifehood. And Auls n i fownrrt Iho Itulfro'a dojik srta trurerert a ' away. Alwut the coming figure a man whose face, ghastly and J'ed and dying to his convulsed, was partly swathed rn band- I be thrown a glamour of U ajjes. At the door of the Judg's room ! tnnt would bespeak el.. (Tlrl stood transfixed nnd staring. n-.ent. When Jessica Ttie irowd rnsoed. Tnev saw the I wane nouse 111 cne as; familiar profile, a replica of the prls- meet only tenderness a symbol of n day of evil living he . OIwr's; the mark that slanted across ! And that was well. could render a deed that would make requital for those unpaid days. lie know lie is innocent You cannot'"- , not have played the coward's her eyes held Hugh's "y o u cannot doubt It. can you?" tTntrli's tnn.fite wet his parched Jt lips. A tremor .VW3 ran tnrougu mm. : - i. He did not an- 1 t -7 s in the emptying courtroom. "You're f 110 pain. He will be In doing mudors with no ease, and the :: 's ,-,t any rate." He tapped town ougM to send you to congress on i:. ,'. '1, with his foreflng'r. tho strength of it. I declare, some of " i salil after a pause, your evldenee mcde n:e feel as mean cs 1: el r.'oi.n'? m in the pul- a dog about the rascal, though i kp.cv Vw h'. dn'-sn't appeal to tne all the time he was ns guilty as the !.;"" ' devil." IjI ear which the bishop had Th. lawjer shook Ills he::''. "1 don't , d I ecu 1 :aje a pleasant into- blame you, lirent," he said, "for you 'em l.o.ica were in the corners, don't know him as I do. i have teen I i- : ;iY? swung from a bracket, much of him lately, been often with .. !y cii -iiioued couch had been him, watched him under stress, for he tl for tho sick man. A moment doesn't deceive himself; he has no thought of acquittal! We none of us , nothln knew Hugh Stlres. We put him down 1 me! svi cr. Jessica st.rted to her feet. Self possession w a s falling from her. HT-fY Fho wns lighting l- to nei?e the vital kuov.-leUge that evaded her She held out her hand In the palm lay a small emblem of gold. "My this cross," she cried with des perate earnestness, "1 ask you for the truth. It is his life or death Hugh's life or death! He did not kill Dr. Mo reau. Who did?" Hugh had shrunk back on the couch, his face ghastly "I know nothing- lie stammered "Do not ask part. It would repair the wrong he had done Jessica. He would have made expiation, forgiveness and pity, not reproaches and shame, would fol low him, and It would balance perhaps the one dreadful count that stood against him. He thought of the scaf fold and shivered, yet there was a more terrible thought: It Is a fearfnl the brow, the eyes preternatrrrnlly "e snut uie ucor or bright and fevered. 1 whistling to his dog. c!!i A pale faced, breathless man in cler- j P-H" whose the wrinl;ld leal drew pcabed forward throngh the Its spiar.h of scarlet and .1 nmc. tho fltrtire utormed thrnst out 1 to the Knob, under the '. his hands blindly. "Not fnllty. your honor."' he said. A cry came from the prisoner at the bar. H leaped toward him as he foil and cauzht him in his arms. The rronn In the Judge's room was . tco. wui well. lie went stowiy turougn 11:0 ii 1 1 , j t'-e -tin ,evei ecret s fat 1 i.i. 'iio utrj -dg . tin mid iMiy nd I'J n ,' did of the redwoods There i:. r.i' t'upr' e . sliade st.icd Jessica's rock statue, a.i I now It looked upon two uiou:i Is prodigal had returned at last, fa'! 1 nnd son rested side by side, ni d tU.i hushed in awestruck silence. The thing to fall Into the hands of the llv- 1 door was fihtf but through the panels, 1 hollows to the winding ntotsute Ing t.oa! , from fhc courtroom, came the miir- He made his way again to the door raur 0f many wondering voices. My and unlocked It It was only to cross I the sofa on which lay the man who that space, to speak, and then the ' 7 dmCt uittlii ( uu.a: grim brick building and the penalty. I With n hoarse cry he slammed the ' door and frantically locked it." The 1 edge of tho searching pain was upon i liira again He stumbled back to the couch and fell across It face down. 1 dragging the cushions in frantic haate I over his head to shut out the sick throbbing of the steam that seemed shuddering at the fate his coweriu soul dared not face. the stait, as it was being con to the rear of the resting train " tho bii-hon chatted with the eon- for a shallow, vulgar blackleg, without T'le bis ho-,) hnd risen In alarm. ..icior. a flustered messenger boy hand I him a telegram. It read: I arrive Ar.nlston tomorrow 6. Conn ing. How could he tell to what ex tent ho himself, in mistaken severity, ' a.tiHt jiust' so you. Urgent had been responsible for that unaccus-! JKSSICA. tomed look' When ilufh did not an-1 Tho 4iis!K.p read It In some perplex pwer the bishop misconstrued the si-, ity. It was the f'rst word he had re lence. He leaned over the bed. The ceived from her since her marriage; big coo! hand touched the fevered one1 but, aware of Hugh's forgery and dis ci n the while coverlid, where the ruby 1 grace, he had not wondered at this, ring id wed, n coal lu snow. . The newspapers today pictured a still "Harry," lie said, "you have suffered j worse shame for her In the position of - yf'i are suffering now. Mm think of ' the man who in the nnmo still was her me only as your friend. I ask no husband, "who had trod so swiftly the questions. We are goIi" to begin downward path from thievery to tho whe re wo left off." worst of crimes. Could Jessica's com- '1 would like to do that," said Hugh 'to i f1ii again gone "Never mind that." said tho blshor cheerfully. "You are onlv to get we "11 nrc tjntnrj to ticgln uheru ice left oJJ," want your judgment on the plans. An iston Is hanging on your condition, Harry," ho weut on. "There's a small cartload of visiting cards downstairs for you. But 1 Imagine you haven't begun to reeelvo yet. eh?" ' "I I've seen nobody." Hugh spoke hurriedly nnd-'roarsely. "Tell the doc tor to let no one come no one but you. I I'm not up to It." "Why, of course not," said tho bish op quickly. "You need quiet, and the people can wttlt." The bishop chatted awhile of tho par ish, Hugh replying only when he must, and went 11 way heartened. Mefore he loft Hugh saw his way to hasten his own going. On the next visit the seed wns dropped In the bishop's mind so cleverly Hint he thought the Idea Ills own. That dity he said to the sur geon In charge: "He Is gaining so rapidly I have heen wondering If lie couldn't be taken iway where the climate will tienellt Um. Will hejie able to travel soon?" "I think so." answered the surgeon "We suspected Internal Injury at llrst jut I Imagine the worst he has to feat 11 the dlsllgureuuuit Mountain or ten 1 1- would tin lili'i good." he added re Jett'vel.v. "What he will need Is toub and bul'.dltig up " The bishop had revolved till In W tu'.ld. lie l.t.ew 11 place on the ' tu 1 I ti v 11 , l i l 'ie 1 sct. i , vo' , i,p i'n 1. 1 ., , 1, v x' " "" ' ' ' "" - .1 ; in 1 t,tr, a, : redeeming qualities Mu the man we are trying is a gentleman, a refined nnd cultivated mall of taste and feel ing. I have learned his true character during these days." "Well," said the other. "If you be lieve In him. so much the better. You'll make the better speech for it. Toll me one thing. Whore was Miss Holme?" "I don't know." '(Wrorac ing have to do with that? He must Mut the chapel Is 1 see her, yet Ills depnrture could not I now be delayed. Ho consulted with the conductor, nnd tho latter pored over hij tablets. We are going to rebuild soon, and we' As a result his answering message flashed along the wires to Jessica s faraway train: Ganderson !njurl. Taking htm to const train 43 duo Twin Peaks 2 tomor row afiornoou. And thus the fateful moment ap proached when tho great appeal should be made. . The evidence tho first day's trial of the case of tne people against Hugh Stlreswas the all engrossing topic that night In Smoky Mountain. Har ney McGinn perhaps aptly expressed the consensus of opinion when he said, "I allow wo all know he'a guilty, but nobody believes it." Late as Smolty Mountain sat up that night, however, it was on hand next morning, rank and file, when the court convened. All the previous evening, save for a short visit to the cell of his client, Kelder had remained shut In his office, thinking of the morrow. In his talk with Harry ho had not concealed his deep anxiety, but to his questions there was no new answer, and ho had re turned from tho Interview more non plused than over. Ho hnd wondored that Jessica ou this lard night did not come to his office, but had been rather relieved than otherwise that ehe did not. Ho had gono to bed heavy with discouragement nnd had waked in tho morning with foreboding. As ho turned from groetlnu his cli ent In the packed courtroom Folder notad with surprlso that Jessica wns not In her place: not that ho needed her further testlmouy, for he had drawn from hrr the day befova all ua Intended to utllir.e. but her nhseuce disturbed him, and Instinctively he turned nnd looked ucro33 the sea of faces toward tho doe" I.arry'u g!a::-e Wivd his, ad u clccti.T ualn beleaguered It ns his eyes jfl Chapter 3 The groups outside ths courthouse made way deferentially for Jessica, but she was unconscious of it. Some one asked a question on the steps, and she heard the nuswer. "The state has Just finished, and the judge Is charg ing." The narrow hall was tilled, and, though all who saw gave her Instant You don't know what you are place, the space beyond the inner door You nre beside yourself." He was crowded beyond the possibility of He thought her hysterical "Jessica! .les Elca!" lie exclaimed He threw his arm about her and led her from the couch, saying terete ( ! foricd her Into the drnnlug room and passage She could see the Judge's made her sit dowu. She was tense bench, with its sedate, gray bearded and quivering. The cross fell from her ligure. the Jury box at the left, the hand, and he stooped nnd picked It up moving, rest Iers faces about it, set like "Try to calm yourseif." he said, "to a living mo-'nle. think of other tilings for a few mo She became aware suddenly that the mints. This little cross- 1 wouder how figure at the high bench was speaking, j stood uear him In the baciir; ".md you come to have It? I gave It to had been speaking all along: ! knew that the curtain was fclln'- upon Sanderson last May to commemorate "With the prisoner's later career In ' n strange and taugled drama of life Ida onllnatlcn." He twisted It open. Smoky Mountain they hnd nothing to "See, here is the date. May 'J3 That do nor hud the law. The question It wns the day I gave it to him." asked the only question It asked - wns, She gave a quick g.ip. and the last 'Did he kill Morenu'' They might be vestige of color faded from her cheek, loath to believe the same man capable She looked at him in a stricken waj of such cnntradlctorv acts the cour- 1. rtid cross. d !t and entered the C"usr fir cr. lie warned to see once more tli dear spot where he and Jessica had met that deep, sweet day before the rude awakening. He walked on in reverie; his thoughts were very fat c way. He stopi d v.Jdonly '' .ti- ' - for him was the little kryitl w'-.e'e .e '- i 1 stood waiting on the i-luv-b, of lib palace of eacaanrnicnt that ou roea'e morning And she w.i.s there 1 'iy not standing with parted lips eyes under the twittering tre . ing face dowu on the moss, hroure hair shaming the gel 1 fallen leaves. There was a gesture in t' . 't stretched arms that caught s benrt He stepped forwarl " 1 t the sound she looked up. start'.' 1 He saw the c. ping co mounted to her brow, the p: - d passionate hunger of her e; e " dropped on his knees and t ; t 1 hands and kissed them. "My dear love that is!" he wb speed "Mr dearer wife that Is to hp!" the Ksn. get ' .- re'! f !iu vs, vO "A'of fiitlf y. yuur htnurr!" he said had made expiation stood the bishop and Hnrry Sandjaou. Jessica kne't beside It unci the Judge nnd thore wo 1 mi-ohm i'iiu srnooi and love and death 1 1:1 After ttlu otn Inn" rnhliliif rrr nt T '" If ra'llll 0 ' I-e.-lllntlrtn i hrnillnwifr flirt AvMtnniunt f and confusion, Jessica had been strangely calm. She read the swift certainty In Dr. Prent's face, and she IP' I'M 'Last May!" she said faintly. Harry ageons saving of a child from death. felt n painful thankfulness. The last uji. 30 stand face to face with 1 tarry saiuierson tlmt had been Jessica's sole thought. The news that the bishop, with the man she suspected, was speedlug toward her to pass the very town wherein Hugh stood for his life seemed n prcarrftnge mcut of eternal Justice. When the tele gram reached her she had already gone by Twin Peaks, To proceed would be to pass the coming train. At a farther Gtatlon, howerer, she was able to take u night train back, arriving again at Twin Peaks in the gray dawn of tho next morning. When the train for which ube waited came iu, the curtained car nt Its end, Bha did not wait for tho bishop to llnd soothingly. At momenta thereafter ho her on tho platform, but stepped aboard was there, at others she knew that she nnd inadt her way slowly back, it was alone, but was unconscious of the Htnrtcd again as Hho threaded the last flight of time She knew only that tho Pullman, to tlnd the bishop on its rear day wau fading." On the chilly whirl- platform peerlug out unxloimly at the Ing laudRcnpe she saw only a crowded appeal vtould not be to man's justice. but to God's mercy! The memories of the old blind days nnd the knowl edge that this man not the one to whom she had given her love at Smoky Mountain, at whom she dared Sanderson had been in Aniston. then. for eamp!e. nnd the shooting down of 011 the day Dr. Monau had been mur- a fellow mortal In cold blood-but it derod. Her house of cards fell, she had been truly said that men contrasts bad been mistaken! She leaned hej were not Impossible-nay, were eeu head back against the cushion nnd matters of common observation. PreJ closed her eyes. , udlco and bias aside, and sympathy Presently she felt a cold glas.i touch ! and llkln" :isl!i thev constituted a trl- 1 nt look had been her lover, was now her Hps, "Here In some water." uthe bunnl of Justice. This the state had a ln very truth her husband,, rolled about bishop's voice said. "You nre better, ; right to demand, and this they, the 1 her In n stinging mist. Rut as she arc you no:? Poor child! You have 1 jury, had made solmnu oath to give." knelt by the sofa the hand that chafed been through a terrible strain. I The WOrds had no meaning for her the nerveless one was firm, and she would give the world to help you If I oars. "What did he say?" she whls- wiped the cold Hps deftly and ten could." ! cured to bersplf nlteonslv. She caught 1 derly. He left fter. and she sat dully trying ' but a climnso of the prisoner ns the Hugh's eyes were Aiming Thnt bar- to think, Tho regular jar of the trucks ' sheriff touched hts arm und led the had set Itself to a rhythm no hope, no ; way quickly to the door through which Hope, no bone! She knew now that i he had been brought. there was no:e. When the bishop re. entered she did not turn her head. He sat beside hnr awhile, and she was It opeued and closed upon them, nnd tho tension of the packed room broke nil at once In a great respiration of re- nware again of his voice, speaking lief and 11 buzz of conversation, A voice spoke beside her. It ws Dr. Mrout. "Come with me," he said. "Feldtr nskod me to watch for you. We cut) watt in the Judge's room." weeding station. Ho Uok both her hands and drew her into tho empty drawing room. Ho was Hturtled at her pallor. "I know," hu aid pltylut'ly. "1 have heard." Shu winced. "Does Aniston kuow?" "Yea," he answered. "Yesterday .) newspapers told it." Bhe put her hand on his arm. "Can you guemj why I was coming home?" he asked, "It was to tall Harry San derson! 1 kuow of the tire," she went on quickly, "and of his injury, I cun gtioss you wnut to spare him strain or excitement, but 1 must tell Ului!" He reflected a moment, Ha thought ho guessed what was in her tulud. If there wns nuy uno who hnd ever hnd an influenco over Hur.h for good It was Harry Sanderson .le himself, hu tbuu;;ht. had uut.u. Perhaps, retimm- room, a Jury box, a Judge's bench and Hugh before it, listening to the sen tenco that would take him from hor forovor. Tho bright sunlight was mer cllessly, Eatatilcally cruel and God n sneurlng monster turning n crank. Into her cmihclons view grew dlstnut mowy ranges, hills unrolling nt their feet, 11 straggling town, a staring white courthouse nnrl a grim low building libido It, She rosy stuinbliiicly, tho truln quivering to the brakes, as tho bishop uutered. "This Is Bmoicy Mountain," idio said with numb Hps. "Tmt ls ,u(. tuilallxi where he la being trletl. I r.tu goin:,' there now." Tho bishop opened the door nud gave her his liunl to the platform. The tnitii was to sio but ten minutes. He stood a moment watching hor as she Chapter 31 ' fiANWHii.n in thi ntr raw call Hnrry w alone with his bltttmtiB. nis Judicial eentie, keaalv allvo, from ttot ry drat ho appreciated the wo ful weakness, evidential ly upsaktag. of bla noul- (Ion. He had uo Illusions on this aeore, A little wlille nfler r-ueh deliberation as was deccut nnd seemly rowing struggle of soul, ttint convul Five effort of the injured body, had flemnndd its price. The direful agony nnd Its weakness had ecUed him. His stiffening fingers were slipping from the ledge of life, and he knew It, He heard the bishop's earnest voice. speaking from the void, "Love cover eth all sins." The words seemed to stand out sharply, with black gulfs of notblngUMa between, They roused tils fading anaes, called them back to the outpost of feeling. "Not bcnni I loved," he said, "it wat beauae I was afraid!" Fala aa bla habit of life had been. In thnt moment only the bare truth re mained. With a last effort tho dying man thruat hla band into bis pocket, drew out a email, battered, red disk and laid It In the other's hnnd. "Saten." he whlepered as Harry bent over hira and the flicker of light fell In bis eyes, i4do you-thlnk it will-count when I cash in?" But Harry's answer nugh did not hear. He had passed out of the i.ouud of mortal npwh forever. , , a There came day whou tho brown ravluca of Smoky Mountain laughed In genial cutishtuc, when tho tang'od thickets aud thu f dinged reaches, I ),.! e :i; 't t. it ' y t 1 cl o li.il).- IK', igl.t '11 t' H' Inn 'I !. .n- -in ": " ! nlllu 1I1) IIU .i; '.X it'.i lill'erm-is o' li. if' t.t.'l 1 ' M Ol.lil Hot l.l.i to - ' UfCji llifin l'. no ! ' - f , hool liw it 'M ll:i c iIkc their r. o tin.-. The lilt a, w'..t li i- ' Is soiimt ului lit-rrws tc ' ' ' ttl Its infills art is-eni - -ami It roes Into ri'fi-r t 1 11 ent. The wis.- .tiicitoit- . t 1 1 -ntc schools tC'iui'i ti 1 r ' ,:t Unfl such sltiiplii it , ..f..' the cause for raw or luit ' ft- In-' ' pnrt of (lie fMioicr impils ttiU tht 1 turilty for rMl. n'.e to- 'l.t .re 1 ihllit:'on ls i("i'..fd. No tub t . .util lie matte t-y inil.li, scitoot :)i t lirs, of course, r -t.l t!.c l. e of wc 1 11 cr imlforins wnul.l 1 .nt t come nbni t tltrouBh I11 cretin it a-1 i ( "ti ti ! tl'o force of popnlat eiilni.tn. Tim mn'.rs' lu.etlrsH now In t.l ir 'on c-lm w th mary schoois win. 1.1 stvc s ,ui .1 uM -nltle means fo- " . t. mat ihe e, -Ion. The il("Hlr.ilillit of .1 .,i '.i. 1 r r In the iie o! . 1 's it' ' ' ,1 r . nininon ens( remits ,,, k it. r 1 " n .t th lhc 1 illcr tli 1: ' e ' 1. 1 s el ' .IM11K lOIlK l. T. '1 tl""l - mi. I" s In iii.i.Hiillne i,.ir'" wlie h' t " . ' ' "t uli! ; nt llin wuii tifi. it". ,1 .1 ti ' .r l.cttennont and a -pp. i..l tun fit" sehool boys w. i;' 1 ' ' It ml t.etoi;es The fitslilon ot 11 ,1 . 1 fm inciter Hlijipllclty of lire""- f.n f Is th.i'i ftrm cily, tint If goott t-tste f. ml a' '1 l'l ilirsseil nllke, enm nv 11 b'VS ounl dls nppear from ehllillt-h li ' in school hours, laces un.l emit .-ites n.eU nnlsh from llttlo iroun- m-.l tlu to would not bo of rich eilal: In di school Kills wouM not t.pi .r as .i ar rayed for nn nfteinooo 1" end tin uietiso pompadours nnl d- 1 urliic. ' IT1 would bo unknown nf ' leni Th. u It, room for tha rofoi 1 denied iha tyranny of dirws s' .ti 1 m iciist bo pestponed until after .!.- stlioal yearn. No "little Ftorr" eve" eoirn . ..., ti C"t tils until P.. n.He tls.tu Mn tsi ti I'ttcrew tne BturJ.