Geyser Judith Basin Times (Geyser, Mont.) 1911-1920, January 16, 1913, Image 7

ss - PROLOGUE. David Jenison, a young Virginian, bunted as a fugitive, seeks refuge un- der a circus tent. Ile is found asleep by GrineIdi, the clown, otherwise Joey Noakes. In the dressing tent Grineldi recognizes him as the \boy murderer,\ for whose capture $500 reward is of- fered. Braddock, in spite of the pro- tests of his wife and daughter, who are Impressed by David's declaration of innocence, roughly demands that the boy be surrendered to the authorities. Braddock changes his mind when Da- vid produces $3,000, an inheritance from his father, of which he offers Braddock the amount of the reward if permitted to remain. He becomes a clown to evade his pursuers. Colonel Bob Grand, a race track gambler, who has Braddock in his grasp financially, appears at the circus and is attentive to Mrs. Braddock, much to her disgust. Grine(di recites to his daughter. Ruby. and David the story of Bra(idock's changed character since under tile in- fluence of Bob Grand, also telling of how Mrs. Braddock fell in love with and married her present husband. he- ing disinherited by her father. Brad- dock orders David not to talk with his wife and daughter, but through the compassion of some of the circus troupe he is led into a meeting with Christine, to whom he relates his story. He men- tions how his disgraced uncle returned after the war and offered proofs of his Innocence to David's grandfather and how this uncle, together with Isaac, a negro lawyer, forged a will and slew David's grandfather to cover up the deed, circumstances, together with his uncle's accusation, making it nppear that David was the murderer. David helps a hunchback follower of the show in a street fight and Wins the thanks of the cripple's big brother, Dick Croak, a pickpocket. The ungrate- ful hunchback, jealous of David's at- tentions to Christine, informs on him, but the police are misled by Dick Cronk, who quickly disguises in Da- vid's clown costume. Dick Cronk re- turns from a secret visit to Richmond after having frightened David's uncle Into the belief that he. Dick, knew the uncle to be the murderer, pretending that Isaac had revealed the fact to him the night of the murder. The uncle is fatally wounded in an altercation with /tome and writes n deathbed confes- sion completely exonerating David. The circus folk are jubilant. mid Da- vid plans to go home. Christine hiss...4 him goodby. Colonel Grand shows his hand, and Braddock finds himself no longer master of the show. Ile shame- lessly blames his wife for his troubles and unlawfully sells her interest in the show to Grand. Mrs. Braddock and Christine secretly depart for parts un- known. The former leaves a note that In five years David may again ask for Christine's hand if he still cares for her. Five years later David meets Colonel Grand's ;laugher at a party and hears tidings of the praddocks. Dick Cronk appears unexpectedly at Jelli- son hall. and David for the first time learns that lir:1111104.k had been put in jail by Grand lie has served his sen- tence and is t hrtalt ening to kill the colo- s s i. Druid, leirrying to New York. meets Braddock in the home of Joey Noakes, now a city flat dweller. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY. The Return of Christine. I !I AT this eadaverons, ',tideless individual '4•411I111 1111C4. illl V' ill'ell ihe ViliIILlOri011s siii)WIII:Ill Wil5 :I iMOSt ilIV011eei VII till.. s1N'ell. I guess you've changed about As much as I have.\ said itraddork. reeding the other's Iliimelits. Ilt• ut- tered a bitter Isegli as Iii- turned to tie t ig ii elms- no to the table witli smite - thing of tile assuranee Of old. \I hope I've changed as mush for tho better as pm, have. Brailileigs\ said David, and he meant it. Braddock whirlisl to glare at him in wonder. lie W:15 Sill'Ill for a moment. Sleet he Ming himself into the 4-11;tir, his jaws settinz themselves iirnil - , no trace or ihi. sar,asii- smile remaining. 'I g111.55 y011 ha vv. I 1 , :t vitt. - he said shortly. \You're not what you WIT/. Whell pm joined us live years a gq P. - A sneer came to his lips. \What a hielt nod nilohly chap poets' come to lie. No wonder you wun't shahe hands with a jail bird.\ \Stop talking, Toni Itrat'sloies\ said 1 ( 1 1 11 Y, a gleam iit anxiety in 1101* eyes. \Here's what's left 'if the lamb, and here's\ - • - Wait a minute. Milos\ said lie. With hi : ellielvs on Ills ease \f lls‘ fable awl his chin iii his broad. siatiwy hands he leaned ferward and spoke again to David. \I've been 011 1 three 11 - eelis. I wits till there for twf) ye,irs and a half. l'ul just telling you this se's you'll know ii by I've chatigeti. The 11111.-h) 'S all out of nie. There never V. di be any more Inside of me. do yeti understand that? Ten years ago I W/i5 a 111/111—watml 1, .1 (fey ? i was a dog when you knew me, Jenison. The Rose In the Rin By GEORGE BARR M'CUTCHEON Copyright 1910 by Dodd, Mead Co. tel Now, I'm a man again. See these bands? Well, they've been doing hon- est work, even if it Was in a couvict barrel factory. I'm ten times strong- er than I was before. There isn't a soft muscle in my body. What you miss is the fat—the whisky fat. I'm gray headed, but who weuldn't But that is not what I'm trying to get at. I saw Dick Croitk this morning. I don't know how he found MI'. Ile told me you :were up here to lake a hand In My affairs. What I want to know, right here, Jettison, is . this: 11 7 here is your friend Bob Grand, and where is she?\ \You are very much mistaken. Brad- dock, if you consider me the friend of Colonel Grand. I hate him quite as bitterly as you do. I\— \Oh no. you . don't,\ snapped the oth- er. \No one in all this world, from its very beginning, has ever hated as I hate.\ Ile fell to eating ravenously. The others sat back, stiff and um -limier - table, welshing him. His smikell but powerful jaws crunched the food with some of the ferocity of it beast. It eitme forcefully to the minds of the two men that they were looking upon a men whose great sinews were of steel, who could have crushed either of them in the long, hard arms that stretched forth to seize the food Ruby had placed before him. They were slowly erniting to realize the bent of this man's mind dining its savage de- N6.•1111IvIlt ill prison. He had slaved to a purpose. The same thought. grew in the mind of each observer . . 1Vhat chance would Robert Grand have in the naked bands of his enemy? Joey was the first to broach the sub- ject. \Brad he said soothingly, \you want to thiek twice before you do any- thing desperate.\ Braddock gave an ugly laugh as lie jabbed a fork Into a piece of meat. \Joey he said. \I've already thought ten thousand times.\ \What do you Intend to do?\ asked David. \I'm going to get square with Bob Grand,\ said he very quietly. \I'm not going to be rash about it. I'm going to take my time and be sure. Don't look so seared, Ruby. I'm not going to hurt her. I guess I've hurt lien - enough already. She's living as she'd ought to live fuel so is --so is Christine. ! I'm not going to begrudge them any- thing. But I'm going to have a talk with her.\ Ilis manner was ugly. \I'm going to ask her two questions. She'll tell me the truth, I know. That's all I ask.\ \She has always hated Bob Grand.\ cried Ruby, \if that's what you mean.\ \That's what I mean. But I'm going to ask her just how much he hits pestered her since—well. since that Hine with the show. l'in going to ask her if she killiws what I did to her in tloi sale of my interest. I'm going to !hid out if hP told hen\ \Ilrodolock you must listen to rea- sou!\ cried David. \I'll tell you what I came here for today. Jellison.\ said Braddoch levelly. \Dii•k says you're still crazy about my --about I'M - Wine. lie swears you haven't seen iiei iii live years—some kind of a promise my wife made, he said. I in to ask you this question: Will it make any difference in your in- tentions regarding her if I—if her fa- ther should happen to end his life on the rtentTohl't• I don't say feelings, mind ytiti-1 said intentiims. I mean it. Would you still want her if—if it turned out that way?\ Da rid looked helldessly from Joey to It, it and then at the set, emotionless flt .a. if the Iluestioner. \Braddock. I ran tell you this from my soul: Nothing you nlaS do will niter my feelings or my Intentions. Christine is in tilt way responsible for your transgressions. I am only sorry that she lias such a father. If she still CHIPS for me I shall ask her to be my wife, even though you are strung up a hundred times. Bet this is beside the question. You shoeld think of her hapidness. her peace of mind. All her life she will have to think of you as a—a—well, I won't say it. You\— \I'll say ft for you,\ Interrupted the gray faced listener; \as a gallows bird ---as scaffold fruit.\ \You better a thousand times shoot yourself than to brine Ihat blikk shadow into her life.\ said David. -Yen can stop me. I suppose. by har- ing me locked up, bet yeti can't keep me there forever. get nut some time. I don't say I'm going to $lelot Bob Grand. I went you all to hear witness to this statement. Whatever It /0 him will be with these two hands. Ile diiin't use weatains on me an d Um tint gni 11g it1 11MC . 4.111 on him.\ picked lilt ilk Nit miii, with no word . histhanks to Ruby, 110 word of appreeialion to David, no word of gratitude to ,lee), be strode out into the hall. through the door end down t t . e .u s e t e ( p a s n . 't do it today,\ said Joey in hushed tones. \The man's still out o' town.\ On 1)avld's return to the hotel he found a hastily scrawled note from Artful Dick Cronk. Ili' had remained at the Noakes' until to dis- cussing the sinister attitude of Thom- as Brathitick. Joey had stubbornly inalittaiinal that it was worse than useless to 11:1Ve the man locked tip. It would merely delay the cournimmatioo of his puriNete. Jellison at last came Ii) his WIly of thinking, although not witliont a twinge of misgiving. It was his (Irma opinion that Braddock had in no way reformed. Diek's hide !mire the disturbing news that Colimel Grand had returned to town and that Mrs. Braddock was ex- pected the following day. Ernie had obtained this inforumthin through the friendly Port man SITV3111t, Will), to quote Dick. affeeted the linnehback's itociety. IN.1•31 Use believed that the \touching of a hump would bring good hick.\ Old ,5h m'. Portman, it was gh - en out, was on his way to his slimmer place In tile Adironiliteks. Naturally he wonld he accompanied liy his daughter and Christine. They were due to arrive at 4 o'clock and expected to remain in town for ten days. David spent a miserable night, He was obsessed by the fear that Brad- dock would seek out Gram: that very night. The next day he took Joey am! Ruby to lunelietal III Delmonico's. All through the meal lie was busy eictur- ing to himself the girl who WIIS whirl- ing northward. nearer and Itearer to him with each minute of time. She would be tall and slender and shapely. His mind's eye traveled backward. Her hair would he brown. But even as he constructed her to please his eager imagination he quailed liefore the specter of doubt, Was the hear' of the girl of fifteen unchanged in the WOMIIII of twenty? He caught tile ferry soon after lunch- eon anti Was Ilt Mt. station tel the oth- er side of the river long before the train was tine. There his - ed'yers rested on a squat, MISSMIpen figure. Ernie presense was disquieting in more than tine sense. Dick had Said I hat Itraiblock was \hanging rounds with his brother. David searchea the sews:vine; thr ..g for a glimpse of the drah. sinister figure of Christine's fa- ther, all the Milne eMISCIMIS that Ernie Cronk's baleful gaze was upon hini. Ile considered l.rieflv and then decided to consult the cripple. As lie made his way over to him he noted that Ernie was flashily dreseeti, al- most to the of grotesqueness. \Hello. Ernie!\ said David. Ernie's arms were folded across his breast. As he gave no sign of unfolding them 1 did not proffer his hand. \You don't have to speak to me if you don't want to,\ muttered Ernie, his eyes snapping. \Where is Braddock?\ asked the oth- er imperturbably. - We are trying to keep him from hurting Christine.\ sa SI Da vid. \He ain't going to do that.\ said Ernie quickly. \Ile's f ter 1; re nit.\ \Just the same, we are afraid. Is he here?\ \No; he's asleep at my place, if that'll do you any good. I'm not going to turn against her father, which is more than the rest of you can say. You 11111 it'll her, if you want to, that I'm still his friend.\ It was plain to he seen that lie was adopting this piti- ful policy as a means of gaining the attention of the otherwise unap- proachable Christine. \lie was tip all night—looking!\ \For Grand?\ \/ didn't ask.\ leered the hunchback. Suddenly his eyes flew Wide open. He was staring past Jenison. David turned. Not twesity feet away stood Colottel G1111141 twirling a light walking stiek and surveying the throng with disinterested eyes. He had seen and Ignored Ernie. but had failed to recognize the young men whose back was toward him. Grand's presence in the station could have bet one meaning. A great Wall' of re- vulsion swept through the Virginian. His lips were dry. lie moistened them. Ernie, observing flue movement, eoncluded that he wits muttering some- thing ht \Say it to his -face, why don't you?\ he recommended sareastically. Is -fore David (amid interpose the himilibark called out to Colonel Grand. 'Fie' lat- ter turned quickly. For a moment lie stared intently at tin- face of the tall young man. Suddenly light broke in upon hlin. \Why. It's Jenison!\ he exclaimed and advalWell, itmi amiable smile on his Rios. Da yid ignored the extended Isnot Graed seemed to have croun it'( older, nor Wills he less reiiiilsive to tool.. 1111011. AS or ohi, hi. was eari•to:ty, twee immaculately. dressed. Ernie Cronk moved away. They might have heard him chuckling softly to himself. \Let me see. It's five years, istil it?\ went on the colonel suavely. -You've changed considerably.\ \Titus has not affected you, colonel,\ retorted David. \So they tell me,\ said the other. \Are you waiting to meet sotne one?\ \Yes said David, and twilling more. The colonel twirled his stick. \My daughter Is arriving by the 4:20,\ he announced. \Your daughter is coming?\ asked David. The note of eagerness and re- lief in his voice caused the other's eyes to narrow suddenly. \You've met her, I believe,\ he said studying David's face. \Once—at the Springs.\ \She's coming rather unexpectedly to make me /Ill extentltal visit. I should deem it quite an honor, David, if you would give us the pleasure of your complier some evening for dinner\— \My stay here is to be very brief, Colonel Grand, and my time is entirely taken up,\ said David coldly. \I'm sorry,\ said the colonel, shrug- ging his shoulders in self commisera- tion. \I met your wife also at the Springs,\ said Leivid. 'flue colonel frowned slightly. \You /Ire doubtless it ware that my wife and I are Ho longer living together,\ he .51114, his lips straightening. \I have heard something to that ef- fect,\ said David easily. so easlly that the other could not utistalse the Its soloist' of the remark. Grand ilushel. \I am happy to say, young limn, that my train is pulling in. I must, therefore, deny myself the Pleasure of conversing with you any longer. flood day, sir.\ He did not bow as he turned away. David fixed his eager gaze on tite throng pouring into the waiting room. Pirs1, he saw Ilolwrta (;rand as she cattle rushilig up to her father. the was struck by the swift change that . Callie over the eolonel's face, who stared in amazement over the shoulder, even as he erubraved her. Mary Braddock 11111wonclual, appar- ently unetnischnis of the presence of either of her old associates. She walked beside a decrepit old gentleman whom David at once surudsed to be Albert Portman. A maid aud a male attend- ant followed close behind. Christine was not in sight. Mrs. Braddock saw Grand when not more than half a dozen paces separat- ed them. She almost stopped in her tracks. David detected the look of sur- prise and dismay iti her face. Site did not see David Jellison, al- though lie might have touched lier by moving two steps forward. 'rime had made few changes in her appearance. Iler face was softer, gen- tler If possible; her carriage Was as erect and as proud as ever. Christine was sure to be not far be- hind her mother. He saw her at last, a laggard at the end of the hurrying procession. She passed close by him. He stood motiouless, seeing no one else. thinking of no one but this slim. adorable girl who had no eyes for him. At her side strode It tall, good loilking fellow whese manner toward her could be mistaken fits not short of 114,101*:10011. She was smiling brightly, even rap- turously tip into the eyes of this eager swain. In another Instant they welt' iost in the crowd that rushed to the ferry. She was all that his fondest dreams, 1111 that his fairest prophecica had promised nay, sills surpassed them. Ha Saw Has at Last. The pure, girlish face—the one of the deep, earnest eyes and tender lips—had been toned and perfected and rechls- eled by the magic hand of time. She was teller by several inches; a lissome creature who moved with the sureness and grace of an almost exalted sym- Metry. What could It matter to him that she wits coveted by all the men who knew her? He rejoiced in the fact that they were at her feet. It was left for him to look down upon them in the end and smile with all the arrogance of triumphant possession. Even as he exulted, a dissolving ele- ment was flung upon the crystal in which he saw his own gloritleation. Ernie Crook was standing beside him. \That's the fellow.\ he Wils Sayilnr, his voter' cracking lioaraely. \He's tile one she's in love with.\ \You mean—she's in love with hira?\ Davhl demanded. — rhat's Bert's\ Stanfield. He's a great swell. lie was here to meet her. 1 saw him. It's- it's no leas David. No one else has got a show.\ His in- clusion of I oavid in his own misfor- tune, though by inference. would MVP f111/1/5ing at another time. Some- how, at this moment, it struck David Ii tragic. Was it possibte that he was to (hid himself in \;a me boat with this unhappy, uncouth worshiper? \I—I have hessl of him.\ he said, a sudden chili creeping hit() his veins. \Did she—did sit\ speak to tam?\ asked Ernie. The hard look was Neep- Lug back into his eyes. \She didn't see me,\ muttered David. \She spoke to tile. She always does,\ said Ernie, twisting his lingers. \But he went on, almost in a wail, \It's be- cause she—silo Pities me!\ David's heart W118 touched. He started off, followed by Ids unchosen comrade, and caught the boat almost as it cast off in the slip. Mrs. Braddoek and (7hristine were far forwent. They were eliatting gay- ly with the Wend Mr. Stantioild. Old Mr. Portman sat against tile deck house. David allowed his fancy full play. Ills hopes rebounded, his confidence revived By the time the ferryboat was hieked In the Manhattan slip he was Imoyent with the hope and resolu- tion of unconquered youth. Ile would win her away from them all. Its hastened toward one of the exits, Intent on securing a cab. He had made up his mind not to accost them; Ile would not prtssent himself unexpected- ly at a time and place when embarrass- ment to them might be the result. Mrs. Braddoek was at the counter of the telegraph otlice near ose of the street doers. He did not see her until he wits almost upon her. She was nlone and engaged in writing out a telegram. Ills plena were altered in an instant. A moment litter he was at her side, his face flushed and eager. For many seconds she stared won- deringly into hls smiling eyes. Before uttering a word she glanced at the mes- sage she bind finished and was about to hand it to the clerk; then her gaze re- turned to his face. \David Jettison,\ she said, and there was something like awe in her voice, \is It really you? How strange—how very strange!\ \I'm not a ghost,\ he cried. \You look at me ea If I had crept out of my grave.\ She looked again at the 'telegram. \Why. David,\ she began falteringly. Then her tune cleared. A glad smile broke over it, and both her hands were extended. \It really Is you? Yea, you are flesh anti blood! You dear, dear David: I am 541 glad to see you. How does it happen that you are here? Where do you come from. and\— She went on with the eagernems of a child, asking more questions than he could remember, much less answer. \And how wonderfully you have grown up!\ \I have seen Christine.\ he said eagerly. \She is perfeetion—she is marvelous.\ \Seen her! Where? But we cannot talk here. 'We must have hours and hours all by ourselves. Come to my father's house tonight. We are living with him. you know.\ \I am here solely to remind you that the five years are ended, Mrs. Brad- dock. alahomet has come to the moun- tain, you see.\ I or face clouded. She glanced quickly through the window. His gaze followed hers. Christine and young Stanfield were driving away together In a hanaorn. lie rend her thoughts. \I'll take my chances, - he remarked confidently. \I know that she has not forgotten. David,\ she said after a moment of deliberation, \but—well I will be frank with you. She has suddenly shot past Ill)' comprehension. It is the privilege of a girl to change her mind, you know, when she changes the length of her frocks.\ \You haven't changed, have you?\ he asked bluntly. She stared. \I?\ \I mean you nre nutihl my champion?\ \Of course,\ she replied readily. \I hope you may win, David. But you must win for yourself. Do not look to me for help. She must decide for her- self.\ He did not refer to the young man who had taken her away in the cab. Mrs. Braddock noted this and was not slow to divine the well bred restraint that lay behind the omission. \That was young Stnnfield,\ she ob- served., \He is delightful. My father Is devoted to hint.\ David smiled. \I hope to have the pleasure of meeting him soon.\ \You may meet tonight.\ If she expected to see a trace of an- noyance in his face she was disappoint- ed. Ile gracefully confessed his inter- est in the prospective meeting. \I shall be more than delighted to come,\ he said. \And I am glad he will be there to engage Christine's at- tention while I devote myself to you, Mrs. Braddock.\ \You nice boy!\ She extended her hand. \I must not keep my father waiting out there. You don't know how glad I am that you are here, David.\ An expression of utter loathing came into her deep eyes. Colonel Grand was standing at the door through which she would have to pass. \Confound him!\ involuntarily fell from David's lips. \If he dares to address me\ ---she be- gan, her face going white. \David I have not seen that man since the day I left the show. Why is he here today? Is it to annoy—to torment me in\— \lie won't do that,\ announced David During their talk she had absently folded the telegram. He observed it in her hand and said: sThe telegram— don't forget that, Mrs. Braddock\ With a diverted smile for the waiting clerk she said, \I shall not send it, aft- er all.\ Thrusting the crumpled bit of paper into David's hand, her eyes steadfastly held against the impulse to look at the Fattish . itt the doorway, she said in it half whisper: 'Shake it. David and COMP tonight.\ Ile stood there with his het in kis band as the carrlege drove off. Sud- denly a light broke in upon his under- standing. Ile spread tOt the SIII/Iii Sheet und read: The nye years have parsed. I redeem my promise. You are not obliged to loam very wise thing you see him.\ yours, however. LTG be continued.), ,1 dm. It was signed \Mary Braddock.\ Colonel Grand was smiling sardoni- cally. \I shall depend on you, David, to bring my husband here to see me. Search for him until you find him.\ The white faced, distressed woman said this to David Jettison a few hours later in the postman library. Stan. field's married sister had taken Chris- tine off to a concert. Mrs. Braddock, In a spirit of whimsicality, forbore mentioning the appearance of David to the girl, planning to surprise her when she returned. If David was disap- pointed at not finding her, he went to considerable pains to hide the fact from the mother. Christine's absence was providential after all. He had ugly news for Mrs. Braddock. He had gone at once to his room in the hotel after leaving Mrs. Braddock at the ferry, Dick Cronk was there ahead of him. A skeleton key had pro- vided the means of admission. Dick's news created great unrest In David's breast. Braddock, It appeared, had gone early in the afternoon to the apartment hotel in which Grand lived. The colonel was not about the place. Dick, on missing the ex -convict, bad 'nulled at once to Grand's hotel, find- ing ills man there seated In the small lobby, a sinister example of respecta- bility. waiting patiently for the return of his enemy. The self appointed guardian coaxed him away from the place, conducting him to the cheap, ill favored thieves' lodging house. where he had taken a single room for temporary occupancy. Dick informed David: ... He's set on doing something nasty, kid, that's all there Is to it. He won't be turned aside. Those years in the Pen have put something into his backbone that never was there before. Maybe Mrs. Braddock can talk him out of it, but I dunno. She always had influence over him, btit that Was before he took to getting tight. It's different now. If we can't do anything else we'll have to Warn Grand, that's all. I hate to do it, but I guess It's the only way left.\ For the first time in their acquain- tance David saw Dick lose control of himself. \David I hate the sight o' that man.\ Before leaving Dick announced that be was eager to start west to connect with some circus, complaining of the unprofitable idleness that had been forced upon him. He expressed the confident hope that Braddock might be persuaded to leave with him. \I can't afford to be Malin' around New York this season of the year,\ he reflected. \It's expensive the way Ernie and me are living nowadays. I got to get out and round up the rubes.\ Jenison once more impulsively of- fered to provide a refuge and employ- ment for life on his plantation for the delectable scalawag, but Dick laughed at him in fine scorn. He departed a few minutes later, sauntering down the ball with a complacency that fair- ly scoffed at house detectives and their Ilk. David went to the Portman home in a state of suppressed eagerness and anxiety. He expected to see Chris- tine. What would be her attitude to- ward him? What had the five years and new environment done for her? Eager as he was to discover the state of her feelings he recognized, however, the more pressing matters that were to be considered. The peace and welfare of the girl herself demanded his drat thoughts, his most devoted efforts.' Tragedy stalked does beside her. EleJ lost no time, therefore, in apprising Mary Braddock of the true state of af- fairs. She sat before him, a great dread in her dark eyes, the pallor of helplessness on her cheek, listening to the direful tale he told. He spared her not the details, nor softened the stub- born facts. As clearly as possible he drew for her the picture of Thomas Braddock as he had seen him. He re- peated faithfully all that Dick Cronk and the Noakeses bad told him, neg- lecting no particular in the known history of her husband dace the old circus daye. She interrupted him once, to ask him to tell her again how Braddock looked and bow he had acted. A.s he repeated the description her perplexed, even doubting, expression caused him to hesitate, but she shook her head as if putting something out of her mind and signified that he was to proceed. I one w e ould not have known him,\ he concluded. H h s a i d nc no e \ t — touched whisky, yen say \Not in three years. It has wrought an unbelievable change in him.\ \I knew him, David, before he drank at all,\ she said staring past him. \Perhaps the change would not be so great to me.\ \He has aged many years. Thera are hard, desperate lines in his face.. You would see a change, I am afraid,. Mrs. Braddock.\ She was silent for a moment. \Go on, David,\ she said, suddenly Passing her hand before her eyes In a move- ment as expressive as It was Involun- tary. \Dick Cronk has a certain amount of influence over him, you say.\ \It will not last. When Colonel Grand hears that he is back in town his first step will be to have him thrown into jail on one pretext or an- other. Braddock realizes this. He has 11111dP 111) his mind to strike first. I think he believes in you. Mrs. Brad- doe—in fact, I am sure he does. I know he loves Christine. But he hates Colo- nel Grand even more than he loves her or --yon. Ile\— \Oh he does not love me. David. You need not hesitate,\ she said 411 1s 1 . 1 i113- have already said, he goys Dick a half promise that he would try to see yon. He has two qiiestions he intends to ask, I believe. I think, Mrs. Braddock, you will be doing a