Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 217, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1911 — In a Dead Town [ARTICLE]

In a Dead Town

By MARTHA McGULLOCH WILLIAMS

(Copyright, taxi, by Associated Literary Press.)

"What’s doing?” Clay asked, as be stepped from the dining room out on the hotel piaua. Lights were winking up and down the town’s hilly street as glow worms were winking In the gardens round about A little wind, blowing southerly, brought the freshness of the river, and the scent of ploughed earth- from the cornfields In the bottoms beyond. Clay had fed well, therefore his mood was complacent Not so Mason, who stood in wait for him. Discontent lined his face even snore than common. “Nothing’s doing. .You can bet on that here always, and anyhow,” Mason answered sourly, “Deadest town this aide the planets—that’s the size of Ashmore —’’ “Yet—you stick to ft!” Clay interrupted. Mason laughed a hard laugh. ”1 hare to stand what amounts to death In life, because another man persists In living after he Is dead,” he said very low. “Haven't they told you about Grandad? Just a breathing tump he is. Ninety-five If he’s a day —he won’t let us see the record. Almost blind, deaf as a post, bedfapt now for seven years—yet with the appetite of a coal heaver! keeps him alive, the doctors say—that and his grip—on life and his money—” “O! I begin to understand!” Clay interjected. Mason ran on eagerly: “I- shouldn’t grudge him life —to a hundred and far beyond It —If he had any sort of consideration for anybody but himself. Keeps me tied to his chalrarm virtually. This Is the first time I’ve been out except to go to the postoffice and the bank, In a month. And 1 had to lie to get out now. Told him there was a chance‘of getting big interest of gilt-edged short-time loan — It was the first thing I could think of, after 1 got your note.” *T shouldn’t have written —not If Td known. This Is my first time here,” Clay muttered confusedly. Mason stopped him with an eager gesture. “Do you gruHge water to a man dying of thirst?” he asked. “Another lie will square me—l’ve only to nay, the collateral was fishy, and Grandad will pat me on the back. Meantime, let’s be moving. I want to Bhow you—say! you’ll help In a good deed?" “Unless there’s a girl In it,” Clay answered chuckling. “A petticoat always scares me stiff.” “vVe know you’re lying. Jack,” Mason flung back. They were going with long strides up the main street. At the third corner Mason turned sharply about, saytag, “Wait, I mustn’t startle Elsie.” Next breath Clay heard him whistle softly In a thick shrubbery just Inslde a ragged garden. There was no answering sound, but In half a minute, Mason was back, with a sUm black-clad shape beside him.

•*Oet your car—l know It ia In the •arage —never mind now —and meet ub a', block trom here,’’ Mason said breathlessly. "You're going to run nway with us across the state line—and be best man at our wedding. It’s the only chance for us —you’re sate and discreet —If anybody else knew It would ruin us." •Tell me how? I go Into nothing blindfold,” Clay said almost stubbornly, In Mason’s hushed key. Mason flung up his hand crying -fretfully: “Man don’t potter! Every minute counts. We must be married, and back In place long before midnight—and there’s a run of twenty miles each way.” “What’s the use of running?” Clay persisted doggedly. Mason clutched him feverishly. “To save the fortune I’m slaving in prison for," he said. “Grandad means to leave It In his will that I am to marry the girl he has chosen for me. Obviously, If 1 turn out to> be already married to somebody else, that provision is void, without hurting the will otherwise." “I see! Meet you in two minutes," Clay said, running away. But as be turned the next corner he slacked to * slow walk, asking himself if he were not doing wrong. An hour or so later, be had no such doubt male's radiant eyes, her smiling mouth, reassured him. She was worth a lot of risk. Clay decided. He felt a chivalrous pity for her, and was ready to go all lengths to help her. Mason had told him briefly their love story—lt was a rustic Montague and Capulet affair—her people the Bnslys, had been at odds with the Masons time out of mind. Then Grandad had all | miser's Instinctive hatred of unsuccess for them. Their fortunes had fallen until Elsie went out sewing—by an Irony of rate she was even then making line white lacy things, of the very newest shapes and patterns, for 'Flora McLeod, the girl Grandad approved. *■ ' '

No doubt be would have Insisted upon the marriage, ssoept for his determination to keep his grandson beside him. flora came dutifully ones a week to call on him—though he could neither eee nor hear her. he -knew the feel of her bend, and ate with enormous relish the good thing* •he fetched him. “Lucky, me bo r —that's what you are.” be mumbled toothlessly as he gulped the dainties. “Beauty fades—but cooking stays by e woman to the

Clay came home at almost reckless speed, deposited bride and groom In their several places, and tried to sleep afterward. But the effort was vain. He had a sense of something Impending, a feeling that he had incurred a risk, and needlessly. To rid himself of It he got up about three o’clock, dressed, and went -outside, resolved to walk until daylight He had got about ton blocks away, when a quick light-flash made him turn about. There was not a cloud—the stars burned white In a velvetpurple sky. But against It to southward, he saw a mounting spiral of smoke, tinged ominously with red underneath. He turned and ran toward It shouting aloud as he ran. But strange to the place, he came roundaboutly to the fire—barely In time to see a haunting sight. A big old mansion, half ruinous, was spouting flame from half Its lower windows—the Inside must be a furnace, the stairs Impassable. The gratings set In the windows were red hot and beginning .to bend —the heavy doors still resisted, but were blistering outside. And at an upper front window, also barred, though but lightly, Mason stood, trying vainly to wrench away the bars. Clay shouted at him. He nodded, but kept on struggling. With a superhuman effort he pulled away Half the grating, turned and came back again with something helpless, shapeless, limp within his arms.

Help was coming—men and ladders. Before the ladders could be set, the men got up them; flame-tinged smoke wrapped the figures at the window. As Clay reached Ms arms for Mason's helpless burden there lame a blast as of the pit, almost full in his face. He reeled away from It, by a miracle keeping hold, and dragging out the old wreck of a man. Eager hands relieved him —he called' to Mason —but there was no answer! Fire had done Its work, taken its toll. Grandad never knew. He died before sunrise. Men said, even In the presence of death, he had sacrificed his grandson to his avarice. It was his fear for his hoarded which made him insist upon the grating. Except for It. both might have been saved. “I hate to speak 1U of the old. specially after they're dead,” said Landlord Ware. <- “But I reckon old George -Mason would be right down glad if he knew he had taken his money and his grandson with him.” Clay remained for the reading ofl the will —that same sense of responsibility clung to him. When he heard the dry-aa-dust document he was glad he had not shaken off his hauntings. For with much verbiage, but plain beyond peradventure, the fortune was left to young George Mason, with the hope, not the condition, that he marry Flora McLeod, and the provision that should he die, childless and Intestate, his heir should be his lawful wife. Falling a wife, the next of kin came In.

There were a dozen of them, at least, outwardly grief-stricken, yet with eager expectant eyes. Clay smiled grimly as he rose to face them, and say: •Then send for Mrs. Elsie Ensly Mason. I witnessed the marriage, and have the certificate. Intrusted me for. safe keeping. To this day Ashmore has never bad such another sensation. Not even when three years afterward Walter Clay, Esquire, was very quietly married to the young Mrs. Mason. People thought It odd they did not settle down in Ashmore —only a little of the money would make the old Mason place the finest In town. The house had burned to the ground to be sure, but tbe situation was unrivaled. Mr. and Mrs. day did not deny that—yet neither wanted to live there — even though they did not believe in ghosts.