EIGHT PAGES DAILY EAST OREGON! AN. PENDLETON. OREGON. WEDNESDAY. APRIL 7. 1915. PAGE SEVEN Com. WTlW, IK I, by Sow rubUotln Orpcntfea. SIXTH EPISODE rbc Siege of the House of O'Keefe. CHAPTER I. A PLATOON of th finest wheeled out of tb f ttatloa bouse od dowD Deshley street, their brati buttons gleaming In the light of tbe sunset Oppwlte the little fountain of the Cupid with tbe chipped none and In front of Tim Courky' saloon t'jr- platuon baited and saluted the bent and twisted Widow O'Keefe, standing on ber doorstep. Dad not tbe veteran Dan O'Keefe been the most popular man on tbe forcet Id all bis Uf Dan bad never mad ao arrest off bis own beat or on If be could belp It or made trouble for a broth er officer or refused to lie fur bis friends. Oat of the third story window leaned pair of gleaming gums, surrounding which was the plea ' lug, blgb cheek boned face of tbe one wbo was known solely ss Marie. Sergeant Clancy stepped orosi to convey the time of day to the Widow i Keefe. Sammy O'Keefe, fine, tall boy with a uny head, came to tbe door snd gripped the hand . . Sergeant Clancy wltb the grip or a man. Suddenly tbe red gummed young woman In th v iuduw brightened until she glistened and waved - red hand energetically, the Widow O'Keefe put enty additional wrluklea of Joyous welcome in ..er countenance, young Sammy O'Keefe straight ' did a full Inch and pinked with pleasure. Sergeant mucy and the platoon of tbe finest saluted and .iked their rough gentlest, and tbe last ray of tbe .i ting sun shot across on tbe cracked nose Cupid u.d reddened him Into life. A beautiful young girl bad come hurrying down rrout the corner, her for cap set Jauntily on ber wavy brown hair and a green tassel dangling over one ear. Sb slackened ber pace as aba cams la sight of all these friends sod breathed a sigh of relief. She wss safe here. And as If to reassure her self I he glanced back orer ber shoulder. Tbat bad become a bablt wltb ber of late. Tbe look of worry swept Instantly from ber brow as her big eye turned sbyiy up to the stalwart platoon. A friendly nod and a radiant smile for each of tbe big police men, a word of inquiry for Tat Casey's little Hig gle, a ware of the trimly gloved band to Maria In the window, a sudden dash of mischief aa aba prim ly returned tbe salute of Sergeant Clancy, a pat on the hand of Widow. O'Keefe, a touch of silvery laughter for Sammy, and she bad hurried up tba stairs. "She's the sunshine of the precinct, the darlln" declared the Widow O'Keefe. "She's a lady!" announced Sergeant Clancy wltB deep convlctlou. "I'll tell you sometbln'." The widow Inclined her head confidentially. So did Sergeant Clancy. So did Sammy. "She's hldin from some one, Ood bleaa ber!" "Oh. la sber And tbe officer of the law glanced up at tbe third story window. It was vacant "Whoever It la, they're no good." "They are not" And tbe Widow O'Keefe collect ed all her wrinkles about ber Up. "She's safe bere," asserted Sergeanf Clancy and, with a grin, jerked bis thumb over bis shoulder to ward tbe atalwart platoon. "She's In th midst of hi-r friends. (J ood evenln', Mrs. O'Keefe. Wood onln', 8ammy." He strode serosa the street "Boys," said he, "our in friend up yonder don't want to be found. Net i tier does our friend Marie." A one man the platoon glanced np at the vacant third floor window and nodded, and at tbe word of command they faced left and marched. Then, and not until then. Officer Moran and Officer Toole, tn pair In front dropped out ef th ranks and stood at attention while tbe platoon paased between them, and when th pis toon bsd turned th corner they wheeled. Bide by aid they marched Into Tim Coorky'a saloon. "Good evenln', boy. And what can 1 do for your askd Tim Courky. "A glass of water, Tim," said Moran. "Th Sim for me, Tim." ald Officer Tool. "It's a fin vnlo'," said Tim Courky, and on tba bar be set a large glasa of foaming yellow water tor Officer Moran and a (mall glasa of rich brown water for Officer Toole. Marl at that moment wis brushing th ahlnlng hair of ber beautiful young mistress, and both wr happy In that occupation. Poor, dear Ned I How June did long for blml But he must be patient, as she must They would b far, far happier when, earning her own living, sb could go to him Independently, exchanging lov for love, not lov for charity. Ned Warner at tbat moment was approaching th little cracked Cupid of the fountain, and as be cam down angling Duck alley bU mind was in a whirl of aavag fury. Gilbert Biyel Gverywhere tbot Ned or bis detective bad found a truce of June they had found a trace of Biyel Even now th scoundrel waa in this vicinity searching, as Ned wis, for June. Or waa be following to Join her? Ned Warner clinched bis Hits, and his face black ened wltb passion. And Blye? II was only a few rods away. H waa coming down diagonal Desbley street and b was tt about th asm distance from th corner of Tim Courky'a saloon as was Ned on Duck alley. Prom her third story window of th O'Keefe bnus Jun happened to gianc out In th gathering dink ah saw tba two figure steadily approaching th corner, wber they would meet nnder th light; tha aa Ned Warner deadly clutch gripped around th throat of Gilbert Bly ab wonld b abi to ne ogala their upturned facesl It waa then that Officer Moran and Officer Tool bad a pleasant avenlng to Tim Courky and strode, aid by aide, out of the door In the point of th wedge. Just a Ned Warner and Gilbert Bly ap proached th light, Ned Warner with murder tn bis beart, and Gilbert Bly all uncoiiclous of bis peril. and Officer Moras turned left, and Officer Tool turned right Has you seen a (lit wearing for cap wltb a green tassel r akd Ned Warner and Gilbert Blye almost simultaneously of Officer Moran and Officer Toole. 1 did," Officer Moran replied. "She wis bere only a few minute ago and dropped a letter In bos." "Doe ah lire down this wayr aaked Ned. "Never aw her before." Officer Moran Impressed Ned' feature on bis memory. "1 think she took an uptown car." He hurried away. Officer Tool waa not quite o quick In his mind, oceans h waa mor elaborate. He held a tbick forefinger In the deep dimple of bis chin, "A girl wltb a fur cap and a green tassel over one ear, be repeated, making tbe normal gesture for the tassel, as the black Vandyked man bad done. "Oh, yea, a girl with a green tassel over one earl Tea, there wss a girl wltb a red tassel plsyln' shin ny her this mornln', but she waa a little girl. Pat Casey' Maggie. And there waa a girl with a blue tassel down ber yesterday workln' for an orphans' benefit" All thl wsy of assembling hi mind while he studied Gilbert Bly whisker by whisker. "But the girl wltb the green tassel rather a email young lady, round like, and a pretty face, wltb a' smile V "Yesl" Blye, was all eagerness. "Well, I don't know snytblng about ber myself, but I think I saw such a girl askln' a question of Officer Morrlsey, two blocks beyond." Bly looked up the street to where, against the - yOU like pretty. things, pout you ?w bin. Officer Morrlsey stood, gaunt and stiff, handling bis tangle of dray traffic. "Thank you." And Bly (truck out for Officer Morrlsey. Tbat busy person scarcely looked tt tb man wltb th black Vandyke; Just on roll of his gray eye. "No." "OhP Mr. Bly was very much disappointed, "Tb officer below said that be bad Been such a girl talking to yon." "Tea, I remember. She asked me tb time of day, and sb headed over thla way." "Over tbla way" was at right anglea to Blye's pre vious course. By the time he reached Traffic Officer Bchmelts Patrolman O'MaUey bad carried the word to that corner from Officer Toole, so that Schmelts waa prepared for th coming of Blye, and by th time Bly got away from Schmelts th word wa all through th district "Hav you en a girl wearing a tor cap wltb a green tassel over one ear?" Gilbert Blye bad asked tbla question of fourteen policemen. Something struck him a famUlsr in tb way thla on beld a thick forefinger la tb deep dlmpl of his chin. It wa Officer Tool again. "Sure," said Officer Toole, with remarkable prompt ness. "Sb went by ber not a minute ago. Right that way." And he pointed up the hill toward Offi cer Morrlsey; then a Bly started off, panting, b beld bis side. "Oh, well. It was dull times on tb best these nights!" The dusk bad deepened Into darkness when Offi cer Moron's palm proved not broad enough to carry away the grin from under bis yellow mustache, and th grin, escaping, broadened Into a huge laugh Blye stood It wltb remarkable quietness. "It leems to me I've been furnishing a llttl amusement for the boys," he surmised, frowulng. "You bnve," laughed Mornu. "It's what In Scot land they call 'chasing the gowk.' As for the girl you mentioned," and he swung bt club happily. "1 don't suppose one of us bas ever laid eyes on ber." Blye's black eyes dwelt on Morao piercingly; then . bis susve smile came. "Hav a cigar" And be passed over one which Officer Moran kept for Christmas. Bly stopped smiling ss he walked away, and hla eye narrowed In concentrated thought He stroked hla black Vandyke wltb bis long, lean, white fingers. Tbey bad bad their Joke wltb bini, these tblck po licemen. Tbcy had made him dash madly from cor ner to corner, over many weary blocks, but without knowing that tbey were doing so they had con vinced him of one thing that Jon lived In thla vicinity and that tbey all knew of ber. De was passing tb corners aa be arrived at this uncertainty The corners were a tangled knot of street and alley Intersections wber one might angl off In almoHt any direction and go nowhere. Ned Warner at that moment was sending a score of detectives Into this neighborhood. j-gV :.- ""; " aumy v N'SY iTTw i ; l ; s , - -J 4H hi ! KVflr WITH TOMMY WAS A WHITE MUSTACHEP MAN- - rJVl V . .Tired and half famished, Blye ate hi delayed din ner la company with tb vivacious brunette Tommy Thomas and tb whit mustached, pink facd Orln Cunningham and wltb a heavy, silent, thick y lidded man wbo wor abort cropped hair on bis big, round bead. Tommy and Cunningham and Bly sat for com time together after tb big man bad left They wer evidently planning something. Finally all three went out-and atepped Into Blye' luiurlou limousine. Before tbey hid gone very far Blye, sitting by th girl, leaned toward ber and began talking to ber In low tones. By and by th tree of a smile cam to ber lips. In a tastefully furnished drawing room a kindly looking woman beld th bubbling Tommy' hand between both ber own while they talked. There were both aadness and loneliness in Mrs. VUlard is (be drew Tommy to a seat on tbe couch beside ber, but she bsd spirit, too, for sb displayed a most eager Interest in the beautiful portrait of June War ner, which presently peered np at ber from Inside tbe lid of June' little gold watch. When Tommy rejoined the men In tbe brilliantly lighted limousine the handed Bly June' watch wltb a triumphant laugh. CHAPTER II. JUNE, busy with ber own thoughts, did not notice tbe closed cab which stood at the Cor ners the next morning as she left the bouse. As she passed by, however, walking briskly op to tbe surface car. Officer Mack, wbo bad been watching that cab and tbe handsome brunette whose vivacious face bad occasionally appeared at the win dows, saw the cab start and alowly move away. Jun had stepped from her uptown car and waa crossing to Broadway when a closed csb passed ber, turned and drew op from tbe opposite direction, and a gloved band tapped on the window. Tommy Thomas, the girl to whom Gilbert Bly bad intro duced herl "Which way, pretty maldr Tommy'a glowing face protruded from tbe door of the cab. "To tbe employment office, kind lady," sb laugh ed, and June exhibited ber little addresa slip. Til take yon over," offered Tommy. w 5AWME Before' Tb tw girls langhed together a they drove away, but at the neit corner Tommy excused ber elf for a moment and ran Into a drug store to tele phone. Tommy hurried out and returned to ber place In tb csb wltb June, but Mrs. VUlard. to whom she bad phoned, remained at tb telephone and called np another number. When June walked Into tba Acme Employment burean. having chosen a new one, quite naturally, sine the old on bad sent ber to a gambling bniie, she found a new addresa ready tor ber A latly wanted a companion. Her eyes widened with pleasure as she saw the beauty of Mrs VUlard s home. It was sean-ely visi ble from tbe street, set hack of uud below a tangled profusion of shrubbery nud trees. Before tt rolled the broad, smooth Hudson. Her timidity was set entirely at rwt when In the cozy parlor Just back of tbe stiff dm wing fWm she met the kindly faced Mrs VUlard. Companion; She was not to be a communion to .this charming and sweet and yet sometimes sad lady She was to he a Trleud. a sister, s daughter. They knew that much In tbe lirst three minutes of their conversation, and tben Mrs VUlard took .liius up to a wonderful bedroom which had once been child's, upon tbe walls of which were pem-ocks and rooster and gnomes snd elves It was visiting day among the VUlard cottages and the rottagea beyoml whlcb were not VUlard cottages, and June had tb Joy one more of giving, mingled wltb tbe sorrow tbat there wa need. It was late when they arrived at the cottage of the Groggs, and as they entered the front door Mr. GroRR came up from the lower rnnd and entered the back door, fully ten feet behind bis breath H was i red faced man wltb no blend In his counte nance whatsoever Nose, ears and all, be was tbe same tint of red fiom where his neck rose out of Its ? , .- , -'' ' li1'' '"'',f' W'''' ''-'' ' ' v'. in ft I V. " Mill"- -ni ,n,,..' J- V, J) aprawllng collar to wber bis low forehead disap peared in bis sprawling yellow hair. "D'afternooa, ladle," observed Mr. Grogg cheer fully and bowed bis smile la tb direction of tb severs eyed Mrs. VUlard and the abocked June. "Brought yon a little present Lous," and, with aa much extravagant Importance ss if this bad been the rajab'a Jewel, be bestowed on Mrs. Grogg a geranium in a papier macb pot Mrs. Grogg was a thin woman, chiefly distin guished for drooplness and bollowneea as viewed from almost any direction. "AT th woman's vole concealed a tremor "can we pay Mrs. VUlard anything on tbe rent today T "Ain't yon got any money?" "Why, Al. yon didn't give me any money." Tb man searched unsteadily through all his pock ets. He finally discovered a half dollar and a dime, "Never mind," broke In tbe aoft voice of Mrs. VU lard aa ahe saw tears In tbe eye of Mrs. Grogg. Mrs. VUlard, wbo bad com to know life In many sordid phase, took June away. "Have you an evening gown, June, dear?" asked Mrs. VUlard In a matter of fact sort of way and eying June solicitously ss she made this abrupt change In their subject of thought "Tea," drawled June. "I'U get tt tomorrow." "We are to have guests this evening." And Mrs. VUlard studied June's height snd figure wltb a calculating eye. "1 have a new little dinner dress which I am sure you can wear charmingly. loo are to be my family, my dear," sb rattled on to cover June' embarrassed half protests. "I want you everywhere wltb me. We shall have to do some shopping, yon and I, one of these days, loo Uke pretty things, don't you V "Why, of course," laugbed June. On the corner of Vender street and Duck alley was Ned, Interviewing a skinny legged girl, who sniffled continuously, both while sb was pulling np ber stockings and while she was not In ber cbeek f was a wad of gum, and In ber eye was all tbe live ly expression found In tbe eye of a dead fish. Ned Warner dredged for Information for two sordid minute and went away, and Officer Tierman walk ed straight over to tbe stocking puller. "What did tbat guy wantr he demanded. "ITS A RMI EVEHIN "H wa astln' about a girl" "This party described tbe girl, dldnt heT "Un-buun sawed off blond. Say, what's It to you?" And she sniffled swsy. Officer Tierman walked back to bis post with a troubled brow, and he shook bis long, narrow bead aa be looked after tbe Industrious Ned Warner. CHAPTER III. J CNB sprang suddenly from ber little bench overlooking the river. Mrs, Gropg and her Intolerable position persisted In jumping into June's mind and staging there. The guests bad not yet arrived The impulsive girl hurried dowti and out of the back door, across tbe beautiful rear porch and down the winding and twisting little steps toward the VUlard cottages Mrs Grogg was sitting In the kitchen tu stony silence hen June arrived there, a silence from which weeping bad long since passed. "Sit down." And .Mrs. Grog:; irave up th un broken chair "Al s sleeping It off." "1 Just ran in." observed the grt. "Ves Tell Mrs VUlard that it Al gets home with any money tomorrow I'll save ber out what I can" "Oh, I didn't come about the rentr June returned hastily. "I Just ran In to see If there was anything 1 can do." "No, there's nothing can be don. Al drank be fore 1 married him and be drinks yet" June's eyes contracted. "Why does be have his own way about It T "Because he's my husband. I'm scared of Al when he'a drunk " "And you re not afraid of him when he' sober?" "Well, no Tbcte don't seem to be anything par ticular about Al to be scared of." The horror of drunkenness that was Itt "I wouldn't be afraid of him.'" June suddenly popied out Tb woman looked at ber wltb vfiCSsSA 7t Tbe door movsd, and Al Gregg appeased k 1 doorway la hi shirt sleeves, coOsrUiaa, kit 14 to use led. "What yon get for enpperr b growl! "Why. Al-I-I didn't tblnk you'd want aaj-" ft tb woman' role wa trembling. "On, you didn't think sol WsU. I want eema aw perl" "Why. Al. I ain't got any money." "Well, why ain't you? Com berr Hi M went up. "AIT' A wall of terror wa la th vole. June stepped swiftly from behind th stort Cad confronted tb man, ber small fist clinched, bT cheeks flaming, ber eyes biasing. 8h glared at Ma all ber contempt and all ber loathing and something . more ber superiority. The fist wblcb bad been up raised came slowly down. His shoulders drooped. He was whipped! Al Grogg's wife watched that transition In him wltb amazement the dropping of the eyes, the low ering of the fist tbe drooping of tbe shoulder. And small young woman tn a Huffy evening gown bad done this tbingl Smash! A geranium pot Just missed Al Gregg's bead and broke on tbe bedroom door. Bangl An other spraddling geranium whlcb bad split down tbe center brushed Al'a cbeek as its pot crashed past "Looky here!" Al Gross's tone wa chiefly on of surprise. Other flowerpots followed from Mrs. Grogg bands. She bad at last discovered tbat Al Grogg could be made afraid. June looked at ber a moment and then trudged np tbe hill, somewhat frightened at ber own re sponsibility In this domestic upheaval. The guetts bad arrived when she reached tbe bouse Tommy Thomas! With Tommy was a white mustached, pink faced man. Tbe runaway bride was surprised and puzzled at the appearance of Tommy In thl place, but the white mustached man occupied mor of ber thought Tbey were finishing dinner when Mrs. VUlard -was called away. Tbe white mus tached man was trying to Induce June to smoke a cigarette. June suddenly looked op and saw In the doorway between tbe portieres of beavy velours tb dark, handsome face of Gilbert Blye! ' "Tut tut Orin!" came the suave voice of tb black Vandyked man. "I won't have this Uttl runaway bride taught bad habits!" June flushed and turned with some embarrass ment to Mrs. VUlard. who foUowed Blye into tb doorway. Blye! Always Blye! He hovered about after tbey bad lounged into tbe billiard room and conserva tory, but tbe white mustached man monopolized June, Every time she tried to get away from him Tommy Thomas managed by some accident to throw them together again. June finally left tbe guest and went to her room. She had decided to go bacfr to tbe O'Keefe house of refuge. i Closer and closer had gathered tbe siege on tbe " bouse of O'Keefe! Bit by bit r.tom by atom, trace bad been picked up. Closer and closer grew the tolls until Marie longer dared stick her nose out of the window lest aome one sb&uld report ber to Ned or to June's fa ther and mother. But Ned's detectives finally got definite information. One day long, lean sllnker wltb cadaverous cheeks came up to Ned from Duck alley and looked up at tbe O'Keefe residence with solemn interest "That's the place," he said. '"Tea, It's the place." Ned Warner's voice wa bollow, but there was a. JubUaot ring to It "Go and tell Mr. Moore." Tbe lean Individual hurried away and presently came bsck on the driver seat of a limousine. Insld were tbe stern faced father and the gentle faced mother of June and June's bosom friend, tbe ebul lient Iris Blethering, and Bobble Blethering. "This Is tbe place," said stern John Moore, look ing up at tbe narrow front of tbe O'Keefe resi dence, and, stalking out he helped tbe others alight Sammy O'Keefe came to tbe door in answer to Ned's ring, and a much wrinkled face poked tteelf out of the second story window. "Does June Warner live here?" asked Ned. No. sir." Tbe bead In the second story window was Jerked In Immediately, and there was hasty shuffle oa tbe stairs leading to the third floor, sbufile mau by setting up tbe right foot first and pulling tb left one up to it Also there was a mad scrambling on the third floor, while Sammy O'Keefe in th front doorway looked tbe throng tn tbe ey wlU admirable truthfulness, and swore that there wa no Juue Warner there, no June Moore, no Jun any thing "What' the matter here. Sammy?" the Widow O'Keefe herself asked, panting considerably. "Come, search the bouse!" she proudly dared them. Some of them were for holding back, but Ned Warner was perfectly callous as to whether or ao be took any one's word or doubted It Ue meant to Dud bis wire. By the circumstance of bringing home a genr-li gourd to little Masjjle Casey, June came home around by au extremely back way and so niLssed the searchers. "Search the cellar, if you please!" mocked th Widow O'Keefe. leading the way. "Maybe you'U look tn the kindly bin! And here's the coal chutel Now come on upstairs! Here's tbe ball that yoO saw before, ami here's my son Sammy, fine young boy still; and this Is the parlor. Tbe organ there, sir. is not bollow. as you cm tell by lifting up tb lids! Open all tbe doors and see." The place was vscsnt! No oue was there, Ned Waruer, puzzled and determined. Inspected tb third floor. No results. Tbe Widow O'Keefe bad gath ered up all tb clothe and belonging and put them In a sheet and poked them Into Mr. Mci'herson' third itory window. June Wsrner tripped lightly across tb street lt herself In st tb Widow O'Keefe' front door and trotted briskly op tb stair. Sb swung round tbe curving ba ulster. "Maybe you'd Ilk to look up tb chimney, rag. pested tb Widow O'Keefe to th searchers oa tb third floor. Ned Warner walked toward the ball door. June Warner started up to tb third floorl to a comnuiD. :i ! ' I ! ? f f t SI It "I r