Show Jj L Story of the th Day ill I THE CROSS CROSS CROSS COUNTRY COUNTRY CHALLENGE CUP i As the harrier harrl r sprang high above the h hawthorn thorn hedge a. a a pistol shot rang put out among the tte clump o of ot trees away to the right right Descending he-fell he awkwardly upon the grass but being luckily very little hurt he jumped to lo his feet and looked toward the wood in amaze amaze- ment The blood was as slowly trickling from his aim alm where the bullet had I grazed it and thrusting his short I sleeve back he twisted his handkerchief around the wound to stanch the flow Danvers vera came came a voice from the other side sid of ot the he field What Wha la Is the matter Danvers waited until the second barrier bar bar- rier reached him before replying Ive been bee shot hot at and hit in the arm Jack 1 Great Scott I heard the gun but I never thought for a moment any anyone one was aiming aiming- at you Its It's a dastardly outrage Much hurt he added Merely a scratch But Harrison liars we well we'll 11 search the wood Oh here comes two of ot the other fellows The four of us will go The others can follow the hares as though nothing had hap hap- The second cond couple Were astounded when made ma-de aware of the affair Some one is anxious anxIous' to lame our captain in order to ruin the teams team's chances on Thursday said one The four of them entered the wood scanning the trees and bushes for a sign of some hidden person Im Tm afraid the fellows fellow's escaped us grumbled Harrison I wish wed we'd caught him for now he may have the chance of a further attack upon you Why what's that's that over oyer there Danvers glanced in the direction in In- In A h handkerchief he cried and raced forward to tD pick It up But Harrison having started the quicker was was the first to reach the cambric o Its initialed he ejaculated There are two letters Q G n. n Know any anyone one whose name fi fits s The other othel went vent suddenly white Give rae rne this I handkerchief will you he asked ked His companion handed It over without without with with- out a word You have recognized those Initials he said eaid Yes And I want to ask you a LaVor fa La- La vor Dont Don't tell the others of this find Leave everything to me Well its it's hard not to be allowed to make wake the most of the clue but If you really wish me t to keep the discovery quiet then I will do so Some one touched him upon the sh shoulder ulder and wheeling around he fOUnd himself face tace to face with one of ot the very men of whom he had been thinking How do Danvers excl exclaImed ex ex- ex- ex cl claimed the man inn familiarly Sorry to hear of at that accident this afternoon afternoon after after- noon Feeling fit now though I suppose suppose sup sup- pose Yes thanks replied Harry coldly And he started to walk away Half Halt a minute called the man n-man hurrying after him I should like a little conversation with you S Well what do you want Ready- Ready hough bough Its rather an an awkward subject to commence Read gh answered Shuffling from one foot to the other ether Ive a n little proposition to lo make and perhaps It could be better belter done in ill vate Out with It now or not at all Steady now please If It you will come to lo my club I can make matters clearer Harry studied a moment Lead the way then agreed he I will ill spare you a few minutes Arrived at the club placed a chair for tor Danvers Damers and then one for tor himself Its rather a pity when a man makes mates such a fool tool of himself as has done began the man watching matching the theother theother theother other n narrowly It lands him In such sucha a deuce of a mess Would you believe me If it I told you that I 1 possessed a J S I 1 check for which he has given me mein mein in payment of a certain debt and the signature at the foot of it which should be that of George Rowletts Rowlett's father is instead inStead inStead-a a very clever forgery forgery forgery for for- gery You liar cried Danvers Excuse me Danvers Youve You've only to ask Rowlett himself to satisfy satisfy- What is ls your object in telling ns- ns me methis methis methis this Now we come ome to business You have it in your power to s save ve the lad from the shame of an exposure Dont Don't try to win on Thursday For a moment Danvers was too as astounded astounded astounded as- as by this proposition to speak What shall shaH I do he murmured at length Look here Ill I'll buy the check from you What's the price If I sold it I should betray my friends said he in half-concealed half de de- de- de light No Im I'm anxious s to see the win this race quite apart I from the cash I stand in that I event It If you wont won't agree to my proposal proposal proposal pro pro- then I shall present my check at the bank hinting that I am dubious as to the genuineness of the signature You utter scoundrel exclaimed Harry Halory in In impotent rage But But but how mow do I know all this is correct Where is Rowlett Ill send sead him up to you responded in some come haste You can talk it over with him and let me know your de decision He d dashed shed from the room and down the stairs A moment later Harry heard other footsteps approaching He threw open the door That you jou Rowlett Rowlett Rowlett Row Row- lett Well The newcomer gave one ole Quiet glance at Danvers's set face then dropped his dyes yes eyes to the floor standing In silence Have you nothing to say went on Harry What part do you play in this pretty plot S Dont Pont talk like that Danvers for tor heavens heaven's sake sake sakei said the younger man pleadingly I know Ive I've Ive been a fool 1001 aye aye and nd worse But now this man has me in his grasp Hes He's making me J his tool I have to do his bidding You know what is hanging over my head Then it is true that that that-that that you have forged your fathers father's name to a check I r admit It Heaven knows I I was driven to do it it Twice have I offered him the lull full amount to destroy the check cheek but he refuses I 1 wont won't be sent to prison Ill Ill Dort Dont add cowardice to your already bad traits interrupted Harry How can I win the race knowing that by so doing I am perhaps making Cissy's brother into a convict com What are you OU now Where were you this afternoon afternoon afternoon after after- noon I can not tell you the speaker answered answered answered an an- the unexpected question in a startled manner Or dare not said Harry almost contemptuously But it Is needless I found your handkerchief in the wood Rowlett looked up UI in unfeigned aston aston- I fall fail to comprehend your meaning he replied Can you OU say you were not the man who shot me this afternoon Is not this handkerchief yours It was found In the copse from which the he shot w wag fired tired Whose hose are these Initials Your sister seemed to recognize them The other took the cambric and stared at the marking Yes but this is not mine n-mine he said after a tt short in- in Why Why of of course course lt it must be Jim Jim Jimm Harry seized him by the arm Are you sure of at that he asked hoarsely Certain of ot It Christian Chris Chrls- i tian Uan name is really Geoffery but ever since I can remember he has been called Jim by his companions And now the encouraging shouts of the spectators filled the air Get along Danvers Tire him out Spurt Corcoran Corcoran Corcoran Cor Cor- coran Corcoran's the winner I do hope Harry will get In first then he will sill have the gold medal said Cissy her breath coming fast Nearer and nearer drew the two men In them all aU the interest for a moment was centered the thc others close behind were forgotten Th They y were abreast again Neither gained gamed an inch It looked almost like a a. dead heat But suddenly Danvers put forth his whole remaining strength and in one prolonged effort passed his opponent A strange expectant silence fell over the spectators for a second Would Corcoran respond by an equal effort He made a strong attempt just attempt just while the spectators held their breath then breath then dropped his hands It was beyond his power The shouts broke out anew The supporters of the team teamS yelled their loudest S Harry wins cried Cissy waving her handkerchief See our team has the most men In fr front nt wins And for the third time in succession I the team won the cup a a a aIs Is Mr at home Yes shall I tell him began the landlady landlady Well go up if you dont don't mind Come along Rowlett I Harry knocked at the he r room om door The sole occupant sprang to his feet as they entered His face was pale almost J haggard He laughed harshly as he recognized his visitors What do you want he asked a note of ot bitterness In his voice Have you come cometo to see how your vile vUe trick has affected me Not quite that replied Danvers coldly We have come for fot that check sneered And you think you'll get it After what has happened You have played me you false false you have let me and my mates in ln In pretty heavily George Rowlett will have to suffer for forIt forit forit it in prison S Sa a Harry took a step forward If he goes you will accompany him he said quietly The man started back uneasily I If you dont don't at lit once hand over that check heck I T shall the police that you an are the man who shot at me the other afternoon gave a gasp and sat down in his chair paler than ever Do you s sae e this handkerchief Well then perhaps you'll ren remember ember that you left it t in ilL your haste to get clear of the wood I know nothing about it It is useless denying the fact Besides Besides Besides Be Be- sides we have two to witnesses who saw you in that vicinity Harry turned t lo to Rowlett You have brought the money mon you owe the owe the HOO Then will hand over the check to you for that amount on the I u understanding th that t I say nothing more about that attempt at murder Now The man stood up imp made mate an attempt to bluster then fell ll to reviling the t two to oJust o Just stop that if f you please said Danvers The TI che check k at once once I ji sea a moment to think Youve got get the best of me me me he hean an answered savagelY Here he Here he then crossed to a writing desk and threw Jt St open open here here it is Give me that money Now clear out Rowlett snatched at the fatal scrap of paper and glanced at its face Then he passed it on to Danvers who after assuring himself there was no ro trickery In connection with it placed It upon the fire and watched the ashes fall faU |