Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-05-17

with the eyes OF a man, my lass. Could
give you, whom love, into the care
Of a man believe 10 he a murderer"
"Ah, don't" cried the girl, shrink
ing.
Yes, 1 must. The truth must out.
You must understand why act like
this. Prove his innocence; nay, show
me how TO prove IL; put me on the most
shadowy track of IL, and I'll work TO
prove IL; and when proved I'll be the
first to take him by the hand, put him
back in his place in the mill, and lay
your hand In his with as honest n wish
for your happiness as ever filed mans
heart But must first know him 10
be innocent; while at present" he low
cred his voice, II almost know him 10
be guilty"
Mary was moved in spite Of herself,
both by his words and his manner, and
the proof Of his love touched her.
TON has not left any evidence
against himself lie Is innocent" ex-
claimed Mary theoretically.
Eyes, right enough from the point OF
view from which you look at this. |
admire you for holding your opinion
staunchly like true lass; but ! can't
share IL. How then must IL be2"
Cant you give me more time2 IL
seems almost as II in making deci-
sion I were condemning Tom," she
said
"lhe hearing Is tomorrow" was his
answer.
But you need not go 10 IL. You
could wait intil the next hearing"
she pleaded. "Will you not do .his2
You say you are a chic in my hands.
Well, please me in this" she said, with
wistful pleading smile as she put out
her hands and touched MIN. "tiive me
more time"
"If | do this, where Is the use?
There Is danger In delay. II the case
Is heard tomorrow, there Is barely
enough evidence to secure commit
tai; but II .he committal is made to-
morrow the trial will be in time for
the assizes next week, and the whole
matter mny be ended within a week
d two. lfyou delay, the hearing to-
morrow will he adjourned for another
week, che trial must be thrown over to
the next assizes, and delay of many
weeks must take place; during which
time the evidence may be strengthened
in some way against him."
IL was n cruel argument, and for the
moment the girl was completely Gaf-
fed.
"Will you let me decide, then, which
IL shall bc?" she asked.
Eyes, certainly. have no wish but
Your welfare. Think, however, before
you do decide"
81 have thought" she said. Tom Is
innocent; and he himself would choose
to have the delay in the hope that the
proofs of his innocence may be found.
| will choose TO wait"
AS you will. fear you are wrong;
mud II anything untowarl should hap
pen you must not blame me. The de-
cisiou is momcntous one, Mary, and
may mean life or death for Tom" he
said, speaking very emphatically.
~ have decided" she said.
"As you will" he said, again.
She was glad when he left her.
IL was no wonder She despaired.
Those who might have given assistance
in helping to unravcl the mystery
either could not or would not help.
Reuben Gorripge was too firmly con-
WINGED Of Toms guilt to be able to see
n single ray of hope anywhere. Sa-
vannnh had turned away and had re-
fused even to tell the truth, while the
only man who had made any sort of
profession of belief in Toms limo
cencc, Gideon Prawle, was worthless
and unreliable and had not even taken
the trouble to let her know what he
had done.
Had he done anything? Was he In
earnest? Or was he merely n shifty,
worthless scamp, whose word and help
were at'thc purchase of the last bidder?
Could 1t he that he had had anything
to do with the deed?
Then hundred reasons flashed upon
her why he might have been involved
In IL. lie had been on the worst terms
with both "oode and Gorringe; the lat
ter had "ulned him, and the former, rs
she knew, had refused 20 reinstate
him. lie was hard pressed for money
even to exist upon; he knew the mill
thoroughly; lac was not unlike Tom In
general appearance, build and car
riagc, and in the dark might have
been mistaken for him. Given that he
had broken into the mill 10 rob the
place, and had been caught and sur
prised by Mr.. Coode, what more likely
that he should have turned upon himp
As she thought Of this, she grew ex-
cited at the idea and was angry with
herself for not having thought of II
before. She recalled how he had
fiinched when she had asked him
pointedly the reason of his great In
terest in the matter. Added to that
was his certainty, expressed over and
over again, that Tom was innocenti
and as she thought of all this she was
ready to rush ut once TO the conclusion
that Gideon was in some way involved
In the mystery. She grew more excit'
ed as the belief increased, and after
some time she dashed her hand on the
table and exclaimed TO herself;
"Im right That's the reason for his
interest in the mystery. The villainr
just then hurried knock sounded
on the door of the cottage, the door
was pushed open, mans steps
sounded along the passage, and Gideon
Prawle himself entered the room.
ITO RE CONTINUED