The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-24

:
Then she tried a trick of which Gra-
ham had often spoken, picturing War
ner's face without the beard Slowly
each feature stood out in her mind un-
til she had a perfect reproduction of
the photographs also in Graham's safe.
And this was Grover Warner, not
Glenn Warner. The book he was writ
ing? A ruse to throw detectives off
his track. He was simply waiting for
interest in his case to lag-then Europe
and that womanl She remembered
quite well that Graham had outlined
that very theory, temporary conceal
ment close to New York.
Ten minutes later Helen came down.
stairs and called for Jimmy. In her
hand was a slip of paper.
Jimmy, dear, want you to row
right over to the Harbor and send this
by wire" She pressed two-dollar bill
into his hand.
Jimmy stared curiously at the mes
sage. The address, David Graham,
room III, Edison bldg, New York, .
was all he could understand.
Gee Nell. this don't make sense .
Never mind, Jimmy; it will make
sense to the man who gets it, and
want it sent just that way. You can
keep every cent of the change"
Jubilant Jimmy rowed off toward the
Harbor, and Helen went round Indian
Point with Warner. He noted her evil
| dent despondency. 1t seemed as If the
sunlight had been suddenly drenched
and the air turned cold. Once perched
on the rocks, he tried to resume his old
| bantering tone.
"Is your mother preparing feast in
the prodigal daughters honor?"
"She called me that too," said Helen,
| musingly.
Sudden silence fell between them. 1t
was Warner who finally spoke, but his
voice had lost the careless ring.
Thanksgiving day is the time for all
prodigals to put in an appearance, isn't
it? / wonder if you had come home,
not as you are now, strong, self-re-
liant, clear-eyed and honest, but bur-
| dened with mistakes and sins, whether
| your mother would have been like the
| Puritan mothers of old, closing the
doors upon you, or whether she would
open her arms and heart to you?"
"Close the doors on Thanksgiving
day? No, nor on any other day. Moth
ers-the right kind of mothers--are al
ways ready to forgive, and give us a
chance to try 1t over. That is wo-
mans right and privilege--to forgive
and make the world better for her for
giveness.
Helen spoke in low, earnest voice
She had forgotten everything save tht
knowledge that had come to hel
through those two interviewer letters
"I wonder if my mother would look
at it that way"
st think so, if she's like her son. Why
don't you try it?"
The words slipped out unconscious
iy. Warner started and gazed at heI
-uneasily at first, then quietly, al
most yearningly She sat with heI
hands loosely clasped about her knees
her clear gray eyes sweeping the dis
tant horizon.
80, I've been such a fool-such a
selfish ass--theres no chance for me,
he answered. bitterly.
There is always the chance--if we
make it," said Helen quietly, but with
an odd quaver in her voice. The
trouble is that we always wait for
some one else to offer the chance-to
make 1t for u.s."
Warner was silent. His glance fol-
lowed hers to the horizon. where the
sunlight seemed to be casting show
er of diamonds.
by Jove, Miss Maitland, l believe
you're right. I'm not going to tell you
the story of my life. You've been too
tening to it-but I-well I'm very glad
you came to Benson Harbor for
Thanksgiving day."
What was passing in his mind, Hell
en- could only guess. But that the de-
mon of remorse had entered his heart.
she knew The plea of the prodigal
son was on his lips, and She The
sunlight danced on the waves, and on
a boat that rode the water gaily. 1t
was Jimmy coming back from Benson
Harbor. The message was speeding
toward New York.
For few moments, Helen, silently
watching the oncoming boat. fought
out her fight Should she tell him the
contents of that message? Should she
give him the chance to escape that
night? In the morning-on Thanksgiv-
ing day-Graham would come. What
steps would the detective take? Once
on their way down, when Warner was
helping her over a rough place in the
rocks, she almost clasped his hand and
told him the truth. Then. as from the
distance, came the murmur of voices
in Grahams office. What was he say
ing?
"Id trust her with more than that,
the affairs of my clients"
She closed her eyes suddenly. She felt
terribly faint, and Warner almost car
ried her down to the sloping sands,
where she threw aside the thoughts
which crowded upon her like a thick
fog. With forced gayety she reused
herself and chatted volubly until they
Mrs. Maitland met them in the door.
Her baking had turned out marvellous
ly we'll. She was at peace with ths
world. and hospitality incarnate.
Wont you come over TO dinner to-
morrow, Mr.. Warner? ! think Ged
Harper's folk can spare you, and four
locks better around my table than
three"
Warner bowed courteousiy over the
outstretched, work-worn hand.
You are very kind, Mrs Maitland.
shall come with pleasure" Then he
turned 20 Helen. Again she had turned
pale. and her lips moved stifny.
WED be very glad to see you to-
morrow, Mr.. Warner"
To-morrow--and In the morning Gra-
ham would be here Who or what
would he bring with him7 Only once
had Helen Maitland seen handouts,
but now the iron bracelets in hldeoug
guise appeared before her aching eyes
Wake up. Heien. les 3 real Thanks
giving morning. The weather changed
IN the night, and the ground is covered
with snow"
Helen tried 70 smile into her mothers
cheerful face, n had been q bad night
foF her, and nOw~ln two hours Graham
wouio BE "a Cea Tfarpers'
The moments fairly few for Mrs
/ Maitland, on hospitality and good cheer
] intent There were gffanium1 10 pick
fOr fhs table. fhe Cld-fsahioneN silver
a. bs given "a final polishing and never
] TlH a turkey FaTUNfn furN InrfHnnnf