Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-02

"AhA eHeAa aAAA AAANA eaN A@HNNA ~
NAMED standing.
Allis sprang forward and caught him by
the arm. Crane turned away. suddenly
discovering that from the window the main
street Of Brookheld was a most absorbing
study.
I'm so happy" began Ailis. Mortimer
shivered in apprehension. Why had Crane
turned his face away-what was coming7
How could she be happy? How could any
one in the world be happy?
But evidently she was. She stole q quick
look ut Crane-to be exact, Cranes back,
for his head and shoulders were through
the window.
The girl-she had to raise on her tip
toes-kissed the sad man on the cheek.
I'm ashamed to say that he stared. Were
they all mad-was he not standing with
one foot in the penitentiary1
She drew him toward the chair. calling
to Crane: will you please tell Mr.. Nor
timer the good news? l am too happy, l
can't"
A fierce anger surged in Mortimer's
heart. 1t was true, then-his disgrace
had been too much for Allis. The other
had won; but It was too cruel to kiss him.
Crane faced about, and, coming forward,
held out his hand to the man OF distrust.
II hope you'll forgive me-"
Mortimer sprang to his feet, showing
back his chair violently with his legs, and
stood erect, drawn to his full superb
height, his right hand clenched fercely at
his side. Shake hands? No, a thousand
times no! he muttered to himself.
Crane saw the action and his own hand
dropped. Perhaps 1 ask too much" he
said. quietly. II wronged you
Mortimer set his teeth and waited. There
were great beads OF perspiration on his
forehead and his broad chest set his
breath whistllng through contracted
n~ostrils. A pretty misdirected passion
was playing upon him. This was why
they had sent for him. The girl he would
have staked his life on had been brought
to believe in his guilt and had been won
over to his rival. Aha new thought;
his mind, almost diseased by unjust &C
cusation, prompted it-perhaps It was to
save him from punishment that Allls had
consented to become Cranes wife.
But I believed you guilty" Mortimer
started. Now 1 know that you are in
nocent. / ask"
caught at the chair to steady himself. He
repeated mechanically the others words.
you know I'm innocent?"
Yes, I've found the guilty man."
Then Alan-oh, the poor ladi It's a
mistake-you are wrong. The boy didn't
take the money! took It."
Crane looked at him In admiration, an
indulgent smile on his lips.
Nonsense, my dear sirl'' he exclaimed.
drily. ALAN did not take the money.
Neither did you. Cass took It, and you
wasted a day of the banks time covering
the crime for him. I'm not sure that you
shouldn't be prosecuted as an accomplish"
"Cass took itF" asked Mortimer in q
dazed way, looking from Crane to Allis.
Yes. He has confessed. So you see
he's ahead Of you in that line. But I've
promised him that no one but our three
selves shall ever know t." He went on,
speaking hurriedly, II ask you to forgive
me now for my suspicious Your limo
cence is completely established. You acted
hke a hero in trying to shield Alan Por-
ter, and I like men of that stamp. I'm
going to find another position for MI. Lane
and give you his place If you'll take 1t. The
Thousand dollars you paid in will be re-
stored to you. 1t is yours. We will devise
some scheme for clearing up the mat
ter as far as your good name is con-
cerned and that will shield poor Cass from
people who have no business in this affair
But how did Cass manage to get tho
note?'
Found It on the floor Of the vault, he
says"
II don't see how It could have fallen out
Of the box. because the three bills were
pinned to the note"
Crane drew forth a pocketbook, and,
opening it, took out the bill that had been
stolen. He xamined 1t closely, holding
1t up in front of the window.
II think you are mistaken" he said.
There are no pin holes in this bill. II
see," he continued, "the pin had not gone
through this one; being detached, in hand
ling the box 1t slipped out"
ut must have" concurred Mortimer. 81
remember, in putting the box in the COM
partment, once 1 had to turn It on ifs
edge. The bill being loose, as you say,
slipped to the floor, and as the vault was
dark 1 did not notice It,"
at doesn't matter" added Crane. IL
must go now. Goodby, Miss Allis."
Turning to Mortimer, he held out his
hand.
"Goodby, and long happiness to you
both" he said. II trust you will think
kindly OF me and poor Cass. ] am sure
we are sorry for what has been done"
AS Crane went down the stairs he won
dered why he had coupled himself with
Cass. Was the difference so slight? Had
they been together in the same boat up
to the point Of that silly, fantastic dream?
Perhaps they had.