Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-01

table and sat down again.
Well" said he, I've got to send it,
anyway
Slowly, and with evident reluctance he be-
gan to tick upon the instrument again.
Mercy walked up and down the little
room in desperation. There was no time for
her to get help from anywhere to aid in
trying to persuade him not to telegraph the
libel. Each little click of metal against
metal cut into her mind like a tiny knife.
AS Frank finally received an answer to his
call and began to straighten the papers be-
fore him with the disengaged hand, pre-
paratory to getting down to the work of
sending the message, she sprang toward
him and there was look in her eyes as the
startled operator glanced up at her such as
he had never seen there before-such as
had never been there before. AT that mo-
ment sh was a desperate woman.
You shan't send it!' she declared.
She snatched the papers with both hands
and held them high above her head. Then
she slipped her hands behind her. Frank
sprang from his chair and it fell
Give it back to me!'' he said, anxiously.
He reached for her and caught her by
the arms. He was greatly distressed, but
he evidently felt that his duty demanded
that he get the messages from her again.
please give it to me!' he said.
She backed away from him with the pa
pers in her hands behind her and as she
slowly retreated her fingers, working con-
vulsvely, were tearing it into bits.
Il only told you" he said, because L
thought you might want to warn your
father"
the fingers were desperately busy as she
backed away from him, keeping her eyes
fixed upon his own. This is the night be-
fore election, man! If that story goes out
he won't have a chance to deny it! Don't
you see the contemptuous trick?
Give it to me!' said Barnard, excitedly.
The moment of delay had given her
time. The papers were torn into a hun
ItrI Dot In, dc f,t1I %
them. She flung them, crumpled. unde-
cipherable, destroyed into the air over his
table.
We'll take it," said she.
Frank fell back dismayed. as he saw the
bits of paper futtering in the air.
THERE" said he, aghast You've torn it
up! l had no right to show it to you"
His hands were clenched and he looked at
her, slightly STOPPING and with bent ell
bows, with an angry face. He trembled
in his wrath and worry. Then he seated
himself at the table again and began to
tick upon the instrument. "In have to
guess at it now" he said.
Mercy approached and put her hand on
his shoulder. There was nothing soft and
girlish in her appearance now-she was
woman and q very determined woman.
NO you'll not guess at it!' she declar-
ed. You'll not send one lying word over
that telegraph wire. Whoever ordered that
message sent-it's no difference if it was
Jack Selkirk-ordered lie sent.'
She painted and her eyes flashed.
you know it and l know 1t. It's right
for you to obey your orders she went on.
rapidly. but it's not right for you to send
a lie like that. Don't you be anybodys
tool in such work that!"
It's your lovers work" said Barnard.
Il don't believe it," she declared. But
IL 1t is It's no less a lie!'
Barnard shrugged his shoulders. and his
hand was again on the instrument. Mercy
touched his arm appeallngly All the an
ger had gone out of her face nowhere
1,,t,r yN1an mo
my little sister Bess talked to me last
night about YOU" she said. "She said that
you two were in love. You wouldn't send
that lie out about her father, would you?
1 laughed at her and said you were only
children. Tonight you have chance to
disprove that-you have chance to be a
man.
Her voice broke a little.
Don't send that message, Frank" she
pleaded.
II must" he said.
Don't. Frank she repeated. "Bess is
his daughter, Frank"
1t ended the struggle.
"I-won't" he said.
AS they stood looking at one another in
the reaction after the excitement both
were breathing hard and both were pale-
faced. The youth felt that he had crossed
a great dividing line. The girl, much more
mature than he. although not older, was
filled with thoughts confiicting-relief at his
promise not to send the messages; heart
sick soul-sore puZZlement over what seemed
to be the proof of her lovers duplicity.
AS they stood thus there was a sound
/ of some one running on the platform out
side. Then Betsey Bobbn dashed in, At
first she was quite speechless. AS she
gathered breath she exclaimed:
Have you-sent them lies-about Caleb,
yet?'
Mercy ran to her.
NO" she said 81 asked him not to. and
he hasn't How did you hear about it?"
'Irsaw it in the paper" said Miss Bob
bin. "The paper said the whole-thing was
goin' out BY telegraph
ITS not" said Barnard, quickly
He was now thoroughly in sympathy with
their desire to stop the circulation Of the
lie.
But 1t will be printed and out in the
mails in half an hour" he said, CHANGING
at the clock. "It must be all over Toms
River now"