Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1906-11-16
III.


wheel of the car, and once more it
was throbbing under him.
He sat staring straight ahead. He
shot past the Albert Memorial and
into Hyde Park. The long line of
Rotten Row was deserted. On his
left the Serpentine lay like a broad
streak of silver between the trees.
He slackened his speed little, trying
to steady his thoughts and the beat
of his heart. Why was there that
uncomfortable feeling upon him
that queer, cold fear that had nearly
undone him three years ago?
He looked round at the great park.
There was no one in sight that morn
in5. His car approached the corner,
and there suddenly small splash of
color against the brown of the road
caught his eye.
On a chair under the trees was a
girl with red hat!s
He might have known. He might
have understood the meaning of the
cold fear that was upon him If he had
not been fool. He might have
known after all those years that
Gladys was loyal and faithful and
true to the man she loved.
And she was with him now!' The
second figure under the trees grew
suddenly clear to him. They were
looking into each others faces; both
were alight, both were blind to every
thing and everyone else.
But suddenly Gladys caught sight
of him and sprang to her feet.
Eric, here is Sydney" she cried,
breathlessly. He has come home.
Come and speak to him."
For a moment Sydney struggled.
The last drop of blood died from his
face. Guilt, shame and bitter hatred
drew his face into hard lines.
Gladys happy eyes beamed upon
him. If she knew-Heaven help him!
If she could see into his heart, what
would her eyes look like then?
His shaking hand turned the driv-
ing wheel. The car shot forward rap
idly. He pulled the speed lever,
sounded the horn and dashed abrupt
ly away up the road out into the
wide, open space about Hyde Park
Corner.
What happened there he did not
know. The traffic was busy, but he
saw nothing. There was a confused
noise in his ears, but above all he
heard Gladys clear voice, with the
glad sound IN it. Eric has come
home"
The warning shout he did not hear.
The running policeman he did not
see. The broad gateway seemed to
have vanished into air as he sped to-
ward it. He turned the lever sharply
The car, like living thing, sprang
forward. AS it dashed into the stone
work he threw up his hands with a
cry.
=
"An hour at most" said the doc
tor. HE cannot live longer than
that. If there is any one he ought
to see he should be fetched at once. !"
Gladys put her hand to her shak-
ing lips and turned to Eric, who
stood beside her. They had seen the
car dash forward and had followed
it; and it was Eric who went now
and fetched Sir William-Eric the
forger!
Sydney lay very still. The hard,
keen look had gone from his face.
He had forgotten Gladys and the hap
piness in her eyes; but suddenly it
came back. She was sitting beside
him-there, close to him, and she
was crying.
At the same instant Sir William
Kennel came in. Sydney was look
ing at Gladys.
"Forgive-if you can," he said, in
feeble voice. Il loved you So
from the very first; and | hated Eric
because of you-that was why
planned his ruin-why | forged the
check"
"Youi" The word came like a
cry from Gladys and Sir William S
lips.
"You!" Sir William repeated.
THE son of my old friend!''
The dying man did not move.
THAT was why" he went on slow
~ Il put 1t in Eric's desk-the