Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-09-26
x.
CaAPIER X.
~LAIRE HARDING had now adj
ventured upon a narrow ledge.

ventured upon a narrow ledge.
~ On the one hand she was bound
to show a proper appreciation
Of Daintree's exertions, which she her
self had inspired; on the other, to feign
a purely impersonal or benevolent in
terest in the unhappy youth on whose
behalf those exertlons were being
made. So all day long she must be
ready with a smile as false as any
other mummer's, even though she spent
the night in prayer for Tom and for
her own forgiveness. Yet praying did
not bring her peace of mind. She
could not convince herself that she was
In the right; that even her great end
justified means Of downright hypocrisy
and deceit. There were two ways of
looking at her conduct, and Claire,
with a breadth Of view which was her
bane, saw it both ways from the be-
ginning. She was acting a lie to save
a life. That was one side Of the mat
ter. She was screening the guilty at
the expense Of the innocent. That was
the other side. And If Claire was in
any respect singular among women it
was In this inherent and not invariably
convenient faculty of seeing the other
side whether she would or 10.
All her love could not blind her to
the terrible strength Of the case against
Tom, and all her prayers could not I'M
say what Tom had said to her about
the murdered man on the very night of
the murder. I'D hang for the hound
and think the satisfaction cheap at the
price!!' Those had been his actual
words. They were forever tolling, toll
ing in her ears, and, strong though the
case was, would they not have
strengthened it still more? And, good
reason as all the world had to think
him guilty, had not she, God help her,
better reason than any living nan or
woman? But, oh, she could not and
she never would believe 1t Of him-not
murder! And even with that cry in
her heart she did believe 1t, but fought
to deceive herself a little longer. Her
first theory, however, that Of self de-
Tense, was virtually shattered by his
reported wholesale denials. Then
what more was to be said for the des-
perate hero of a guilty fight, taken at
last with the dead mans possessions
upon his person?
Claire could not imagine, but a clever
barrister might-nay, woodland she
set her teeth and vowed that Tom
should have the finest brain at the bar
to defend him, guilty or not guilty, and
though she perjured her soul for the
price. But this was not necessary. II
was only necessary to act the lie, and
Claire scorned herself for the slight
comfort that mean distinction gave
her against her will. The honest lie
was unnecessary because she was deal.
ing with a nan Of extremes. who neg
lected many things, but did nothing by
halves, and whom every passing
breath left cold or burning. A breath
from Claire could have but one effect
and Daintree was already white hot
for the defense. He had caught fire al
the business of his life to rescue that
Of an obscure homicide. He could talk
of nothing else. His passionate zeal
chilled Claire with the thought Of what
it might turn to should he learn the
truth.
Within t%wenty-four hours of the
committal he came in brimful Of news
and self Importance. Claire was dis
covered in the garden and Informed
who had been retained for the defense
in a meaning voice which conveyed nc
special meaning to her. The name
was a big one, but the girl was not g
great reader Of the newspaper, and she
had never heard it before. She looked
grateful, therefore, but not grateful
enough for Daintree, whose greed fol
her admiration was such that in the
next breath he must needs tell hel
with what figure the big mans brief
had been marked. And then he beamed
for the girl stood th%understruck at his
words.
olive hundred guineasw she repeat
ed slowly. "You are never going tt
find Observation-Disclosures"
"And why not?" said he, with ready
pique. "Do you think that that colos
sal sum is beyond my means"
"For a mar Of whom you know moth
ing-who has no claim upon you? Yes
lido"
"Pardon me-" replied Daintree in hi
most elaborate manner 81 know a
least as much Of the young man al
does Miss Harding. His case has al
ready excited her sympathy. He ha'
therefore the very strongest claim up
on NINE"
"oh. but you must not do I'll" CRIED
Claire impulsively. ut is too mucf
for you to dream Of doing. am sorr!
I ever said a word about It. You ar'
too noble, too generous. too good"
He hung his head a moment ant
then exclaimed, with the ex%traordinar!
passion of the man, that there wa
nothing he would not do to win sucl
words from her lips; that she had re
paid him already a ~hundredfold.
"And, remember, it is all for you,'
he added suddenly, as though he hal
caught her candor. "Let there be n
mistake about that between you ant