The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1908-10-22
Satan :
Sanderson

all right Ever since came nomt
you've kept me strapped. was
ashamed to stick up any more OF my
friends. And OF course couldn't Dor
row from JesslcaT"
"Ashamedp' exclaimed the old man
with harsh sternness. "You are with
out the decency Of shamel II you were
capable Of feeling II you would not
mention her name nowP'
Hugh thought he saw glimmer
through the storm cloud. Jesslca was
his anchor to windward. What hurt
him would hurt her He would pull
through!
WELL" he said, "lt's done, and
there's no good making such row
aboN It She's my wife and she'll
stand by me, II nobody else doesl'
No one had ever seen such look on
David Stires face as came to 1t now
sudden blaze Of fury and righteous
scoru that burned 1t like a brand.
you lmpudent blackguardl You
drag my name in the gutter and then
try to trade on my self respect and
Jessica's affection. You thought you
would take 1t up yourself and would
be none the WISER And If | did find
1t out you counted on my love for the
poor, deluded girl you have married
to make me condone your criminallty,
to perjure myself. to- admit the sig.
nature and shield you from the conse-
quences. You imagine because you
are my son that you can do this thing
and all still go on as before. Do you
suppose don't consider Jessica2 Do
you think because you have fooled and
cheated her and me and married her
that | will give her now to a caught
thief, a common jailbirdT'
In the thoughts that were darling
through Hugh's mind there was none
now Of regret or of pity for Jessica
His fear was the fear of the trapped
spoller who discerns capture and its
consequent penalties In the patrolllng
bullseye flashed upon him. He studied
his father with hunted, calculating
eyes as the old man turned to Harry
Sanderson.
"Sanderson," said David Stires once
more in his even. deadly voice, "Jessl.
ca is waiting in the room above this.
She will not understand the delay.
Win you go to her? Make some ex-
cuse-any you can think of-till
come"
Harry nodded and left the room,
shutting the door carefully behind
him, carrying with him the covering.
helpless look with which Hugh saw
himself left alone with his implacable
Judge. What to say to herr How to
say It he mounted the stair as IL a
pack swung from his shoulders. he
paused moment at the door, then
knocked, turned the knob and entered
There In the middle Of the blue hung
room in her wedding dress, with her
bandaged eyes. and her bridal bouquet
on the table, stood Jessica. Twilight
was near, but even so all the shutters
were drawn save one, through which
last glow Of refracted sunlight sifted
to fall upon his face. Her hands were
clasped before her. he could hear her
breathing-the full. hurried respiration
OF expectancy.
Then, while bis hand closed the door
behind him, thing unexpected, anom-
alous, happened-a thing that took him
as utterly by surprise as II the solid
fioor had yawned before him. Slim
fingers tore away the broad encirclIng
bandage. She started forward. Her
arms we're fiung about his neck.
Hugh. Hught" she cried. MY bus
bandr'
The paleness was stricken suddenly
from Harry's face An odd. dazed
color. flush OF modification, Of self
flooded II from chin to brow.
Despite himself he bad felt his lips
to an answering kiss beneath
her own He drew gasping breath.
his hand nervously caught the bandage
replaced II over the eyes and tied II
lightly. putting down her protesting
hands.
"oh. Hugh she pleaded. mot for
when ! am So happy.
four face Is what l dreamed II must
DO! Why did ron make ne witt so
Iong7 Ana ] can see. Hugh. can
really seel Let II stay on. Just for one