The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-10
By CHARLES CAREY
=AUTHOR OF----=
"A Woman to VIM THE Van Suyden Sapphires Etc.

comment No expression of sympathy
with the accused man or Of commits
GRAFTON for his plight.
Yet 1t warmed and comforted Roberts
sore neart, for n proved TO him that all
the world was not against him as he
had begun to think He had at least
one friend who was trying to aid him.
Who it might be he was unable even
TO hazard a guess. The letter was writ
ten in a distinctive, somewhat jerky
OF plain note paper; but, as already
said, there was absolutely nothing
about IL which offered him the slightest
clue TO the identity Of the sender.
Still he was satisfied il was from no
stranger Despite the coldly formal
terms in which the epistle was cOuChed
he caught from il a suggestion Of in
tense personal interest.
He noted. too, that it was postmarked
a. m. that morning who at that
hour before the newspapers were on
sale could have known that Mordaunt
was to be his lawyer, or have been so
fully informed upon the details OF his
case? No one except some detective or
police reporter. and he cudgeled his
brain in vain TO think or any acQuaint-
ance in either class apt to bestir them
selves so In his behalf
He was still puzzling over the mat
ter to no result when a turnkey an
nOunced at the door Of his cell:
Some one TO see YOU"
He started up In surprise. Any Wis
itor except Mordaunt was something
he least expected.
Then he stepped back with a stiffed
cry of unbelief and dropped his face
into his hands; for there advancing to
the grating was Gladys-Gladys, look
ing in her soft furs and dainty raj
ment like an exquisite rose in this bare
ugly environment Of granite and steel
Why have you come ?'' he grOaned.
1T were better far for both Of us that
you should have kept to your word of
last night and never have seen my face
again"
'Oh, my dear, my dearT' she was
weeping as she pressed her face close to
the bars, don't remember hat; don't
let ii count, / was beside myself when
said it. [ think; half craze1 with fear
for poor father. I believed then that Il
was right to sacrifice myself for his
sake
And you no longer believe SOP era
ham spoke dully-dlmOSt as though the
words were forced from his lipe; and
he made no move to come nearer her.
mo; I knew last night the moment
this horrible charge was brought
against you where my real duty Jay. 1t
was on my lips 20 tell you so; 1t was
in my heart to stand out before them
all and take my stand by your side:
butch, Robert, what will you think Of
me-" he sank her proud head In
you.'/
You doubted me?" he repeated in that
same dull. mechanical tone. THAT is,
you believed that the charge was true?'
oh, no, no. Never that" she pro-
tested sharply. You misunderstood. It
was
LAS, see" he broke in. You gave
credence 20 Warwick's villalnous init
nations, his cruel ISLANDERS against the
dead? Oh, Gladysi Gladys"
He was aroused now TO sudden ami
ened in rebuke.
Forgive me, Robert" she pleaded,
humbly. Il am passionately jealous, as
YOU know. ana although I would never
have believed his unsupported word,
heard you give direct assent TO every
one of his accusations
II should have had more faith she
confessed; Il should have trusted in
you, no matter what the appearances:
sides, his story cOTTODOrated so many
things which have tormented and mys-
titled me in the past. You were aiwa IS
i'll at ease, and fastened TO change the
subject. whenever I questioned YOU
about this girl, or the beginning Of your
acquaintance with her.
you didn't exactly trust me. you see
dearest" she spoke sweetly, yet Ieith q
gentle repTOOf in her tone; land dis
trust always begets distrust in return"
He had TO admit in his heart that
she was right. that he had not been
brave enough to be frdnE with her;
still his soul was fun of q great biz
terness, for now that she brought TO
him as a free Offering the love she had
once denied him, he could not accept it,
Not so long as the suspicion ranked