Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-12-02

Il don't even know who he is
Flora said family.
Mrs. Herrick gave her a ouic
glance. She had not moments he
itation as to whos~ the "he" mean
You viii have to ask him when h
comes"
DO you think he will come back
i MRS. Herrick had the heart to smile
| But think of what have done.
have lost him the sapphire, and h
loves it-loves it as much as he doe
me-"
| Again the glance. did he tell yo
that?"
Flora nodded. The other SCENE,
intently to consider. "He will com,
back" she declared.
Upheld by her friends assurance
Flora found the endurance necessar,
TO spend the day, an empty, stagnan
day. in moving about house an,
garden where a few hours ago hat
passed such storm of events. She
reviewed them, lived them over again
but without taking account of them
Her mind, that had worked SO sharply
was now in allegiance. She lived in
emotion. but with tantalizing sense
OF something unexplained which her
understanding had not the power to
reach out to and grasp. For a day
more she existed under the same roof
with Clara. for Clara stayed on.
At first 1t seemed to Flora extraord-
mary that she dared, but presently it
began to appear how much more ex-
traordinary it would have been If
Clara had promptly fed. By waiting
discreet length of time, as If moth
ing had happened, she put herself in
dubitably on the right side of things.
Indeed, when one thought, had she
ever been legally on it?
That was the very horror. Clara
had simply turned the situation over
and seen its market value, and how
enormously she had made It paw
Flora herself had paid; and she had
seen the evidence that Harry had
paid, paid for his poor little hour of
escape which mere murderer might
have granted him in pity. Yet Clara
could walk beside them, meet them at
dinner with the same smooth face.
CHAT upon the terrace with the unsus-
pecting Mrs. Herrick, and even face
Flora in a security which had the an
pearance Of serenity, since she knew
that nothing ever would be told. At
every turn in the days business Flora
kept meeting that placid pres.
ence; and 1t was not until the end Of
tho day that she met 1t primed for de-
parture. Flora was with Mrs. Her
rick, and Clara, coming to seek them
out, had an air of casual farewell. The
small, sweet smile she presented be-
hind her misty veil, the delicate
hand she offered were
symbols of enduring friendship, as If
she were leaving them only for few
hours; as If, when Flora returned to
town, she would find Clara waiting
for them in the house. But Flora
knew 1t was only Clara's wonderful
way This uprising and departure
were her last.
Now all her waiting was for Kerr's
returning. She did not know how she
should face him, but she wanted him
A telegram came an hour before him,
zane to Mrs. Herrick announcing him;
md then himself, driven up on the
high seat Of the cart, Just as daylight |
vas closing
did you save IT." Flora asked.
He looked at Mrs. Herrick, hesitat-
ng.
"You can tell, she knows" Flora as
iured him.
mo, haven't saved it-not SO far"
lie said. He had taken off his hat and
he strong light showed on his face
ines of fatigue and anxiety. HE
ave me the slip-no trace Of him.
70 one saw him come into the city;
lothing turned up in the goldsmith's
hop. His friend, the blue-eyed
,hinaman, has dropped out of sight.
haven't made 1t public" he glanced
t Flora-"but our men think he's
one by the water route-Lord knows
n what or where! He must have had
his planned for days" He didn't
ook at Flora now. He turned his
carefully on Mrs. Her
lex. There were. seven vessels
allied that day, and all were search
d; but there are ways of smuggling
plum. and why not menT
They were walking toward the
ouse. Kerr looked up at the window
here, short time before, Clara's
ace had looked down upon the con-
lsion in the garden.
rs that paid woman still here?"
ooh, no; she's gone" Flora looked
t him warningly. But Mrs. Herrick
ad caught his tone. "Why shouldn't
he be?" she demanded with delicate
sperity.
Kerr had dropped his monocle. BE !
ause, in common decency, she
ouldn't. She sold Greasy to me for
God round sum-"
Flora and Mrs. Herrick exchanged
look of horror.
I'D suspected him." said Kerr. 81
new where I'd seen him but I
,uldn't be sure of his identity till
10 showed me the picture"
"What picture?" cried Flora. X
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