Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-22
- B
2 The Fighting Hope .

Novelized BY
VIRGINIA LEILA WENTz
WIN IN effort she raised herself 70
hee 1oeE The gaping doors Of the
opened safe stared at her. Mechani-
eally she crossed over, closed them and
locked the combination.
Then, inevitably, her eyes sought the
fireplace. The mocking, dancing
dames stun9 her like 30 many scor-
plon tongues. Was It Wild fancy or
Was Cato feally watching her with
that dumb, awful reproach In his eyes7
God IN hsavenl What had she done1
r. she had destroyed the proof Of Rob
srt's guilt she had also destroyed the
proof Of Burton Temples innocence!
OF that she had not thought; she had
not had time 10 think.
The telephone bell rang. In her
dazed, distorted condition It seemed
far away. She did not move to an
TN take M-Tu take the message,
Miss Dale" called Temple cheerfully,
blowing into the room at this second.
His face wore an unclouded look of
lightness % he picked up the receiver.
"Hello! Yes. What's that you say!
Esterbrool, thefdistrict attorney, wants
me on the wfref All right. Tell him to
step up: here am" And then to the
district attorney:
'sYou want to zee that Granger let.
ter personally tonight? Yes, wherel
At your home. Very well. I'll fetch
It down myself tonight. Goodby."
MISS Dale" he said. turning to his
secretary. II think II you'll get me that
letter out Of tho safe I'll take the next
train for New York"
The room seemed to be darkening.
She made q few steps toward the safe
tottered and fell upon the divan. With
q long shudder that relaxed all her
young limbs her senses left her.
Poor little woman, shes been work.
ing too hard! ought to have thought. I"
Temple rang the bell for Mrs. Mason,
then bent above her In q tender alb
sorption. speaking to her as he might
have spoken to a child, calling her,
comforting and rousing her. His deep
voice had an enchanter's sweetness,
and gradually It wooed her back to
life. She did not know what he was
saying to her. but she responded. Her
white lids nuttered; she moved; deep
sigh lifted her breast.
At that moment the door In MI. Ma.
sous hand escaped her and swung to.
'Nrs. Aassa, u that your" said TEN.
pie, without hooking around. will you
come here7 Poor child, I'm afraid she
needs your care"
Anna raised herself by an effort. Her
first half conscious impulse was to
throw herself into the arms Of the
woman standing by her. Then as she
perceived Mrs. Mason clearly, as hel
reason came back and her gaze stead.
led, the impulse died.
that was dowdy sort of thing to
do" said shs apologetically, with q
faint smile. She rose to her feet.
ibid turn up my eyes to heaven,
wabble once and overwhelm you. Mr..
Temple? I've seen 1t done like that
Sn the stage: it looks melodramatic.
I'm sorry" She was talking frivo-
lously against the awful blackness OF
despair In the background Of her mood
'Now, Mrs. Mason" Temple said,
with big kindness, "help Miss Dale
to her room, lock her in If need be,
and don't let her show her face until
tomorrow ut noon. Strict orders, you
understand" he added smilingly.
"3he's overworked. oh, and Miss Dale,
I'm 20 sorry to trouble you, but just
one moment before you 80. Would
you mind giving me that combination
so that I can jot it DOWN." suiting
the action to the words, he pulled out
q book Of memoranda.
..T'- In very bewildered, pathetic
fashion Anna Granger's hands went
up to her heavy masses of hair. cts
my dizzy, dizzy head, Mr.. Temple"
said she. 'T-Tm afraid I can't re.
member the combination just now"
"Well, never mind" returned he
gently. There's later train I can
take, and when It comes to you just
send it down by Mrs. Mason. Good
evening, and sleep well tonight I've
lots to say to you tomorrow, Miss
Dale" he called after them in down
right boyish fashion. His burden OF
months had been lifted, and he was
coming to his own again.
Once In the privacy Of her own room
Anna told Mrs. Mason everything. She
sat there now, twisting and umtwisting
her hands in silence, her facs very
white, her pupils wide and black.
"And now" she began again DULY,
II shan have to go before the man
have wronged and make my awful
confession. shall have to face the
first big look Of incredulity sweeping
over him: then the tightening of his
lion lips and lastly. perhaps, the pity
Of his eyes Oh, I can't, can't
never knew before that I was COW.
ard. But am, am!'
: anyhow, dearie," ventured Mrs.
Mason. you've done your duty toward
your children-you have cleared their
name"
'Not really haven't, not really and
truly. Why, Mrs. Mason, I've just told
you their fathers guilty-guilty as
hell! And TO think I shall have to so
back again to Westneld and take up
my life with that man" Her brows
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