, 1911-11-09

his thront. All he did. however u.s.
to look big. hold his tongrt and ruyf
the dead their enforced roFrrl-'h.iiI
"I-I'm not often ugiratrd slid
Anna. risin.. with AN i'd. starry
smile, "and YOU must pardon r.r that
display of oversentimen," Bar he
fore he could have spoken Il must
really go in now I've promised Mrs
Mason to play a game OF pacEisi. Oi
cribbage. or something she faliered
So Temple. deliberately commissioning.
escorted her up the red gravel path.
Anna was growing excessively IN
easy. For quite two hours now she'd
been anxiously expecting Mrs. Mason's
return from Westfield. What could he
the matter? AT the very least IT must
be the measles. Finally. however. her
elder friend came in smilingiy. disarm
ing all fears
And how's the new nurse getting
on with them? Does she make Robbie
wear his rubbers on wet days? Is his
cold quite gone? Is Harold's finger
well again? Have they hid that nor
Elu ptuhlllltE AulIu NhS III ms
Mrs. Mason's veil and pouring out her
questions in a torrent.
Mrs. Mason assured her thai the boys
were both well and happy. that the
new nurse was doing beautifully n
that, except for a few hours when the
rascals had her locked I'm the chicken
house, she was having n fine time
"Oh, she won't mind an Moons
quential thing like the chicken house,
laughed Anna, handing Mrs. Mason hrr
veil pins, when once she's used to
those boys. They locked their mother
in one day. and l had to spank them
poor little dears Oh. but I'm sick with
longing for ~them-sick!'
81 know, dearie." soothed Mrs. Ma
son, patting her on the back Blu
I've something else to tell you You
couldn't guess why / vas so late com
ing back? No? Well. I've been W TO
see Robert"
"You havel' Anna started never so
slightly. Isis he well? Is he keep.
ing up2 What did he think about my
being heref'
"Oh, he's well, and he's keeping up
They're all very good to him. Thc3
feel he is up there through n miScar
rage of justice. They treat him kind
ly. They've made him what they call
a 'trusty.'"
Anna was listening with strained at
tention.
You explained to him. didn't you
Mrs. Mason? You made ii clear just
why left home? You made him I'M
derstand that | am in "A position here
to find out the truth that will convict
the man who has lone this thingF'
Mrs. Mason plucked several imagi-
nary threads off her skirts to hide her
confusion.
AT first. you know went on Anna,
~ thought it e not TO let him know
about my having left home! | knew
he would worry about the boys. But
a few days ago | managed to get him
word. / felt the time had come And
now, what does he sayr
Mrs. Mason still faltered Her con
science would not permit her to tell
less than the whole truth; neverthe-
less, she longed for some fashion in
which to put it gently.
we'll, bt Sdlu, uVui HS 'h'h'S
white and said he didn't want you to
remain in this house. Said it didn't
look quite right; that he'd rather have
you home with the children than here
In Temples house."
Anna smiled indulgently Poor
boy! He's afraid the work will prove
too hard for me. 1t won't I'll fasten
the crime yet, though it may break my
heart" The final words were almost
,hoked She walked across to the win
dow and stood staring out at the grim
prison there. Ii was n little trick she
had learned whenever she wished to
steel herself in the fight she had un
dertaken. Presently she turned back
a dumb. pathetic perplexity in each
gray eye.
'Oh, If ! could get back to the con
dition in which | entered this house
the clear air where there are no OBJ.