The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-26

I
Abbott was bewildered. What
serious consequences was Grace
about to evolve from the bridge
romance?
Mrs. Gregory listened. pale with
apprehension.
, 1T was a card" Grace said. with
awful significance, "a gambling
CARD AS long as | have lived In
the house. nobody ever dared 10
bring card there. Mrs. Gregory
will tell you the same. But that
Fran. She had been play
ing cards out there at midnight
and with a mani"
Il can not think So" said Mrs.
Gregory firmly.
After making up my mind what
TO do" continued Grace evenly,
took her aside. I told her what l
had seen and heard. | gave her back
her card But how can We be sure
she will not do IL again. That Is
what troubles me. oughtn't to
tell Mr.. Gregory. so a scandal can
be avoided"
Abbott looked blankly at Fran.
who was singing with all her might.
She caught his look. and closed her
eyes Abbott asked weakly, What
did she saw"
Grace answered. "She denied 1t. of
ceurse-said she hadn't been play
ing cards with anybody. hadn't
dropped the card found. and
wouldn't even admit that she'd been
with a man. IL tell Mr. Gregory
about her playing cards with man
at that hour. l don't believe he Will
think he ought to keep her longer.
even IL she does claim TO be his
friends daughter"
But you tell u.s." Mrs. Gregory
interposed swiftly. that she said
she hadn't been playing cards"
"She said" Grace echoed un-
pleasantly, "she said"
That card you found" began Alb
bott guiltily. was II the King or
Hearts," Possibly he had dropped
( II from his pocket when leaning over
the gate to But why had he lean
ed over the gate?
I Grace coldly answered, Il do not
! know one card from another"
| 'Iet me try to describe II.
at hope you can not describe the
card found" said Grace. the pre-
sentiment that she was on the eve OF
discoveries giving her eyes a starlike
directness. Abbott felt himself
squirming under the heel OF a high
I err order OF being.
81 suspect l dropped that card
over the fence" he confessed. FOR
\ | had the King OF Hearts. and last
night, about that time was stand
ing at the gate"
( "Oh," Grace exclaimed, disagree
ably surprised 81 did not know
that you play cards. Professor Ash
ton. Do you also attend the dances?
II had always thought of you as one
OF the most faithful members Of the
Walnut-st church-one who Is al
WAYS there, when you can come
not like some members whose names
are on the book. Surely you haven't
been dancing and playing cards
very long?
mot for a great while" respond
ed Abbott, with the obstinancy or
good conscience wrongfully accused.
The secretary no longer held him
under her foot--the last icicle-prick
OF her tongue had liberated him.
"Only since Fran came, l am
sure" she said, feeling him escap-
ling She looked at him with some
think like scorn, inspired by right
eous indignation that such as he
could be Influenced by Fran. That
look wrought havoc with the halo
he had so long blinked at. as II
swung above her head.
Does that mean" he inquired,
with a steady look that you i'm
agine Fran has led me into bad
habits?"
81 trust the habits are not fixed, :"
rather contemptuously. Il hardly
think you mean to desert the church.
and lose your position at school, for
the sake of--of that Fran"
81 hardly think so. either re-
turned Abbott. And now I'd better
go to my school-work."
Fran Is imprudent," said Mrs.
Gregory. in distress, but her heart
Is pure gold. I don't know what all
this means but when ! have had
talk with her"
"Don't go, Professor Ashton" In
terposed Grace. as he started up.
until you advise me- Shall ! tell
Mr.. Gregory? Or shall | conceal II
on the assurances that II will never
happen AGAIN."
Abbott seated himself with sudden
Ipersuasiveness. Conceal 1t, Miss
Grace, conceal IT." he urged.
'Tf you will frankly explain what
happened-here before Mrs. Gregory
so she can have the real truth, we
will never betray the secret. But II
/ you can not tell everything, ] shall
feel IL my duty don't know how
Mrs. Gregory feels about it-but
must tell Mr.. Gregory"
/ IHootinuadl