The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-07

suner. If the circumstances were on.y
little less disgraceful-a suicides
last letter to the woman he loved
They'll say l drove him to it. They
won't think of his miserable, dishon-
est career. They'll only think of my
share In his death"
Annie shook her head sympathetic-
ally
Yes" she said; Its tough. The
worst OF 1t is they are going to arrest
YOU"
Alicia turned ashen pale.
Arrest met" she cried.
That's what Capt Clinton SAYS"
replied the other gravely. He was
here-hc IS here now-with two men.
waiting for YOU" Apologeticany she
went on: at wasn't my fault Mrs.
Jefries-I didn't mean to. What
could | do? When told Judge Brew
ster, he sent for Capt Clinton. The
police are afraid you'll run away or
something"
and my austand," gasped Alicia,
"he doesn't know, does he?"
NO, ] Gidn't tell them. | said you'd
tell them YOURSELF but they won't
trust you when they know who Won
are. Let's tell the judge-he may
think of plan. Suppose you go away
until" Puzzled herself to find a way
out of the dilemra Annie paced the
floor nervOusly. "Oh. this Is awful"
she exclaimed. What are we to do?"
oCIfd toward Alicia, as if ex.
pecttc s some suggestion from her. bat
her companion was too much over
whelmed to take any initiative.
1T does stun one, doesn't it," went
on Annie. You can't think when it
comes all OF sudden like this. It's
just the way l felt the morning they
showed me Howards confession"
Prison! Prison." walled Alicia.
Annie tried to console her.
mot for long," she said soOthingly;
you can get bail. It's only a matter
of favor-Judge Brewster would get
you out right away"
Get me out!" cried Alicia distract
edly. my God! can't go to prison!
can't! That's too much. I've done
nothing! Look-read this!" Handing
over Underwood's letter, she went on:
You can see for yourself. The wretch
frightened me into such a state Of
mind that | hardly knew what l was
doing-I went to his rooms to save
him. That's the truth, l swear to
God! But do you suppose anybody
Will believe me on oath? They'll
they'll"
Almost hysterical, she no longer
knew what she was saying or doing.
She collapsed utterly. and sinking
down In chair. gave way to a pas
sionate fit of sobbing Annie tried to
quiet her:
Hush she said gently. don't go
on like that. Be brave. Perhaps 1t
won't be as bad as you think" She
unfolded the letter Alicia had given
ner and carefully read 1t through.
When she had finished her face lit up
with joy Enthusiastically she cried:
This is great for Howard! What
a blessing you didn't destroy it! What
a wretch. what hound to write you
like that! Poor soul. of course, you
went and begged him not to do it!
I'd have gone myself, but I think I'd
have broken an umbrella over his head
or something Gee! these kind of fel-
lows breed trouble, don't they? Alive
or dead, they breed trouble! What
can we do?"
Alicia rose. Her tears had disap.
peared. There was look of fixed re-
solve in her eyes.
Howard must be cleared" she said,
land must face it--alone!"
You'll be alone all right" said An.
ME thoughtfully. "Mr. Jeffries will do
as much for you as he did for his
SON."
Noticing that her companion seemed
hurt by her frankness, she changed
the topic.
Honest to Cod" she exclaimed
sood-naturedly, I'm broken-hearted-
I'll do anything to save you from this
this public disgrace. | know what it
means-I've had my dose of it. But
this thing has got to come out, hasn't
it?"
The bankers wife wearily nodded
assent.
Yes. realize that" she said, but
The disgrace of arrest-I can't stand
1t, Annie | can't go to prison even
II it's only for minute" Holding out
a trembling hand she went on: Give
me back the letter. I'll leave New
York to-night-I'll 80 to Europe-Tll
send it to Judge Brewster from Paris"
Looking anXiously into her compan.
ions face, she pleaded you'll trust
me to do that. won't you? Give 1t to
ne, please-you can trust me-"
Her hand was still extended but