The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-05

manner alone which Witnessed 10 'hc
late prison life and discipline; the tim
"a. interval spaced movement OF the
lockstep bore its witness as well.
He cast but one sickly glance OF con-
fusion at Burton Temple. Then he
turned 10 the woman who stood stone
still mt one side of the door staring at
him piteously.
Gamma. I've been pardoned," he said.
coming 10 her quickly. II came here
at once, you see. want TO speak with
YOU for a moment alone" His words
were hurried, furtive. like the jailbird
accustomed TO sneaking whispers In
the prison line to his pal. lnvolun-
tarily the wife shivered.
There's no need. Robert" she an
swered DULY. There's nothing to con-
ceal now: they know who l am"
YEARLY she turned TO Temple. "The
pardon has been granted" said she.
Temple bowed, without speaking.
"Yes," broke in Granger with nerv-
Gus haste. They've been working for
n pardon for some time, you know.
You've seen IL in the papers, haven't
YOU? You see, the public felt that
was innocent unjustly condemned.
So
He paused, seeing slight, beseech-
ING gesture of his wife to Temple. The
big financier understood and, turning,
quit the room quietly. leaving man and
wife together. Mrs. Mason. whose
curiosity was quite as alive as her
conscience stayed. 1t wouldn't do to
, miss this meeting. Maybe 1t was her
duty to stay!
81 want you to leave this house, TO
come away with me at once. There's
no longer any need for proofs OF vim
dication, you Sec" Granger said to
Anna. hastily kissing her.
she submitted, battling down the
shudder of disgust which the touch OF
his lips fetched her. After all, he was
her husband.
"Yes, I'll go with you," she said life
lessly. She wondered how she could
live with this thief all the rest OF her
days.
"You see. Anna, every one knew
was innocent; every one believed In
me- Now i must get away to some
place where l can rest, where no one
will ask me questions or. harry me,
for I'm tired to death-to death. Oh"
still catching no responsive light on
the immobile face before him, lit was
your belief in me, Anna, that gave me
courage all along"
She looked at him, shuddering.
"But / don't believe in you, Robert"
she said. 81 know"
Under the mans prison pallor rose a
sort of grayish fright.
"Iinow, Know what" he asked
sharply.
81 know that you are not innocent.
Robertw
At those words all the bravado went
out of Granger, as tiny spark sud
denly goes out touched by block OF
ice.
"Sh-h-h! What do you mean any
how? am innocent; 1 am" He did
not whisper now; he almost shrieked,
even as he had in court that day when
: the Jury pronounced him guilty. And
now, as then, he fancied he saw over
his head the cruel Roman symbol of
vengeance, the faces and the ax-saw.
too, the calm women who spin the
thread Of life, crouching on the shad-
, owy frescoea wall Of the courtroom. /,
naked skull at their feet.
Something seemed to grip his throat
y He strangled an instant, then b,
a coughed and spat. He drew his hand
9 across his eyes and pulled himself TO
gether.
IL am innocent, innocentr he in
n sisted.
l. Don't! Don't Robertw cried Anna
pity at the shameful sight of her per
d jured husband rising in her heart. +"
n know the whole of it, I've read thu
}, letter you wrote to Cornelius Brady
+ you see"
IS He shook as a man seized suddenl
by some deadly disease. Then in
n stinctively, fearfully, he looked to
> ward Mrs. Mason.
''She knows all,' said Anna quietly
Il "Who has that letter? Where is II
Has Temple got it? My God, VIII,
n don't you tell me?"
Is There is no letter now, Robert.
70 read 1t, and burned 1t without think
~ ing"
"You destroyed It? Then it can't b.
used against me! oh, Anna, you're
3 trump He seized both her hands an,
d kissed them in frenzy of relief. Ever
u In that pivotal moment, though, whel
the weight of months had fallen iron
him and left him light, suspicion
~ came to him, jailbird suspicion.
= but you said without thinking
Without thinking what, Anna?"
g without thinking that as well n
convicting you that letter was the onl,
)" evidence to vindicate. Mr.. Temple" an
= swered she calmly.
- Then Mrs. Mason, with a sneer
made 1t plain.
= Maybe your wife feelH that an innc
cent man mustn't be sent to prison
!, Mr.. Granger. or maybe she feel
some stronger motive. remember tina
~ you were adverse to her staying O.
here the day that I saw you. Now.
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