Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1912-01-11


Association
pardon for some time. you know
You've seen it 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 f1nancier 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 it was her
duty to stay!
Il 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 see." 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 l
was innocent; every one believed In
me- Now | 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, 1T 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. Il know"
Under the mans prison pallor rose
sort of grayish fright.
"Know! Know what" he asked
sharply.
II know that you are not innocent.
Robert!'
At those words all the bravado went
out of Granger, as tiny spark sud-
denly goes out touched by a block Of
ice.
"Sh-h-h! What do you mean any
how? I am innocent: I 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 frescoed wall Of tho courtroom. a
naked skull at their feet.
Something seemed to grip bis throat
He strangled an instant, then he
coughed and spat He drew his hands
across his eyes and pulled himself to-
gether.
II am innocent, innocenty' he in
sisted.
Don't! Don't. Robert!' cried Anna.
pity at the shameful sight Of her per-
3ured husband rising in her heart. Il
know the whole of it. I've read the
letter you wrote to Cornelius Brady.
you see.'
He shook as a man seized suddenly
by some deadly disease. Then in
stinctively. fearfully. he looked to-
ward Mrs. Mason.
"She knows ALL" said Anna quietly.
"Who has that letter? Where is it?
Has Temple got it? My God. why
don't you tell me?'
There is no letter now, Robert. l
read it, and l burned it without think.
, ing"
You destroyed it? Then it can't be
used against me! Oh. Anna. you're a
trump He seized both her hands and
kissed them in frenzy of relief. Even
in that pivotal moment. though. when
the weight of months had fallen from
him and left him light. suspicion
came to him. a jailbird suspicion.
But you said without thinking
Without thinking what, Anna?"
without thinking that as we'll as
convicting you that letter was the only
evidence to vindicate Mr. Temple" an
swered she calmly.
! Then Mrs. Mason. with a sneer.
made it plain.
Maybe your wife feels that an inno-
cent man mustn't be sent to prison.
Mr.. Granger. or maybe she feels
some stronger motive. | remember that
you were adverse to her staying on
here the day that l saw you. Now.
believe. she thinks Of giving evidence
about the destruction of that letter"