The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-31
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iaihily, and l have quite made up my
mind that In no way or manner can
MS family become identified with any
steps he may take to escape the pen.
atty OF his mad act | am his father
and | SUPPOSE, under the circum.
Stances, ought to say something. But
nave decided not to. | don't wish
10 give the American public anv ex-
cuse to think that | am palliating or
( condoning his crime Gentlemen.
wish you Gocd day"
Annie. who had been listening in.
tently, al once saw her opportunity.
MI Je%rics had taken no notice Of
her presence, believing her to be
newspaper writer like the others. As
the reporters took their departure
and filed out Of the room, she re.
NAMED behind AS the last one disap-
peared she turned to the banker and
said:
May | speak to you a moment?"
he turned quickly and looked at hs~
IN surprise. For the first time he
was conscious of her presence. Bow.
Ing courteously, he shook his head:
i am afraid | can do nothing for
you madam-as I've just explained to
your confreres of the press"
Annie looked up at him, and said
boldly:
i am not reporter, Mr.. Jeffries. I
am your sons wife"
lhe banker started back In amaze
ment. This woman, whom he had
taken Tor a newspaper reporter, was
an interloper, an imposter, the very
last woman in the world whom he
would have permitted to be admitted
to his house. He considered that she,
as much as anybody else, had con-
trlDuted to his sons ruin. Yet what
could he do? She was there. and he
was too much of gentleman to have
her turned out bodily Wondering at
his silence, she repeated softly:
I'm your sons wife, MIR. Jeffries."
The banker looked at her a mo-
nent, as If taking her in from head to
foot. Then he said coldly:
Madam, l have no SON." He hest.
tated, and added:
L don't recognize"
She looked at him pleadingly.
But | want to speak to you. sir"
MI. Jeffries shook his head, and
moved toward the door.
Il repeat, l have nothing to say"
Annie planted herself directly in his
path. He could not reach the door
unless he removed her forcibly
Mr.. Jeffries,' she said earnestly.
please don't refuse to hear me-
please"
He halted, looking as If he would
like to escape, but there was no way
OF egress. This determined.looking
young woman had him at & disad.
vantage
L do not think" he said icily, that
there Is any subject which can be of
mutual interest,"
"Oh, yes, there is," she replied eag.
erly. She was quick to take advan-
tage of this entering wedge into the
mans mantle of cold reserve.
Flesh and BLOOD" she went on
earnestly, lis of mutual interest. Your
son is yours whether you cast him off
or not. You've got to hear me. am
not asking anything for myself It's
Tor him, your son. He's in trouble.
Don't desert him at a moment like
this. Whatever he may have done to
deserve your anger-don't-dor't deal
him such blow. You cannot realize
what it means in such a critical situa.
:
"'endly with him-you don't need to
~ be friends with, him. But don't
ce what the effect will be if you.
his father, publicly withdraw from his
support? Everybody will say he's no
good, that he can't be any good or his
father wouldn't go back on him. You
know what the word is. People will
condemn him because you condemn
him. They woa't wen give him a
hearing. For Gods sake, don't go
back on him now!"
MIR. Jeffries turned and walked to-
ward the window, and stood there ga.
zing on the trees on the lawn. She
did not see his face, but by the ner-
vous twitching of his hands behind
his back, she saw that her words had
not been without effect. She waited
in silence for him to say something
Presently he turned around, and she
saw that his face had changed. The
look of naughty pride had gone. She
had touched the chords of the ia
theirs heart. Gravely he said:
"Of course you realize that you,
above all others, are responsible for
his present position"
She was about to demur, but she
checked herself. What did she care
what they thought of her? She was
lighting to save her husband not to
make the Jeffries family think better
Of her. Quickly she answered.
well, all right-Im responsible
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