The Washington herald., 1912-02-04
The Story of Charles Kieins Thrilling Play NOpelized by w.

and knowing instinctively that there
must be truth in them, parried his plea
by pointing to his mad conduct.
There Must Be Reason"
@Now, then, what has your 'explana-
ton 70 do with the fact that you have
entered this house like a thief in the
night and-Oh, Wilbur she broke off
with catch in her voice. "And l be-
lieved in you so, Wilburl / always be-
lieved in you--in spite of what my hus-
band has said Can't you explain1"
She was pleading now--pleading with
him to save her shaken faith in him.
There must be reasonp
"Yes-there was some-reason," he
said hesitatipgly, avoiding her eyes.
"But none admitted by any Iaw-social
or moral. Judge for yourseifP and he
faced her, his voice vibrating with pas
sion. "A group of men have intrusted
their fortunes to me, and they have
been driven to the wall by bigger in
terests. AT a critical moment this
gigantic money trust threw the country
into panic and cut us. off from as
sistance. The direct object of these men
was to ruin usl
They didn't care whether thousands
OF our depositors suffered, so long as
they ruined usp he continued passion
ately. They wanted il all for them
selyesl 1t was then that we overbor-
rowed our capital in the hope Of maxi
ing enough to save our thousands of
poor devils who had invested their
money with u.s.
This act broke technical law. The
big interests, who were watching US
closely, found il out and set the govern
ment machinery to work against us,
and the government he added bitterly,
has turned us over TO the tender
mercies of Mr.. James Darwin. The de-
struction of these notes"--he held up
the enyelope-"will save my father and
my friends from a long term of inn
prisonmentP
Mr.. Emerson gasped Catherine.
Her eyes had never left his face dur
ing this long speech, and there was no
doubt IN her mind that he was telling
the truth.
This evidence" he went on bitterly,
was sent this evening by one of our
most trusted officials, who allowed him.
self to be bribed by Mr.. Darwin into
betraying his friendsl You see, the re-
former doesn't hesitate to- corrupt a
man to prove that corruption existsP
And Il was to save your father and
Your friends that you came toto"
she asked in a low voice. A spasm OF
grief and dread momentarily twisted
his features at the mention Of his
father.
"He is as innocent as childp he
exclaimed earnestly but unsteadily.
He trusted in me implicitly and IL"
-he turned his head-"I am respon-
slble for his present predicament. By
Cod II he gets to prison" he
cried wildly. IL can't bear to think
of i'll You see to what it has driven
meP
She walked quietly up to him and
gently took the envelope out of his I'M
resisting hands.
will the destruction of these notes
save personally" she asked
1t might don't knowp he replied
confusedly. Even his splendid nerves
strain of the past weeks. "Pm a marked
man My success has been phenomenal
and | have great many enemies. I've
done wrong, Catherine. acknowledge
it-and | ask no forgiveness for my
%AA bNb taiAu AihPiOAG 10 NAAaA lllC
innocent may not suffer with the
guiltyP
"The innocent do suffer with the
guilty" she replied. and hated herself
as she did it. "Mr. Darwin says it is
better the innocent should suffer than
that the guilty should escape"
We'll, my father shan't suffer for my
sins-l've made up my mind to thatH
he declared, in low, determined tones,
as ne slowly advanced toward her.
You mean you have made Up your
mind to add the crime of stealing to
your folly in coming here to-night%
He nodded. "If / refuse to allow you
to take this"-she looked at his feverish
eyes and the grim set Of his jaw-"you
will take it by force-is that what you
meanp she asked, gently. He con-
tinued to advance as she slowly backed
away.
Give II to me, Catherine he COM
manded, abruptly She started and put
out her hand in an involuntary ges-