The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-03

We've got himl cried Craven. with
fierce gladness.
'What fool. what beastly little
fool, he was to put that all down IN
writing" was Temples only comment.
.HuhY said Craven rehectively.
"Oh, / don't know. Pretty slick,
think. That agreement covered In
writing. you see, did the job. made him
sure of getting his money. Wen, we
won't need that information about the
New York Central stock now, VIII we,
old boy? The woman in the case ana
all other such little things are super
fiuities now, EN-"
"sure they're superhuities." agreed
Temple, smiling. There's no call 90
rub IL in on the poor villain"
"remple, lock this gilt edged precious
thing up at once" said Craven, hand
ing him the letter. cant take any
chances with this. Your good name.
your honor. is there, there. under
stands"
Temple crossed with the letter over
to his big safe. then paused.
"Hang my memory he said. III i
haven't forgotten the combination, as
usual! Call Miss Dale"
When Anna Granger entered, calm,
businesslike as ever, neither of the
men got hint of the way in which
her nerves were tingling nor OF the
volcano of emotion raging back of
those quiet gray eyes.
lawfully sorry to disturb you again,
Miss Dale, but, you see, once more that
pesky combinations clean escaped me,
We must lock up this letter; it's of vi
tai import"
She bowed, not trusting herself to
speak, and, walking over quietly, un'
locked the safe. Temple put the let
ter in and locked the safe himself.
eve win, Miss Dale, we win! he
cried like n joyously excited boy
Then his voice became tender and
grave. IT want 10 talk to you a little
later" he said. Twill you mind wait
ing for me here? Come, Craven, Ester
brooks man is outside and we have e
sign some papers to send down by
him"
When the door had closed behind tn,
men Anna stood for second stocl
still, the pupils of her eyes blackenint
strangely. OF vital Importance! TEN
pies words rang i'm her ears. 1t prob
ably meant her husbands freedom, he
children's Inheritance. Should she
Could she? Wasn't this just what sh
had come for? I'll get 1t for you
Robert" she said.
Throwing back her slender shoul
ders, as strong swimmer to breast thu
waves, she dropped on her knees be
side the safe and rapidly worked thu
combination. She drew out the let
ter. Still kneeling, she raised 1t 81
| that the light from the window fel
across 1t.
At first Roberts well known chirog
raphy danced so that she could no
read his words, but all too soon thu
dancing steadied itself, and the word
stared out in deadly lines of damnini
guilt.
Twice, thrice she read It, drawing
her fingers sharply across her eyes n
if to ward off the lightning. Then
gasping cry rent its way out from
her very heart.
1t was all SO plain now! Her hus
band was not only liar, but a thief
And her children, her little innocen
children, would be branded through
life as the children of a thief-oh, God
Cato yawned. She looked towar,
the fireplace and started. An impuIs
came to her, fierce, swift impuls
such as red Indians have. The ii
gress was awake in her-the tigres
fighting for her offspring.
And like very tigress, too, agile
swift as an arrow, she glided to wher
the little flames beckoned and hel,
the letter close down to them. TIL,
paper writhed and curled as the fir,
caught it adroitly.
IN save you, boys-save you II
spite of your father. in spite Of my
SELF" she breathed, the breath comm,
hard through her open, dry lips.
It had n will Of its own. this paper
and fought the inimical flames brave
ly as they encroached upon its terri
tory. The woman, her fingers scorch
ed brown, held it until it fell away il
charred, glossy scraps, watching /
with a sort of charmed, awful inter
est.
With an effort she raised herself I,
her feet. The gaping doors of tn,
opened safe stared at her. Mechani
cally she crossed over, closed them an,
locked the combination.
Then, inevitably, her eyes sought tn
fireplace. The hooking, dancin,
: flames stung her like so many scor
pion tongues. Was it wild fancy O
: was Cato really watching her witt
that dumb, awful reproach in his eyes
: God in heavenl What had she done
} If she had destroyed the proof Of Rot
ert's guilt she had also destroyed tn
, proof of Burton Temples innocence
| or that she had not thought; she ha
J not had time to think.
! The telephone bell rang. In he
/ dnzed, distorted condition It SCENE
} far away. She did not move to al
swer 1t at once.
I'll take it'll take the messag,
Miss Dale" called Temple cheerful,