Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-27


that money in my desk?' repeated Betty,
slowly.
Eyes. 1 meant to steal it orr meant
to steal. half of It, but-when you sang
that song about-her promise true. why
1 thought how you'd been good to me.
and-trusted me, and-I sneaked In here
and left the money. The drawer was
open and 1 snapped it shut. Then. when
I made my getaway he pinched me- She
turned to Grimes.
The detective lowered his head as II he
was studying the girl through his eye
brows.
''You told me a different story just
now?" he said.
''Sure I did 1 lied. You know 1 lied
You don't think I'm stuck on gettin' sent
away for ten years. do We? But II it's
got to be her or me, we'll, I won't have
her sent away when all she's done is 10
treat me right and try to save me. you
can take that from Hester Storm:
This is a rare and beautiful instance
of gratitude and DEVOTION, comHei'eo
Bunchester.
That's all right, bish. but want to
know more about this" Hiram turned 10
Hester. who was standing with oowe1
head and clasped hands. WELL Ter gifi
who talks about stealin'I guess some
the honest folks could take lessons from
you. Say, l didn't quite get that ABOUT
how you planned to steal half o TINS
money? Where did the half come IN
Why didn't We plan to steal all OF II:
Then, little by little, with questions from
Grimes and more questions from hiram
the Storm girl told her story, sometimes
in broken words, as her feelings over
powered her. but in the main simply ana
bravely and truthfully. as one who is
strengthened by some higher power. she
went back to her childhood and spoke OF
her sister Resale. She told OF her wan
derings and waywardness. then or ner
visit to Ippingford and her meeting with
Horatio Merle. Then. finally, OF her ef-
forts to return the money and OF the per.
secution she had suffered at the hanus Oh
Anton. She kept nothing back, ana she
made no excuse for herself. she mao
sinned and it was right that she should
suffer.
AS Hester finished her confession every
heart went out to her in genuine SYM
pathy, and Grimes was seen to wipe his
eyes.
81 want to say he remarked. that
I've seen some strange cases in my time,
but when it comes to woman trying 10
steal money over again that she stoieh
once SO as to give 1t back-W3aE, that ) d
new one on me-.
I'VE can't ever tell what q 'woman's go
in to do nodded Baxter.
Anyway, l owe you an apology, MISS
Thompson the detective went on, ana
met Betty's grave. beautiful eyes. Things
certainly did look black against YOU. but
ALL I can say is I'm sorry, miss, m
sorry"
Its all right old man. said Bob.
.Whereupon the Bishop Of Bunchester.
clearing his throat ponderOusly, addressed
these comforting words to Hester storm:
MY dear young friend, 1 am meXpress-
IDLY touched by this story OF your strug,
giles and temptations and Your splendid
moral victory. 1t is a most meritor1ous
case and one that the Society OF Pro-
gressive Mothers will take up with en-
thusiasm. AS for the outcome OF TINS
affair." speaking for the Progressive Moth
ers' Society and for myself. as bishop OF
this diocese, I can assure you that there
will be no unpleasant consequences SO
far as you are concerned. The money
has been returned. You have truly re-
pented Of your sin. and you have given an
illustration of spiritual regeneration that
will long be treasured in the annals OF
the Progressive Mothers Society.
And now, my dear m Miss sys. THOMPSON inY
The bishop turned to Betty, and was
about to launch forth into another sound
ing period when Hiram Baxter inter-
rupted him.
speech. but-I've had a bad day in town,
and-if YOU don't mind takin the de.
tective into the next room and hnisnin
up the details Of this purse business with
chair with signs of physical distress, I'VE
see. I'm just about all in:
.'why, certainly. my dear friend Let
us come in here. And, mot1oning to
Grimes and Hester. he led the way into
the conservatory and carefully closed the
door behind him.
Father! Is anything wrong?' asked
Bob in concern.
''Guardy, you're ill?
With anxious faces the young lovers
~tood hocido the old man. who smiled at
them YEARLY.
Children. I've got bad news for We.
awful bad news for ye,' he said. I've
made: the best fight l could, but that
Henderson bunch, they've done me up.
Independent Copper broke twenty points
today in the New York market. and
was long of the stock. My man cabled
me the tip to sell. but | never got 1t. l
never got it, That cable was held up"
He bent forward. resting his big. grizzled
head on his hands in an attitude of utter
despair. Its all off, children. It's all
Off,
she listened Things had happened so
RAPIDLY in the last few hours that she
had scarcely thought of Lionel and his
Wild sprint for the cable office. Had he
failed to get there in time? II; Had lo he
made some mistake? what could nave
happened to Lionel?
Excuse me a moment" she said, ana
hurrying toward the conservatory. she
threw open the door anu looked apoul
her.
One glance showed that something had
happened, for her eyes fell on MUIR
muring group gathered about Anton and
the detective. And there in the group,
calmly smoking cigarette, was Lionel
FItz-Brown.
'Lionel!' she called, addressing him by
his Christian name for the first time IN
her life. "Please come here-quick." And
then, when he stood before her, very in
dignantly: 1.-The idea of your not COM
ing to tell met
"Tell you about what?" he asked.
blankly.
ABOUT the cable. Did you-were you in
timer
Fitz-Brown adjusted his monocle with
great care. then. gradually. a smile spread
over his face. 'Oh. say! The cable!
You see. got so beastly wet in the
storm, Miss Thompson, that well, the
fact is I had on thin flannel trousers and
they jolly we'll shrunk UP to my knees.
and-haw, haw, haw!" He exploded into
uprOarious merriment.
"Oh, Mr.. F1tz-Brown," she wrung her
hands beseechingly. please tell me II
you got the cable off by 1872"
Lionel laid a reflective foreanger along
his nose. by II? No. No. didn't
You didn't" Betty's heart sank.
"I got 1t of five minutes before T.
Haw, haw, haw!" He fairly doubled up
in his enjoyment Of this witticism.
Like a flash Betty darted back to
Hiram, thrilling with this good news
And at the same moment Grimes entered,
holding q cablegram in his hand.
BEG your pardon. SIR" he said. re-
i,,o tnS