The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-12

Association
 
 nothing left for us but to take that laundering motorcar of Temples and drive in!' Craven spoke irately. He was past the limits of patience.
 "I've been talking to her," said Mrs. Mason quietly. ''I think she is soon coming down herself.''
 "Puritans aud petticoatsv' muttered Craven after Mrs. Mason's retreating figure. "I bet there'u be man at that typewriter next time,' looking angrily at the empty desk.
 Temple came in and looked at it too. ''It's my fault,' he said. 'T should have sense enough to remember the combination myself. Poor Miss Dale! She's all tuckered out. We've worked her too hard"
 She's coming down in a few min utes, Mrs. Mason has just said." ob- served Craven, with a slight sneer..
 And she did come down. The door on the other side of the room opened and Anna Granger entered. She was white as alabaster. The full terrible ness of what she had done was tug ging at her heart and soul.
 
 ter?'' cried Temple. rising to greet her. Then turning to Craven: Would you mind giving orders to the chauffeur to have the car ready in about an hour? We'll get there in good enough time"
 "Got to go in that internal eighty horsepower thing. after all. Bet you anything we strike rock or something and hear angels wings on our way!" was Crayen's comment as he left the room.
 Miss Dale"-Temple fixed her gaze with whimsical. inefable smile ''the key to my liberty and my good name lies in my safe wonder. It is you only who can give it to me. I am glad"
 He came a step nearer and a great light shone in his eyes ''It is the prin- cess of my enchanted palace who shall give it to me. That is good" With ore long sobbing that rent it. self straight from her torn heart, Anna stepped back.
 What is it. dear?'' he cried. spring ing toward her. a big, wrapping ten derness in his voice. You know. don't you? l am cleared now. That letter is the proof I have been waiting for. I bring you honor. sweet; the penknife isn't all now.''
 "Oh. wait. wait. just little minuteT' she cried. struggling pitifully for self mastery.
 ,"Oh. but surely you've guessed it, Anna. I love you with a love that has been waiting a good many years. I want you to be my wife. dear. won t you? Won't you?' He was holding her hands now compellingly. fighting for Ter answer in serene. answering g fashion as had ever been his manner of fighting for all things that he want TS much.
 But she swept back from him with a gesture. Then the words came with a rush:
 ''Mr. Temple. I have deceived you. have deceived you from the first I have been here under false pretenses. am not Miss Dale. I am married. have two children. I am-T am Robert Granger's wife! "Yes." she went on breathIessIy. hay ing been awed into silence for a second by the look on Temples face. Robert Granger's " fe. Now you begin to see a little. don, you? I came here to dis cover some evidence that would clear his name. IF spying. sh dowing. track ing could do I meant to get it. I meant to vipdicate him and to send you to prison in his place"
 O God. why did he look at her like thzt? How could she go on? The pained an1azement, the crushed suf- fering in his face, they were -gnawing at her vitals-
 But it was idle" she went on, the sob in her breath cutting like a sword. 'I've failed. I know now that Robert is guilty. l know that you are not. l have found that out "Ah, you needed to be toIdr' He was speaking more to himself than to her. It was the protest of his heart against the blindness of his hearts princess.
 "No. nobody told me: found it out myself. I-I read that letter you put therein the safe. I thoucht it nigh be something that would clear my hu@ band'-
 "Poor little wife. poor little wife was Temples only comment. -"and 1t was just the opposite" sl rent on, struggling to finish her co asslon. "Sun and moon and stars a II the lights of heaven and earth tn ot frightened and left me in. darkn omehow. Oh. 1t was dark. and :! -as groping! I heard my children CT
 ng, and I could not reach them
 ause I had failed, because l h.,d g. en them a father who was thief. A" then-then I saw the flames beckonin in the grate, and I burnt the proof their fathers guilt-burnt it to ashes.
 You burnt His sSntence wcu.C not finish itself. The woman buried her face in her hands that she might not see the agony in his eyes