Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-12

Il don Know. SIT, OHlN Ga near
queer sounds. as il somebody m'-lt Tee
trying TO enter the house. Just nj day
light il WIS. sir. and | was going &c
ask you if Won noticed anything wrong
in this r0am. I've examined all the
other windows and doors in the hcuS'.
She WAS staring with unmiStakahe cu
rioSity at the flowers on his desk
Then you haven't been in here this
morning. Hannah?" he asked.
How could | come in when the door
is always locked and you carry jhe key :
in your pocket, sir" asked Hannah
with surprise. Il haven't been neat
the room since | came in the other day
to ask you about Joe"
Very true Hannah had forgot.
ten. No. didn't hear any sounds last
night. Very likely 1t was Il cat on the .
piazza roof" He was impatient fot
her 10 be gone.
I'll have to think il WAS that. sir
And Hannah went away apparently
dissatisfied with the hack Of pxplaua
ton of what to her had been matter
for excitement ard investigation.
John Fleming stood there staring n
the whlte flowers on his desk.
How bad they come there? lie
asked himself the question again. foI
Hannah was innocent of placing then
there. he was positive. Such delicate
sentiment was not in HannahS line
anyway.
There was only one person who
could have done it. and that was the
VIII oil u
in the face OF all thinGs-Anne, the
unforEiving.
Suppose he entertained that wild
superstition. that Anne had plucked the
flowers and placed them there how
could she enter the locked room? The
answer was before him as his glance
included the glass doors that led TO
the garden porch. The bronze door
key lay on the carpet, but the door
was locked. had doubtless been locked
from the outside by one who had
pushed his key in and opened the door
with duplicate.
Who had such n duplicate key!
/ What person would use it for the in.
nocent purpose Of placing that white
flower. symbolic OF resurrection, upon
/ his desk?
! Who. but Amer
lie must go to her long closed room
and look for the duplicate key she had
| owned. If 1t was not there it meant
that hope and happiness were not
dead after all. Only Il forgiving Anne
could have placed the white flowers
on his desk.
He went upstairs 10 her room and
unlock d the door and entered. The
curtains were drawn, and the air was
close and smelled Of dried rose leaves.
John knew that there were several
jars of fragrant rose petals about the
room. Anne loved them.
He lifted curtain and looked for
the key in places where she might
have kept it. but 1t was nowhere to be
found Overcome by the task of
touching her belongings, stung to the
quick by hitter recoIections he flung
himself into an armchair and closed
his tired eyes outside the world was
golden with the sunshine Of an Easter
morn Within his closed heart little
flower of hope was springing to re-
newed life
He did not hear Hannah's voice lift
ed in surprise and as suddenly hushed.
He did not hear hesitating steps COM
ing up the stairs The knob turned
gently, and a slender, pale faced wom-
an came in. At first she did not see
him She was looking at the familiar
room with tear blind eyes. Her sud
den sob of grief aroused him. and hus-
band and wife faced each other in the
dim light of the long closed room.
Anne" he said hoarsely, and then
stared at her
John" she said brokenly. 81 have
come back to ask your forgiveness.
More I cannot expect. Nay, listen. I
thought was doing right to stand by
my father and brother. Alec swore
that it was you who had diverted the
funds OF the firm to your own uses
and you stood back and only smiled.
You denied nothing
Early this morning ! came and en-
tered the library with the use Of my
duplicate key | placed some flowers
there because love you. John, and in
spite of my belief I'm your wrongdoing
my love was the -undying-and
| wanted you to know it.
This morning a letter has reached
me from Alec You know he went TO
Australia after the business was wound
up. and he has told me all-all Can
you forgive us-father and me?" She
would have fallen at his feet had h..
not lifted her in his arms and held her
close to his heart
II can forgive everybody. even poor
weak Alec. who has proved himself a
man after all by acknowledging his
, guilt" declared John
, There was silence for n few mo,
nRnts robin was singing in the
cherry tree outside the window. The
, Easter sunshine FELL warmly upon them
Come. my wife" said John NJ last
Iii Is Easter morning The Lord has
, risen; the world has been made new
d, for every one We Will begin life
anew. Let us 70 to your father
March II IN american