The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-26
CHAPTER XVI.

Curran went in. The mother in
the hall, coming nearer from the tele-
phone presently, heard cry, then all
their voices low and awed. She looked
in as she passed for she would not
enter The men were on either side
the bed, holding Aurelie's hands. Mrs.
Van Hart could not hear what they
said. the girl lying white-taced and
still, and the men bending TO her.
But after while Cur-an rose and
came out. The mother in the hail saw
him pass. and the glitter OF tears was
on his cheeks. He found Janet in the
window-seat as he reached the door.
The mother heard his voice rise joy
fully.
She said that dreams come true.
Janet, Yes-good dreams, child
dreams, like those that sent her out
to find and love me- oh, you should
have heard her say it, Janet. Father
the proudness' " il on her lips"
Janet went with him out into the
bleak night.
+ Where are you going. Wiley?'
II don't know. Yes-back to the
shop--my old shop | thought OF leav-
| ing-selling out, for no onell ever
understand But I'll stay-rll fight 1t
ont. Face 1t all with silence-the
| defeat and questions-and fight 1t out
for Aurelie's sake It's safer--it's
better for her, Janet"
They were passing Highest, along
which a few people were still com
/ ing. The thousands had melted away
from the tragic field out the creek
road. They crossed the Square, and
at the corner OF his office he stopped
( The lights were coming here and
there in the stores, but the place
seemed yet deserted. so still that the
creak OF the frosty trees on the blum
came down 70 them Curran paused
while Janet tore the hem from her
skirt and bound again his forehead
/ where a buckshot had furrowed II.
What an election day" she whis'
pered. II don't think half the county
vote was cast, Wiley. But there's the
Mercury-Journal carrier coming from
the interurban-and the polls closed
at six.
He had no word as he watched her
/ buy a paper from the boy. When she
/ turned, he had gone In the News Office
and was looking at the grimy old
press and the worn cases.
Come here, Wiley"
"Yes?" He went over and looked
down with somber~ eyes to the sheet
she had spread upon his desk.
"The Lindstrom story" had five
columns OF the front. But across the
other two was this head:
"Concede Curran's Election"
He looked up at Janet with nut.
ter: Election? Didn't they see the
News last night?"
No Come out in the backyard,
| Wiley"
He followed TO where she pointed to
the heap of burned paper halfway
along the path to his cottage
For the first time in fifty years
week" She was laughing at his be.
wilderment. Tomorrow when the
excitement is over, peoplell wonder
why-but they'll never know"
} tThey--they elected ,me,"
"Of course. And the Tanner board
will resign-every one OF them, and
Thad. too. from the county chairman
ship. Oh, Wiley. we played more than
politics yesterday, Ask Harlan"
He sat down. Harlan? It's up L
Harlan-everything is up 20 Harlan
He'll protect my little girl-he1
marry her, Janet How everythinl
about her caught me-appealed "a
that old wandering romance in m.
that | never could put by, Eh. I'm
forty, now I'm a damned fool, Well
its the long straight road, now-foi
mo