Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-22

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were anyone. It was that Fran, and
didn't think even she would do that"
1t was as IL Abbott had suddenly
raised window in raw wind. HIS
temperature descended. The others
manner Of saying "That Fran!" OBJ
scured his glass of the future.
Mrs. Gregory said quickly, Fran
leave the house at half-past eleven?
impossible
How do you know" Abbott asked,
'that Fran left the house at such q
time of the night" The question was
unfair since it suggested denial, but
his feeling for Fran seemed to call for
unfairness to Grace.
II will tell you," Grace responded,
with the distinctness Of one in power.
"At the time, I told myself that even
Fran would not do that. But, q long
time afterward, heard another sound.
from the yard. went to my window.
I looked out. The moon was bright.
but there was q very dark shadow
about the front gate. I heard voices.
One was that Of Fran. The other was
the voice Of" her tone vibrated in it's
intensity-"the voice Of a mani"
1T was not Fran's voice." Mrs.
Gregory declared earnestly.
What man was it?'' Abbott in
CURED. rather resentfully.
II do not know. wish now, that
had called OUT" responded Grace, pay.
ing no heed to Mrs. Gregory. 'That Is
where made my mistake. Tho man
got away. Fran came running into
the house, and closed the door as soft
~ as she sould-after she'd unlocked
1t from the outside! I concluded it
would be best to wait till morning, be-
fore said q word. So this morning,
before breakfast, strolled in the yard,
trying to decide what had better do.
I went to the gate. and there on the
grass-what do you suppose found p
Abbott was bewildered. Mrs Greg
DRY listened. pale with apprehension.
1T was . card" Grace said. with
awful significance. "a gambling cardl
As long az 1 have lived in the house.
nobody ever dared to bring a card
there. Mrs. Gregory will tel you the
same. But that Fran She
had been playing cards out there at
'midnight-and with q man"
II cannot think So. said M1s. Greg.
ory firmly.
After making up my mind what to
d." continued Grace evenly. 81 took
her aside. told her what had seen
and heard. gave her back her card
But how can we be sure she win moi
do it again THAT Is what troubles me
Oughtn't to tell Mr.. Gregory, 80 Z
scandal can be avoided?"
Abbott looked blankly at Fran, WIG
was singing with Ill her might She
caught his look, and closed Ter eyes
Abbot asked weakly: What did she
say?"
Grace answered: "She denied 1t. OF
course-said she hadn't been playing
cards with anybody, hadn't dropped
the card l found. and wouldn't even ad.
NIT that shed been with man. II
tell Mr.. Gregory about her playing
cards with a man at that hour, I don't
believe he will think he ought to keep
her longer, even II she does claim to
be his friends daughter
But you ten u.s." Mrs. Gregory in.
terposed swiftly. that she said she
hadn't been playing cards."
"She said!" Grace echoed unpleas.
antly, "she said!"
'"rhat card you found" began Alb.
bolt guiltily, was it the king OF
hearts?" Possibly he had dropped 1t
from his pocket when leaning over the
gate to- But why had he leaned over
the gate?
Grace coldly answered, II do not
know one card from another"
LET me try to describe it."
II hope you cannot describe the card
I found" said Grace, the presentiment
that she was on the eve Of discoveries
giving her eyes q starlike directness.
II suspect dropped that card over
the fence" he confessed, "for I had
the king Of hearts, and last night,
about that time was standing at the
gate"
"Oh," Grace exclaimed, disagreeably
surprised. II did not know that you
play cards. Professor Ashton. Do you
also attend the dances? Surely you
haven't been dancing and playing
cards very long?'
Not for a great WHILE" responded
Abbott, with the obstinacy Of good
conscience wrongfully accused
'tOnly since Fran, came. am sure, "
she said, feeling him escaping. She
looked at him with something like
scorn. inspired by righteous indigna-
ton that such as he could be influ-
enced by Fran. That look wrought
havoc with the halo he had so long
blinked at, as it swung above her head.
Does that mean." he inquired. with
q steady look. that you imagine Fran
has led me into bad habits?"
II trust the habits are not fixed"
rather contemptuously. Il hardly
think you mean to desert the church.
and lose your position at school. for
the sake of-of that Fran"
Il hardly think 90, either" returned
Abbott. and now I'd better go to my
school work"