The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-11-15

think"
When Fleming came hurriedly up
the garden path TO his own door.
he had 10 pull out his latchkey 10
let himself into the house. He
caught sight OF her in the library.
standing motionless. her back 10 the
door. one hand resting on the man.
teipie e. the other dropping al her
side. the fingers between the pages
OF book lie came In quickly. with
"A gay derlsive laugh.
You didn't hear me-" Then. as
she iii not turn. he sobered. Amy.
what is this7 Why, Amy. IL there
anything the mstter7 Is anything
wrong7"
Yes. There is something
wrong
Any" he said. thoroughly
alarmed. what Is the matter?
Tell me-"
Z will tell you Sit down. There:
at the library table. will-shov
you
He rat down. blankly. his lower
lip falling open with perplexity.
She sighed. then came around the
table. stood behind him and laid
the hook down beside him. She
pressed II open. and in silence ran
her finger down the page.
The fire sputtered little; then
a hA~G gff11 Che had iafs
him. and had gone back TO the
hearth-ug. and stood as before. one
hand on the mantelpiece. the other
llstless at her side. The silence
was horrible.
Then. suddenly. Thomas Fleming
ripped and tore the pages out OF the
book and threw them on the logs !.
the quick leap OF the flames shone
on his white face and his furious
eyes. A minute afterward he
spoke. Under that storm OF
outrageous words she bent and
bent and shrunk a little. silently.
Once she looked at him with a sort
~ curiosity. SO this was her hus-
band? Then she looked at the fire.
wnen. choking with anger. he
paused. she said briefly. that she
had teen hunting for her Common
place Book. down on that lower
shelf. and had found-this.
That next half hour left fits per
mAnent mark on those two faces
agony and shame were cut into the
wincing flesh. as by some mighty
die At first Fleming was all rage: :
then rage turned into sullenness,
and sullenness to explanation and
excuse. But as he Gained down.
shame. an old. old shame. that he
had loathed and lived with for a
dozen yeares. n shame that. except
when Amy was too tendorly proud
OF him. he was sometimes able. for
days. or even weeks. 10 forget
this cid shame reared its deadly
head. and looked out OF his abased
and shifting eyes.
After some miserable and futile
explanation had been repeated and
repeated. he stopped TO get HIS
breath. and then still pulling the
hem OF her handkerchief straight
on ner knee, his wife said. In a life
less voice:
Need we talk about II any more ?
On Tuesday we will send II back.
MONDAY is holiday. You can't
send II until Tuesday, Then We
will never talk about II any more. -
Send what back"
The money To Mr. Hammond >
Are YOU out OF your senses?" he
said roughly.
She looked up. confusedly. You
can't send Il until Tuesday" she
repeated. mechanically.
He brought his fist down violently
on the table. Il viii never send it
back Never! You are insane,
Why, It would be acknowled--"
1T would be confession" she
agre ID.
Welt that would be ruin.
Ruin ?"
why, II people knew" he be-
gan.
1T is ruin, anyhow" she said.
duly. Don't you see? The only
thing left is restitution"
Il can't make what YOU call
restitution. without ruin: absolute
ruin! DO you realize what It would
mean TO me. In this town, TO have
II known that borrowed from the
trust and-and had not yet re-
turned it? On the stand, OF course