The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-10-03

do, Evan Blount was not of
@ IN those who make painful task
more painful by needlessly
postponing it. Judge Hemingway was
sitting in chambers. This BlosHnt had
learned when he was returning from
his call upon Blenkinsop. With the
way open before him there was moth
ing to do but to walk in it.
The courthouse was only two
squares east and one south from his
Offices in the Temple court building,
and on one Of the intervening corners
stood the towerlike building Of the
Daily Capital.
It was on the Capital corner that
Blount halted, asking himself how far
he would be justified in Withholding
Gryson's statement from the editor I'M
til after the scandal had been public
property through its appearance on
the court records. Open publicity had
been his watchword from the begin
ming, and was he to hesitate now be-
cause the ties of kinsman were holding
him back?
While he was hesitating before the
door of the newspaper Office a small
red touring car dropped out of the
stream of vehicles in the street and
stopped at the curb. A moment later
he became conscious that the single
occupant of the car was calling to him.
1t was Patricia, and her mood was
reproachful.
st like the way you treat your
friends she said when he had cross
ed quickly to her. 'fWhat have done
that you should send word to me that
you couldn't or wouldn't see meT'
'FYou have done nothtng-noihing at
all,'' he made haste to say. ''I have
been overrun all day with cal1ers-peo-
pie who had much to ask and nothing
to give in return. I had no idea that
you would come SO early when told
Collins to deny mo to everybody. And
there was another thing. If you could
know
terrupted.
The newspaper corner was one OF the
busiest in the city, and its curb was no
place for condolences. Blount stepped
quickly around the front end of the
red car and swung himself into the
seat beside its driver. 'tDr1ve into one
of the quieter Streets he said, 'tand
I'll share the miserable burden with
you, as I have shared all the Others"
And when the little car was creeping
on the low gear out one of the broad
residence avenues he told her all, exag-
gerating nothing and palliating moth
ing.
'I can't reason against the facts,
Evan. You know what you are saying
and why you are warranted in saying
it." she began. "But I still believe alb
so1utely in your father. What are you
going to do?"
''The only thing there is to do he
returned, with a note of harshnesS In
his voice which was only a measure of
his suffering "When YOU picked me
up on the Capital corner was on my
way to Judge Hemingway's chambers
with the affidavits. 1 have taken a
solemn oath, Patricia, and the law
which have sworn to uphold is great
er than
He was going to say sis greater than
any mans immunity but she finished
the sentence otherwise for him
''Is greater than your love for your
father. I suppose I ought to be able to
understand that but 1 am not. Evan,
you must not do it. Every drop of
that fathers blood in your veins ought
to cry out against it."
"Ah,'' he said, with a quick indraw-
ing of his breath, 'tyou' don't know
what it is costing mei'
Truly, don't. Evan, your father
is a great and good man. If he had a
daughter instead of son she would
know it. 1 wish L were his daughter.
should try to show him that blood is
thicker than waterv'
you wish you were his daughter?
Do you realize what you are say
1ng?'' Then, brokenly: Don't, Patricia
Don't make me do evil that good may
come. Can't you understand how I
am driven to do this thing, how every
fiber of me is rebelling against the
savage necessity? God knows I'd give
my life and all my hopes of happi-
ness if the necessity could be wiped
out!''
Instantly she changed her attack.
eff L can't bride you I must and
will convince you.'' she persisted
.sYou are brave man, Evan. Il know,