The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-01-30

looked and how he had acted. As he re-
peated the description her perplexed.
even doubling. expression caused him
to hesitate. but she shook her head ~
II putting something out Of her mind
and signifed that he was to proceed,
Il would not have known him. he
concluded
He had not touched whisky. you
say-none since"
Not In three years. 1t has wrought
An unbelievable change In him"
Il knew him. David before he drank
at all" she said staring past him.
Perhaps the change would not be so
great to me-"
He has aged many years. There
are hard. desperate lines In his face.
You would see . change, I am afraid.
Mrs. Braddock."
She was silent for . moment. 60
ON. David" she said. suddenly passing
her hand before her eyes in . move
ment a. expressive ~ II was involun-
| tary. Dick Cronk has Q certain
amount Of inAueaes over him. yoe
say"
1T will not last. When Colonel
Grand hears that he 10 back In town
his hrst step will be to have him
thrown into Jail on one pretsxt or An
other. Braddock realizes this. He has
made up his mind to strike nrst. !
think he believes in you. Mrs. Brad
dock-in fact. l am sure he does. l
know he loves Christine. But he hates
Colonel Grand even more than he
loves her or-you. He"
oh. he does not love me. David.
You need not hesitate" she said
drearily.
AS l have already said. he gave
Dick half promise that he would
try to see you. He has two questions
he intends to ask. ! believe. I think.
Mrs. Braddock, you will be doing a
very wise thing II you see him-of
your own free will. He will probably
insist on seeing you in any event
even in the face Of opposition"
It was then that she laid her trem-
bling, icy hand on his and said. Search
for him until you find him."
David hesitated a moment before
putting his next question. 1t touched
on q very tender subject.
Have you thought of divorcIns
him?"
mo. David" she said quietly. 81
made my bed years ago. as Joey would
say. Tom Is Christine's father. He
Is my husband. You may well say
God help both of US. But, David. while
I cannot live with him. intend to re-
main his wife to the end. am ready
to promise anything to him II he will
go away. I will. give him all Of the
money received for my share of the
hateful business, He must accept II
quietly, sanely. 1t Is for her sake. and
he must be made to see 1t. There IL
one thing to his credit. David shall
not forget 1t. When he was arrested
he thought of Christine and-and-
we'll, he gave an assumed name. al
alias, to the police. Colonel Crane
kept his own silence. and for years h
has held this over me as a threat
Christine is no longer the little. un
heard OF circus rider. She is-well
she is a parsonage. Do you under
stand?"
He nodded his head She went OF
nurriedly.
Tell Tom want to SO him. Tel
him I am ready to discuss anything
with him. Tell him that nothing mus1
happen that can injure her"
HE may insist on seeing-her."
She does not know that he has beer
in prison." she said miserably.
But If he should insist?"
II should have to prepare her. Da
yid. She knows that he is alive-but-
Listen, David" She leaned forward
to give emphasis to her words. III he
comes to her now with the story OF his
his wrongs, of his sufferings, she
will forget all that has gone before
Her heart Is tender. l am afraid oi
the stand she may take-and she may
compel me to take it with her.
I'll do all that can, Mrs. Brad
dock, to" he began. The sound ol
voices in the vestibule came to them
at that moment Good nights were
being called from the steps to the
street DelOW. l Heu lile uool wan opeu
ed and closed quickly. Some one came
RAPIDLY down the hall. There was q
swift rustling Of skirts. the low hum
ming OF an air from "Pinafore." Da'
yid was on his feet In an instant. Wis
IDLY excited by the impending encoun'
ter.
Christine came into the library. She
was halfway across the room before
she realized that the tall young man
beside her mother was stranger. She
stopped. Her questioning gaze linger.
ed on his face. His smile puzzled her
Her eyes narrowed, then suddenly
they were distended. Her lips parted
In amazement, tremulously struggling
into a smile of wonder and unbelief
No one had spoken.
TIT is David!" she said. a quaver
of breathlessness in the soft tones
He sprang forward, his hands OK.