The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-17
She interrupted him once. to ask

o'SH uouplih6, cApIcoSlOA SduoS"
to hesitate. but she shook her head as
If putting something out of her mind
n signified 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. Their
are hard, desperate lines in his face.
You would see a change, l am afraid,
Mrs. ~Braddock."
h was silent for a moment. G
on. David" she said, suddenly passing
her hand before her eyes in a move
ment as expressive as 1t was involun-
tary. Dick Cronk has a certain
mount of influence over him, you
say
1T will not last. When Colonel
Grand hears that he is back in town
his first step will be to have him
thrown into jail on pretext or an
other. Braddock realizes this. He has
made up his mind to strike first. |
think he believes in you, Mrs. Brad
dock-in fact, | am sure he does.
know he loves Christine. But he hates
Colonel Grand even more than he
loves her or-you He
"Oh, he Ices not love me, David
You need not hesitate" she said
drearily.
AS l have already said, he gave
Dick a half promise that he would
try to see you. He has two questions
he intends to ask, | believe. ! think,
Mrs. Braddock. you will be doing a
very wise thing if you see him-of
your own free will. He will probably
insist on seeing you in any event
even in the face of opposition
1t 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 mex question. 1t touched
on a very tender subject.
Have you thought of divorcins
him."
NO, David" she said quietly. Il
made my bed years ago, as Joey would
say. Tom is Christine's father. He
is my husband. You may we'll say,
God help both of us. But, David, while
| cannot live with him, | intend to re
r,oip hic ujfa tn tho an6 am rppGV
to promise anything to him if he will
go away. | will give him all OF the
money | received for my sla of the
hateful business. He must accept il
quietly, sanely. 1t is for her sake, and
he must be made to see it. There is
one thing to his credit. David. I shall
not forget it. When he was arrested
he thought of Christine and-and-
we'll, he gave an assumed name, ar
alias. to the police, Colonel Crane
kept his own silence, and for years be
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 or
nurriedly.
Tell Tom | want to Sc him. Tel
him | am ready to discuss anything
with him. Tell him that nothing mus
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"
Il should have to prepare her, Da
vid. She knows that he is alive-but-
Listen, David" She leaned forward
to give emphasis to her words. "If h
m to her now with the story of hi:
his wrongs, of his sufferings, sht
will forget all that has gone before
Her heart is tender. ] am afraid o
the stand she may take-and she ma,
compel me to take it with her"
"lll do all that l can, Mrs. Brad
dock. to- he began. The sound o
voices in the vestibule came to Their
at that moment. Good nights were
being called from the steps to thu
street below. Then the door was open
ed and closed quickly. Some one cam
RAPIDLY down the hall. There was
swift rustling of skirts, the low hum
ming of an air from "Pinafore." Da
vid was on his feet in an instant, Wis
ibly excited by the impending encoun
ter.
Christine came into the library. Sh'
was halfway across the room befor'
she realized that the tall young mai
beside her mother was a stranger. Sh'
stopped. Her questioning gaze linger
ed on his face. His smile puzzled her
Her eyes narrowed, then suddenl.
they we're distended. Her lips partet
in amazement, TREMENDOUSLY strugglin,
into a smile Of wonder and unbeliet
No one had spoken.
TIT is David" she said, a quave
of breathlessness in the soft tones.
He sprang forward, his hands ex
tended.
"Yes!' he cried, transported by tn
new aspect of loneliness.
She stood straight and slim befor'