The Marshall republican., 1913-01-24

.sry serious positfonf" I asked Elm.
rive been accused of--of being .
thief. not suspected. but actually ac-
cusedi Perhaps tomorrow ] shall be
arrested. That means-means hand
cuffs, doesn't III And jailf IT'S sure
to be in the newspapers. Arrests are
a matter Of public record. aren't theyf
Then I will have to vindicate myself
And howf And II I DO, the smudge
will always be there. my name in the
records Of the police. Do you suppose
I am going to let you expose yourself
10 my championf Everybody will be-
1ieve II. except perhaps. your mother.
and Laura. and-and yourself. Miss
Agaxziz believes I'm q thief"
louie, will you marry me tonight
-nowf Give me the right to protect
youf"
NO" I answered promptly.
ITS all darned ~foolishness, Natalie
accusing you. She acted on an i'm
pulse. She will be ashamed OF her.
self when she's had time TO think It
over"
"She didn't act on an impulse; she
isn't that kind. She's sure she's right.
Do you remember that I was IN the
balcony at the time she thinks her
emerald bracelet was stolen"
DO you know that before you came
she suspected Winthrop" no asked.
Yes, I know"
It's all a lot Of tommy.rot. her sus-
picions. I believe she loses things.
No one else has had anything stolen.
II we have a thief here he wouldn't
stop at one jewel, where there are 30
many. II she's in earnest about being
robbed. why doesn't she go to the po-
lice and say sol"
"o-oohi The police," I couldn't re
sist initiating her. well. perhaps
sho's going to the police now. That
that's what I must be prepared for.
She hasn't had time to do anything
yet but tell your mother. Shc won't
gossip, Hap; she's true blue. but OF
cisive after-after accusing ms Sure.
ly your mother will send me awny.
You sec I can't so until she sends mo
Its a contract. Then-I dare not
think beyond that Whatever comes
must face II. with 10 10 help me-"
"And me-don't leave me out. Lou.
lie. You're going 10 marry me. It's
the beat answer ! know to any sus.
%picions."
I'm not going to marry you. Hap.
I've tried to make you see the reason
tho big reason-and there are q
thousand little ones. Don't you sup
pose everybody knows about mel
That I am a salaried servant No,
there 10 no use trying to disguise Il
Everybody knows my position; I'm
not allowed to forget II. There's a
great deal Of assurance In the way
Natalie indicates q vacant chair wbeu
she wants me to all In ut bridge. II
rather amuses me. Mrs. Sargent sent
me for golf balls the other day. actu
ally. Yes. I know. everybody 10 pref
ty decent since Laura kicked up
row about that episode at Mrs. Dyke
mans. but II only served to make Z
moro conspicuous that Mrs. Dyksmar
didn't consider me . guest: I wal
only borrowed for the occasion
Please don't abuse anybody. Moth
Ing has been awkward a. ! expected
II to be. Your mother has beef
heavenly TO me. and society has taker
to mo rather kindly. but MARI,
you--i 0raciousi"
heard the steady beat OF . motor
boat and I paused TO listen. Hal
heard Il, too. II wasn't anything un
usual. except the in~sistsnt bsat Of tn
engine vas familiar 10 me. II mus
have been making twenty miles a
hour.
"That,s winthrop. Isn't ~" Hal
asked.
81 think %. Hes coming prstt.
fast. isn't hs' He doesn't always rae
} like that
We could only So . ~ssarchligh
family, for the moon was 20 bright
Il VA coming toward u steadily
: When almost opposite q isndin
the boat swsrved and came dirsctl
! head on. u stoppsd with . snort an
. puff. the s~sarchlisht wss snapps
out. and some one landed. tied up th
boat and straishtsnsA w asainst Ii
I moonlight.
3 Hello. winthrop!" Hap called.
Hello. old man." Winthrop q
n swsred. He am toward us. Els
/; Mics Codmanf Did you . me con
ingf I oan run away from anybod
on this shore. Wsiii" He dropps
down on the sand. took on his cap an
turned his face to the breeze.
. Were you running away from an,
body!" ] asked.
!" To be continued.