El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-05-26
In the Web of Life
CHAPTER WI.
ANeW Short Serial Story
By VIRGINIA TERHUNE VAN DE, WATER
Author Of The Two Sisters" etc

CHAPTER XVII.
ALPH MORTON remained stand
IN ing by the piano after Edith had
left him. His back was turned
10 the hail, where the guests and hosts
were chatting merrily. Unfolding the
message the girl had handed him. he
read and reread it. He was mortf-
fled when he noticed that his hand
trembled as he held the slip Of paper.
''hour cousin brought money. +.
saw him. Thinks Il was you. BE
on your Euard-E. Pr
And Edith had seen this He caught
his breath in CONSERVATION as he APP
preclated this fact, then sighed with
relief as he recalled their recent con-
versatiOn. How fortunate that he had
spoken the truth! He had acknowl-
edged that r P" was Mrs EVELYN
Price and that he knew her; that her
husbands name was Ferdinand
what else mad Edith asked him2 Oh.
yes-if Tom knew Mrs. Price He did
not blame himself for acknowledging
that Tom did know her. How could
he have been truthful and said other
wise?
The laughing and talking in the hall
broke in upon his musings. He felt, as
Edith had felt less than an hour ago,
that he must get away from all these
people for while. CHANGING down the
room he saw thai one of the long
French windows at the rear. opening
strolled toward it and stepped from the
brilliantly lighted interior out Into the
dusk Of the spring night
The back veranda faced the orchard
and the soft wind waited 10 him the
odOr of the blossominE fruit trees The
moonlight flooded the lawns and made
the place look like fairyland.
Even Ralph Morton, absorbed as he
was In thoughts Of himself and his own
schemes, paused TO draw in a long
breath of GUgnnfnngg and the
beauty Of the night Going down the
steps he began to walk up and down
the ssphalted walk leading out toward
the garage. Here, at least, he could be |
quiet and think.
He had read the telegram twice and |
now repeated to himself every phrase
of it. He must be sure Of the eXplana- Z
ton he was TO give to Edith What |
about the money How could he eN-
plain the clause about that2 How could /
he tell her that he had borrowed IL /
from Mrs. Price and sent Tom TO re- |
turn it,
An idea flashed upon him so sud /
denly that he came TO an abrupt stand !
still Mrs. Price had not intimated (
that the money had come from him. /
She had simply said that his cousin I
had brought the money. Moreover, the /
money was not his. but Tom's-fOr he \
(Ralph) had not had the money TO pay /
the debt. SO Tom had supplied it.
But what reason could he give Tor
Evelyn's word OF caution TO himself
" ell he would suggest that as AR
Price knew neither Of the cousins. and
had heard his wife speak Of having
met Ralph, he had jumped TO the con-
clusiOn that Tom was Ralph. He need
tell only what was necessary. He could /
even claim that he had no right 10
pry into Toms affairs.
Edith would be too proud TO ask
many questions Her Imagination
would supply details which he might
ezaa IN. ia % IN
Of the case would make her shrinh |
from too close investigation, and she
would attribute any silence on his
part TO loyalty TO Tom.
Loyalty TO Tom, For a moment he
belt a slight QuaIm Of conscience Then
he quieted il with swift iudigua-
tion at Toms having bunEled the
whole affair as he evidently had done.
What a blunderer Tom vas! A boy Of
IS could have managed the matter bet
ter, Ralph Morton simulated and
stimulated resentment and Indignation
until he made himself believe that he
felt both.
J. Macdougall Hay speaks OF con-
science as the handcuff 10 bind men 70
God. Sometimes men use self-decep- ]
ton or disqualification as key TO
unlock the handcuff- Ralph Morton had
little trouble in doing this be had !
used the key so often that he found II
easy to insert IL into the lock for which
he needed il tonight.
With q thrill OF sell CONTAMINATION
he turned and started towards the
house. Entering by the window by |
which he had gone out, he traTersed
the drawing room and reached the hall |
as the guests were making a move
towards departure Several motor cars
were drawn up in front Of the house [
The girls were starting up to the
dressing room to don their wraps
4 have just been out in the garden |
for a few pluffs at a cigaret," Ralph |
remarked TO his host 1T is heavenly !
night" Perhaps someone had seen him !
20 out It was well to tell the truth |
when one could do so with safety
Indeed, It is a fine night" remarked
,Ir. Hale. looking out Of the open front
1Oor There is a glorious moon" he
allied back as he stepped out upon the 4