Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-05-07

but this! II they broke him unfairly,
dastardly, III fight"
h nodded. She knew the estrange-
ment. knew 1t as she knew the old are
lov OF men between them. She had no
time to speak until she was with Har-
IAN again In the court. in the judicial
chamber Just off the hall OF justice.
Judge Van Hart was writing at his
then. at sight of his son.
with surprise. At Janet's entry he
arose with his OLD fashioned courtesy
and bowed.
He had no time for speech. Harlan
broke III With the wrath Of a man past
reason. He lowered above the judge
when he reached the table.
Father, what did they do to Cur
RAM"
The judges face flushed and. set to
the impressive study it wore upon the
bench. 1t was as IL he had expected
his from his son, as If he had dreaded
It. But a tremor was in his voice at
the others menac
MIR. Curran has withdrawn"
Yes. yes. But what did you do?"
Il? My SON. / was called into con-
terence With some gentlemen. It-was
rather a matter of Importance party
Importance may say, of immense i'm
portance to the community. They
wished me-wanted representative
men to witness
What did you do to Wiley?"
The judge controlled himself by an
effort. Sit down. Miss Vance. this
very NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
i wish to know" she said clearly.
w demand to know"
'You were there, father. And he has
withdrawn"
A wan smile came to the magistrate.
Very good. l assure you it was vol
untary on his part. Embarrassing,
doubtless. but"-he tried to smile on in
Harlan's face n failed. My boy.
the truth! Something he dared not
Janets eyes We're blazing. "You ac-
cuse him? I demand to know"
The Judge coughed awkwardly. my
dear, it is something you, perhaps,
have not heard-this campaign-the
heat of polittcs"-he spoke deprecating-
ly-he detested politics. eff you will
withdraw. 1 might explain to Harlan.
SINCE he demands it."
II demand it," she cried, 81 shall
not go!"
She shall not CO." said Harlan. do
you know of that old yarn. Janet.
that's been banded about? OF wiley's
marriage years ago."
Yet she answered calmly. Heard
ana 1oFSaNe. OnLy-1r he had only
come to me with it,"
Was that it. father? That"
More than that" the Judge sighed.
1t was a delicate affair to mention be-
fore women. He had that archaic idea
of women which could defend a social
economism that sent them to walk the
street. but would retreat at the sug-
gestion that they really walked upon
legs.
He seated himself. my boy, I do MOI
know how to begin. The man was sent
for. He was told that he was unfit
to represent this sober and moral con-
%stituency at Washington. He was
shown that the truth once Out would
defeat him among our people, even at
The truth?' shouted Harlan; lets
have h TRUTH"
THE gentlemen discussed the
affair with him. He defied them.
We then proved to his satisfaction that
Observation-Disclosures in issue. That
he had a child. in fact-living. And
here!"
They watched him ceaselessly. He
fingered with a paper knife and glanced
out the window. 1t was distressing to
be annoyed by having to tell the truth.
Janet moved at last. breaking the spell
upon them all.
II do not believe" she muttered,
dIlu llGu lOOkeO at the JuQSe WITH STUB
born courage. We'll, then l do! And
Is that all?"
Another detail. This child of his
Is h girl whose notoriety has set the
town by the ears for two seasons, Au-
relic Lindstrom."
They did not answer Then he heard
his son whisper: IT'S a lie!" But
Harlan had turned from them to the
wall.
He has admitted it. 1t was proven
TO his own complete confession"
Without the window the sparrows
twittered. n the fragmentary music
of the band practice came to the room.
Along the street and In the qua the
group could see the passing country
people. the teams: and hear the NOV
ing OF steps In the court house corri-
dor.
Janet spoke again. Always her CALM
ness prevailed. How admitted tt?"
The judge shrugged ~uneasily. you
Just came to tell me that he had with
drawn. Is that not enough? What
answer can you demand more?'
The woman had arisen. She looked
at her watch. From the room she could
see the News front windows: the door
shut. Hemminger's face appearing once
when a lad demanded entrance and was
refused Her head was aching with
the press Of bewildering problems.
Some way out. some light. something
to break the hopelessness OF it all! She
look down the street to the opera
house. the gathering country people
reading the bill boards.
Continued next week.
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