The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-11-21
The
PaternOster Ruby
BY Charles Edmonds Walk

away from him. I'll cut your heart
ont for thatN he snaried. ana started
for Fiuette. F1uette hastily jabbed
the letters into his coat pocket
grabbed ND the oandlestick and threw
u above his head. The light was ex.
tin4uished, and the candleetick
crushed upon Pages head.
TT was an inspiration that made me
press the ruby into the soap; I
couldn't have found a better hiding
place II I had searched the house
I was no longer needing him. The
last doubt had been removed. After
all. then. Alfred Fluette was the
gullty man.
Despite his protestations. when I
left headquarters the last glimpse I
had Of Burke was through the barS Of
a cell door.
went directly to the Fluette resi-
dence TO inform Genevieve that her
apprehensions and uncertainties had
At last cryStsllixed into dread reality.
I shall not dwell upon this wretched
conference; II u quite enough to say
that the poor girl was torn with grief,
yet not wholly convinced.
"Knowles,"-she was clinging to my
arm, her voice hoArss and distressed
1T Is too terrible--too monstrous for
belief. cannot do it-can't believe
it-tnless I hear the words from
Uncle Alfrsd's own lips. He II here
now; he didn't 20 downtown to-day.
The horrible charge has bsen made
confront him with It. He's upstairs
with Aunt Clara"
Very WE'LL" 1 quietly returned.
you 60 and ask him, as calmly -
possible. to come down to his study.
Don't alarm Miss Belle or her mother;
u may not be necessary"
Moving blindly toward the stairs.
she paused on the first landing and
turned to me Q tragic face.
! "Courage!" I whispered.
Then she found the strength 70
carry her on to tho end Of her revul-
sive errand. went direct to the
study, and waited.
Fluette came In hastily. his manner
Wild. his face white and haggard.
Genevieve. distressed and heartbroken.
followed close behind him. She closed
the door. Tho man began speaking at
once. incoherently. In q harsh, stri-
dent whisper that signifled CONSTRUCTED
throat muscles.
$50! IT'S come 1t lasti You-ksep
It from-from-keep Il from my wife
and daughtsr!"
I answered him roughly. In an at
tempt to keep him from breaking
completely down.
pull yourself together. man! What
sort of way Is this to act?" I sur
veyed his abject ngure an instant.
then added with some bitterness: ut
10 not that you fear. but your own
conscience"
Belle Fiuette came In a. I was
speaking.
Genevieve drew suddenly back tn
q Swallowed corner. wringing her
hands with . helpless, Departing
gesture. Fluette rose unsteadily to
his feet.
The mans look darted feverishiy
between the two girl:-Genevieve
well-nigh overcome. while the smile
on Bellies handsome face quickly
gave way to an expression OF bewil-
derment. and then to . dawning one
Of alarm.
Papa" Belle faltered. her voice
quaking with the fear that suddenly
gripped her heart, what Is II? What
does this meant" Then, a. she
started blindly toward him, she ut.
tered one piercing, asonisins cry:
Internationally he brushed aside her
bssseching arms. He did not answer
her directly; his words were q re-
Spouse to the charge that had not
yet made.
Man. you are right" he said husk-
lily. ''it II my conscience. II Is not
you that accuse me, but the pure
eyes Of these two innocent girls-the
unspoken reproach OF that broken.
white-haired woman who sits In 81
ience upstairs--those fling the charge
into my facs--ssar II into my very
nj
night.
I who killed Felix Page"