The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-08-19

I've stood back of you i'm
Eric thrust his face close to the 9TH
err. do YOU mean to tell me that
Jack Payson hasn't had the whole story
from you? Answer me that question
You can't deny It."
Adam fell back step. genuine
as~tonishment In his face.
Mol" Why do you ask7 What has
he said to lead you 70 believe-Non-
sense! He doesn't know II. It's inn
possible. Eric, there isn't a soul on
this earth that knows the truth, except
Jack knows-rm sure he knows"
cried Eric hotly. And how could he
know, except through you? ! know
what he is to you. But. even at that,
IL was a blamed scurvy thing to do"
The look in Adams eyes put a sud-
den check on the ruthless words that
were rushing to his lips. The mans
face had turned a CHASTITY blue. He
glared for an instant into the fierce
back, reaching out with. his hand for
the support OF a chair. The hue Of
apoplexy had covered his face. Eric
had seen a man who looked like
this. He was filled with a sudden con-
sternation. Was h man about to die?
Look out, Mr.. Adam" he cried out.
"Herel Sit down. Ill take 1t all
bdCA- u buO0Auu y nave bdlu Iudl- Il III
half crazy-Im out OF my senses"
Adam waved him off. The purplish
hue receded and left his face almost
sallow.
You mean that you take back what
you said about-about what?" he de-
manded.
About your having told MIN. OF
course"
".Ah, I See" said Adam, fixing Eric
with eyes In which lay the light OF
humble appeal. You don't take back
the other"
Eric's gaze wavered. That's neither
here nor there. We won't discuss It,
IL you please"
Just as you please. Eric" said Adj
am slowly. Then with q positive snarl
In his tones: He doesn't know. Get
out OF your head. No one knows.
No heed know. Let me finish. I'll
put an end TO the whole game IL you
insist. Give me a week-no, q month.
I'm getting sick OF the thing myself.
The pleasures all gon out Of IL. I'm
not altogether heartless; 1 can Eve
feel sorry for Horace. But we've got to
use Judgment discretion. / can't go to
him today with my lie about Chef
wynd's death in some foreign land-or
sea 1t will have to be worked up slow
ly, deliberately. I've got the thing liked
in my mind. I'll tell him that the boy
was killed In the South American rev.
olution now In progress in"
mo, mol" cried Eric, pounding the
mantelpiece with his clenched hand.
nm going to make a clean breast OF it.
Pm going to purge my soul Of all that
curses it. No more trickery, no more
lying, no more subterfuge, Mr.. Adam.
I'm not u~ngrateful for what you've
done for me, God knows I'm not. I
can only curse myself for letting 1t go
on so long. I've been a dog, a coward,
IA demon. That's tia demon. But
1 can't go on with it. 1 just can't"
Adam laid a hand on his shoulder.
You'd better be guided by me, my
boy he said kindly. II am your friend
and I am In full possession of my wits.
Which Is more than you can say. Let
II go as I have planned. There's no
harm in that. I'll go to Horace in a
few days n put his mind at rest for
ever. / will produce positive proof thac
Chetwynd is dead and"
A sharp cry broke from Mary's lips.
The two men were again conscious Of
her presence In the room. She was
standing near the window with her
back to the light, her hands clasped
over her breast. .s,r,..
Eric! What Is he saying" she cried
in a shrill, unnatural voice.
Her brother hesitated and then
sprang to her side.
II don't know how to tell you, Mary
dear. It's such a horrible Yes! I'll
get 1t owe with. I'll begin with you,
Mary. DO you remember the night you
dreamed that Chetwynd-" d.
For sake, boy" groaned
Adam, stop and think before you do
this"
mo! You remember that night.
Mary, don't your" he rushed on, some
thing like frenzy taking hold OF him.
six years ago? / slept on the floor
in"
Yes, yes. / remember" she cried. be-
wildered.
well, that was the day that Chef
wynd died. He did not run away. Mr..
Carr has not been looking for him all
these years. He's been dead all the
time" He stopped to pull the collar
away from his throat.
Adam Carr dropped his arms de-
jectedly and turned away.
'Impossiblel" gasped Mary. why
why, Uncle Horace has been expect
ing him home all" .
Uncle Horace doesn't know. No one
knows but Adam Carr and-I. Sit
down here beside me, grille. I'll tell
you the whole story, and Adam Carr
will vouch for 1t, I'm going to tell
Uncle Horace, too. He can do what he
likes with me-hang me, If he wants
to-but I've just got TO tell"
He drew her down beside him on the
sofa, over in the darkest corner OF the
room. Then, for 10 minutes, he deliv-
cred his soul to her. She sat as one
petriied, white and still, staring with
unblinking eyes at his twitching, dis
torted face all the while he poured out
his unhappy story. ..... i
Once her gaze was diverted, eve 30
briefly, to follow his as IL went to the
broad, m~otionless figure OF Adam Carr,
who stood at the window looking out
upon the street. ..... ...
But, Mary, Mr.. Adam says 1t was
not murder" pleaded Eric In con-
clusion. HE says 1t was an accident.
1t might Just as well have been ! who
went over ..|.-.
"And he's been dead all these years."
she murmured. out there in the
ocean,"
Yes" .
He can't be washed ashore? II was
a great iron chest, you say?" h went
on DULY. Her hand went to her temple.
For heavens sake. Mary, don't put
it." r. .M. .... ns
"And they think he is stin alive?"
He nodded his head slowly, his lips
writing.
"Ohi" she cried, as IL in dire pain. A.
great shudder ran through her body.
How horriblel oh, Eric, 1t was not