The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-09-02
What was he telling your. repeat

What was he telling your repeat
Payson opened his lips to speak. then
thought better OF the impulse. He COM
tented himself with along, hard. wen
face.
Some other time, IL you please. he
said tartly. 1T Is duty to get poor
Mary home as quickly as possible.
Come, dear"
But she chung to Eric. ignoring the
outstretched hand. Payson fell away
as Il he had been slapped In the face.
He kept pace with them all he way to
the Werner cottage. but not a word fell
from his lips in all that distance.
1t was quite dark when they came to
the gate; the sharp, chill mist was still
blowing. Mary's teeth were chattering.
GOOD night" said Jack Payson.
Eric hesitated. He had been think
Ing hard all the way UP from the coast,
put ms thoughts were not hard. Some
how, the manliness, the self restraint,
the very thoughtfulness of John Pay
son wrought a subtle change In his es-
tlmate Of the He was wonder
ing II he was not really grateful to
him, II he was not, after all, more than
grateful. Years ago he had been sor-
ry for him. Was he not sorry for him
now?
Won't you come in, Jack?" he asked
abruptly, holding the gate open
PaysOn stared, first at one, then the
other. He began to stammer an apol-
ogy for hurrying on.
Come to the fire." said Mary, look
ing at him owe Eric's shoulder.
The look in those dark. piteous eyes
decided him.
II want to be friendly with you,
Eric" he said, "and I want to speak
with You about something that has just
TRANSFERRED. I will come in for a few
minutes. FEST of all, Mary must get
out Of her wet clothes. And you. too.
Something hot to drink"
And bed for her." added Eric mean
ingly.
They entered the cottage. The room
was quite dark, except for the space
directly in front of the dying embers
in the fireplace. The trio. with their
shadows. filled the corner Of the room
nearest the door, where they had
paused at a word from Eric.
He glanced keenly about the room,
then gave vent to a short, apologize
laugh.
I half expected Adam Carr sitting
here" he said.
He took the 500 for New York."
Eric started. Are you sure?" UNI
easily.
Certainly. At least, that was his
intention. He had time to make it. We
olUVo W SlOuG WALL, you See.
Then you got there after we did 2"
Payson smiled family, almost ironi-
cally. Spies don't precede their VIC
tins as a general thing" he said. It'll
replenish the fire while you are chang
ing"
Mary left the room without turning
her bent head to look at her wouldbe
protector. Eric followed her. He was
back in a moment, however. Payson
looked UP from the pile Of wood Inc
k1ndling over which he stopped.
Take off your wet shoes n stock
tngs." he ordered sharply.
Time enough for that" said Mid
thorne, coming up to stand over him.
What were you doing out there7
Quick, before Mary comes back.
Il fix he fire first" said Payson
deliberately.
Neither spoke for three or tour min
utes, while he laid the paper and kin
ding. When the fresh, blue flames be-
a to dodge in and out among the logs
he arose and faced Mary's brother,
cody brushing the wood dust from his
hands.
We were out there to look at the
place where my father was lost. My ia
Ether. mind you," he said with curious
emphasis.
Eric's satirical smile was not lost on
him.
Would you mind taking off your
SUI WesIeT EdySOu ne SAID irrelevant
ly It's dripping all over the rug"
TIL stand on the hearth stone" said
the other. They were sparring for time
In a most deliberate n
Then, move over a bit; Tn also
wet"
They stood side by side, with their
backs to the blaze-two tall, tense fig
ures that waited. Outside the wind
shrieked and crooned by turns; the
windows ratified In their frames; a soft,
insistent beating on the panes, as of
tiny insects hurting, told OF the rain
hat blew.
II waited at old Jabe's cottage for
ADAM" said Payson abruptly, looking
straight before him. 'T'd been worry
ing owe something you put into my
head, Midthorne. I couldn't go to my
mother about It. Adam was the only
one who could explain. He did not
hesitate. I had q buggy there. We
drove out to Stone Wall. He showed
me where my father's schooner was
last seen afloat, and where the wreck
age came in. and the dead bodies of the
father went down and never came
ashore. The schooner is out there now,
on the bottom, half way to Eddy's ISL
ands, 100 fathoms down. And there.
Eric, is where my father was buried 80
years ago."
els that all he said?"
mo, he said my mother vas true to
my father, as true as steel"
He was still staring atethe opposite
wall, his face set and white.
Nothing about Chetwynd 2" demand
ed Eric bluntly.
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