Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-08-18
torted face all the while he poured OUT

OloIA IN SlIGSls
"But, Mary, Mr.. Adam says it was
not MURDER" pleaded Eric in con-
clusion. He says it was AN accident.
1t might just as we'll have been l who
went over
And he's been dead all these years.
she murmured. out there i'll the
ocean?"
Yes"
He can't be washed ashore? 1t was
a great iron chest, you say?" she went
on duly. Her hand went to her temple.
For heavens sake, Mary, don't put
And they think he is still alive?"
He nodded his head Slowly, his lips
writhing.
Obi" she cried, as If in dire pain. A
great shudder ran through her body.
How horrible! oh, Eric, it was not
right! You don't know how they've
suffered. l do. l a " seen it all. And,
God pity me, l ave rejoiced in their
misery more times than l can remem-
Der. l used to laugh-yes, actually
laugh-to see Aunt Rena sitting there
IN the window hoping tina he would
her face in her hands.
He held her tight in his arms, moan
ing a sort of accompaniment to her dry,
racklng sobs. For a long time they
rocked back n forth on tfS frail little
sofa, clinging to each other as if fear
Ills SiS PACSGACG VI SOIIlGOlc WHO SIOOu
ready to drag them apart forever.
Il did kill u man." groaned Eric at
last. 'They said 1 would, Mary"
Don't, Eric! Please DON'T"
Cod" burst from his tortured lips.
Adam Carr turned at this. For q
minute he watched them through mar
row eyes, h walked over to take his
stand before them.
Eric looked up at him, DULY.
Tell her I've told the truth, Mr..
Adam-the honest TRUTH he begged.
You've made an utter fool of your
self" remarked Adam, but in a way
that was not unkindly.
Mary looked up in angry amazement.
Her moist eyes swept the figure of the
speaker with a look that would have
shrlVelled a less i~mperturbable person
than Adam Carr.
How dare you say tina to NV
~brother?" she cried.
Adam smiled. almost approvingly.
I'm not SO sure that he's a fool after
all, Mary. h secret is safe with you.
Now. If you love him. help me to pro-
tect him against this idiotic thing he
I'm sorry he has told you all this. Not
that 1t could be dragged out of u
my girl, with red-hot tongs, but that
doesn't help matters. You"
Il am glad he has told me-" she ex-
claimed. IF isn't right that he should
oOoA ~ u1OllOs OlIp IN IL YOU IdU OILY
told me years ago! could have helped
you. 1 could have comforted you. Why
why, you are not a murderer. It's
preposterous!"
We're agreed on that" said Adam.
But will your Uncle Horace be SO con-
siderate?"
Mary shuddered. "Eric, I am So
afraid Of Uncle Horace. He will be
very bitter. He may"
See here. Mary" he broke in. COM
ing to his feet with renewed resolution
in his face. you're not going to stand
to side with Mr.. Adam, are you? If
that's what you're thinking of, let me
tell you it won't deter me. I'm going
to Uncle Horace this evening"" Turn
ing to Adam, he a with absolute
fnality: you may do as you choose,
Mr.. Adam, SO far as backing me up is
concerned"
Adams smile was a wry one. Il
don't occupy a very creditable position.
in the matter, my boy. Please don't
overlook that little point. See here
with sudden vehemence: do you think
does this leave me? l did the best l
could for you, and now you break
faith. l did not expect it of YOU"
You have done a great deal for me-"
said Eric abjectly. You must consider
me an ingrate."
>NO OSN~SNA INV 4 ~ oAAOSlS LII
how you feel. It's not unnatural. o
see, you're not morally guilty of a
crime. It's irksome to live as If you
were. l. admire your courage, your
ut isn't courage" cried Eric. tits
cowardice! Good heaven, do you think
that If / was as brave as you are I'd
go into a funk like this? No; I'm a
coward. / CAM face the music any
longer. I've lost my nerve. Why.
every time Aunt Rena looks at me out
Of those sad eyes, every time Uncle
Horace forgets himself and lets the
lines set about his lips, I shudder all
over. I'm a coward, that's all there is
to It,"
Il shouldn't say that" said Adam
quietly.
well, it's the TRUTH"
Il still maintain that my way is
best" said the detective. YOU'D bet
ter let me see you out of the woods,
Eric. I'm used to It; I'm quite ca
pable. The minute / tell them that
they'll be transformed. It's anxiety,
dread. uncertainty that's doing the
work for them now. Once they know"
NO" said Eric firmly, its got to be
my way"
Which means, in other words. that
you want to get rid of ME as a mill
YES, Mr.. Adam. that is one Of the
reasons"
Carr shrugged his shoulders. "Then,
I've nothing more to say"
But you will tell Uncle Horace just
how it happened, Won't you?" cried
Mary a%nxiously.
He did not reply at once. but sat
down in the rocker a few feet away,
with his elbows on the arms Of the
chair. facing them. Although his face
did NJ betray the fact that he was
1 SN~ r~ n