Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-17
CHAPTER Continued.

CHAPTER NI-(Continued).
ayour father knows what I'm talking
,hspt." answered Craig. continuing to
4 sare. ~ mean the diamond necklace"
,plamond necblacc?" repeated Balan-
.vns. with every appearance of surprise.
Il know nothing of diamond neck
lace"
u guess he didn't need to be remndedv
stserted Craig "a man who has the
reputation that he has"
The girl pressed one impulslve hand
upon his lips, while tears filled her eyes
Don't! Don'tw she pleaded, "Oh,
you don't know how your words hurt
What you ssy!'
Almost before Craig had inhaled the
gamth and sweetness of her touch she
vas across the room, bending over her
father. He sat as if dazed both hands
ripping hard upon the arms Of the
thair, as IL fightng for self-control. The
flrl's hands, her lips. her anxious eyes,
fegan coaxing, soothing, wooing. Grad
saaly the face of the man relaxed it's
siefn. hunted look. He seemed determ-
insd, for the girls sake If not for his
own TO play the man; but to Craig's
kmazement, not once did he wear the
1ook OF an exposed culprit, 1t was more
tho detection and humiliation of man
Misunderstood
~Let me tell him; It will be easier. lie
does not know how his words hurt. Let
me explain said the girl in low voice.
Ballantyne must have assented, for she
turned toward rutherford.
"It's long story to thrust upon-a
Granger" she began, haltingly. But
We came because | urged it. ! felt sure
We could trust you. Its like putting
our lives I'm your hands,
Rutherford faced her. startled. Did she
propose to force him to pid her in their
desperate schemes? The girl paid no heed
to Craig's strained attitude, but hurried
on with her recital.
\ HYou said-you intimated-that my
fsthsr was dishonorable man, Why
you had reason to say it do not know;
but he Is innocent of any crime. Yet he
has been a marked man. without reputa-
Ion, for many years-and has been pow
alsss to right himself in the eyes of the
iHorld."
Rutherford glanced at the man she was
defending. His finely shaped head was
lifted, and an expression of proud resent
ment had taken the place of his detection.
Craig was forced to admit inwardly that
he did not look like an ordinary crook or
fmuggler
For all these years-as long as l have
lived" continued the daughter, my
father has not been able to defend him
self But now that the man who wronged
him Is dead, we hope that he can again
take his rghtful place in the world"
Who was this other MANI" prompted
Craig, as the girl hesitated.
III was his own brother. They had
been in business together-and my father
had-done something to displease my
uncle, In revenge, my uncle-the man
who is daad-robbed him of his money
ahd-worse still--his reputation. He made
i appear that my father had absconded."
f What had your father lone to anger
DIG brother?" again promE ed Craig. not
enkndly. but determined TO get at the
He had won the love of woman his
brother also loved" she replied in a
low voice. while they were traveIins
aoroad, my uncle Gregory falsifed the
accounts in their business, and wove such
chain OF circumstantial evidence that
my rather could not return for fear of
anest He had to assume another nama
-ihat OF Talcott, Oh, he didn't intend
% live that way always" she hurried
on noting Craig's look of incredulity-"he
nas been working and hoping some day TO
scar his name. But he could not, while
hs brother lived"
You mean that Gregory Ballantyne
sminoled your father out Of everything?"
Everything-but the blue buckle"
hutherford almost doubted her sanity.
sne spoke of this worthless bit of steel
though 1t were u compensation for
'e ..,,,S loss OF both property and honor.
..r. Nhst can you mean?" he exclaimed.
me buckle has no value.
!, ~ Is worth a million dollars, we be-
asne' ase' she answered quietly Better
.un' II Is worth my fathers good name
y we can find its mate"
= mere We're two buckles, them" asked
sins' TOO incredulous TO trust himself
I'm further comment.
mr. rutherford, sentiment is RESPONSE
" ior good many things In this world.
there are two. The pair of old steel
snlsehes NJ. l has been an heirloom in our fam
IN hey originally acquired a sort OF fc-
npous value because of sentiment. They
ne AZ ON the slippers of the first American
ia-aahtyne grandma, when Captain Bal
,a.nlyhe, OF the Virginia colony, met and
sssated her. They have been passed down
apH generation to generation, until my
~ grandmother wore them as her most
kAellshed possession. They would have
nj ~ worn by my mother-had she lived"
~ ss ballantyne paused a moment, and
~ iather gently stroked her hand.
Mhen my father and his brother quar-
.slsa' my grandfather was still living; but
~ lsther's disgrace shortened his days.
~ grandfather was a very rich man,
ned horror of family quarrels and
II could not bear that any one should
~ '4te the family name. Why years ago
~ ldInlly were close friends and neigh
~ with Washington'sp' She drew her
~ up proudly. And so my grandfather
~ ~ nus fortune In trust-my father being
ssple 10 obtain his portion until he had
.i,s4Ied his name The only clue 10 the
e4ee where he had deposited this for
y lay In the pair OF steel buckles; one
4 u which he willsd to my father and the
ksr 10 my uncle Gregory. SO you see
'1.at the buckles have a value quite apart
'ea ~, mere sentlmentg
ou got your buckle, then?" asked
ss.,,l,lsftoId' addressing Mr.. Ballantyne.
II was IN trust In a bank IN
while my brothers was IN a New
'9ta bank. | claimed II a month after
nad been driven from home by Greg
A went for II, with sthe highest hopa
~ ~ might be accompanied by some
more tangible-somethln that
- AID me In establishing my inno-
Z .'a But there was nothing except the
eW could that possibly aid your
rsfe u am inscripuon--we think II in
ies the whereabouts Of the money
tten b1ckle contains only half Of II.
useless without the other. Mias
ltpe explained