Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-08-19

TOCK00 O6CA ana IOrIn on inc IfdlA llNt0
sofa, clinging to each other If a
ready to drag them apart forever.
Il did kill a man." groaned Eric at
last. They said l would, Mary"
Don't Eric! Please don't!"
"God!" burst from his tortured lips.
Adam Carr turned at this. For a
minute he watched them through mar
row eyes, then walked over to take his
stand before them.
Eric looked up at him, duly.
Tell her I've told the truth, MI.
Adam-the honest TRUTH" he begged.
You've made an utter fool of our
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 d look that would have
shrivelled a less i~mperturbable person
than Adam Carr.
How dare you say tina to my
b%rother?' she cried.
Adam smiled, almost approvingly.
I'm not SO sure that he's a fool after
all, Mary. The secret Is safe with you.
Now, if you love him, help me to pro-
tect him against this idiotic thing he
calls a conseience-or maybe it's honor:
I'm sorry he has told O all this. Not
that it could be dragged out Of you.
my girl, with red-hot tongs. but that
doesn't help matters. YOU"
Il am glad he has told me-" she ex-
claimed. IF ISM right that he should
bear it alone. Oh, Eric, If you had only
told me years ago! l could lave helped
YOU, l could have comforted you. Why
why, you are not a murderer. It's
preposterous!"
Were agreed on that said Adam.
But will your Uncle Horace be SO con-
siderate?"
Mary shuddered. Eric, am So
afraid of T1nn1a Hnraca Ho will ha
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
in my way, are you? You're not going
to side with Mr.. Adam. are you? II
tell you it won't deter me. I'm going
to Uncle Horace this evening" Turn
ing to Adam, he said with absolute
finality: You may do as you choose,
MI. Adam, so far as backing me up In
concerned"
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
you're playing fair with me? Where
does this leave me? l did the best I
faith. l did not expect it of YOU"
You have done a great deal for me"
said Eric abjectly. You must consider
me an migrate"
Not exactly that. l cen understand
how you feel. It's not unnatural. You
see. you're not morally guilty OF q
crime. It's irksome to live as IL you
We're. l admire your courage, your
honesty"
"It isn't courage" cried Eric. IT'S
cowardice! Good heaven, do you think
that If l was as brave as you are I'd
go into a funk like this? No; I'm a
coward I can't face the music any
longer. I've lost my nerve. Why.
every time Aun Rena looks at me out
Of those sad eyes, every time Uncle
Horace forgets himself and lets the
lines set about his lips, / shudder all
over. Tn> coward. that's all there is
81 shouldn't say that" said Adam
quietly.
well, it's the TRUTH"
II still maintain hat 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
Chetwynd died in South America.
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"
WlllcI IlcdllS, III nlllST NoIuS, lIldL
O want to get rid of me as a mill
stone"
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 1t happened. won't your" cried
Mary anxiously.
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
~perturbed, an involuntary movement Of
the hands served to betray him. He
took his pipe from his pocket and had
it almost to his lips before he be-
thought himself and restored the dis
reputable thing to its habitual resting
place.
Mary was watching the set. hard
features with narrowing eyes, in which
hope and fear struggled for supremacy.
Eric. with his hands TANNED into his
pockets, started sullenly down at The
man.
Give me time to think" muttered
Adam Carr.
You surely will not desert him now"
inplored Mary. Her hand went forth
in search Of Eric's. Not meeting 1t, the
tense fingers clutched the skirt Of his
coat in a frenzied grip.
(Co0tinued next weekly