Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-05-05

ever so slightly.
IF you placed YOU drawing in Mr..
Porter's hands. then what. may I ask.
inspires you to make this deliberate
charge against my son 1t isn't likely
he could have wished his name to APP
pear upo 1t. to have 1t appear there
as If by magic. This Is not the age OF
Aladdin"
Il can't understand it any more than
you, sir, but 1T is true. just the same"
that no one touched the drawings"
Then, will you be good enough to
tell me how Chetwynd could have done
this thing you accuse him of doing:"
demanded Mr.. Blagden sternly.
II think it was one before 1 submit
ted the drawing" said Eric.
oh was his uncle's expressive
comment.
II wrapped 1t up carefully and put it
in my drawer the day before 1 present
ed 1t. 1t was not unwrapped after that.
Chetwynd was in my room that eve
ming alone. Mary saw him there and
he said he was looking for a scarf pin
l had taken from his room without per-
mission. He-he told her 1 nae no
business going into his room, that he'd
missed several things. and-and-well.
he as much as said I'd taken things
that didn't belong to me-
Horace smiled with grim derisiveness.
1T is possible he had as much right to
accuse YOU as you have to accuse MN.
1t seems to me his case is as good as
yours"
II am not a thief"
III might say the same. Did he find
the scarf pin?"
Eric flushed. H told her he found
it. But he lied"
Eric"
He led"
Mr.. Blagden's face grew deathly
white and then turned purple. He
sprang to his feet and advanced upon
the boy, a furious glare in his eyes.
You scoundrel! You %vflifier. You
unhung rascal! How dare you come to
me with such a story as this?" He
choked. he appeared to be strangling.
Eric shrank back aghast. No one had
ever heard a blasphemous word on the
was to listen to a torrent OF Wild pro-
family that would have shocked even
the walls of a ships forecastle. He was
seized with the fear that his uncle had
gone mad. utterly mad.
"uncle!" he cried: putting up his
blow.
stand, curse You ;" Kissed tt the man nua
A great light broke in upon
him. All! Now 1 understand.
Now a see how a man justifies
IiAiiiSciI loi tdhILS dHOlneF 8 HE. by
heavens. know how sweet 1T would
be to kill" In his frenzy, he looked
about for a deadly weapon.
Then, as suddenly. his whole man
ner changed. He fell back against the
table. his jaw dropping. an expression
OF great horror crossing his face.
Good God. help me-" he roaned.
! have said? What is it that is in my
heart? Murder? oh, my Cod"
He would have fallen had not the
boy leaped forward to catch him by
the arm. Mr.. Blagden shook him of.
Eric fell away, moving toward the door,
this unknown being.
upon him. and motioned with a trem-
bling hand for him to stay.
Stop! Don't run away. Wait, Eric.
Ii ask you to wait here until-until
l." Whatever it was tina he meant
to say. the words were not uttered.
Somehow Eric understood. He stood
In III middle of the floor and watched
his uncle stagger to the couch over
near the wall, upon which he
dropped as if every vestige of strength
a deserted him.
h minutes passed slowly. The pic
ture remained The same. The wondering,
half stupefied boy in the middle OF the
room; the mOtionless figure on the
couch, from whose lips ever n amor
came two hoarsely whispered words:
My Cod"
TIL shadows of dusk. crept into the
room through the high windows; the
waning light Of the summer day looked
in upon the strange tableau. and vague
sounds from the street anne but with
u the power to disturb. Somewhere.
OF IN the deserted banking room, a
Waterman was shutting and whistling.
Eric waited for him to open the door
and break the spell that had fallen
over the presidents office. Nothing
else. 1t seemed. could shake the fet-
ters from his feet. or drive the warm
the heavy breathing figure on the
couch never change its limp position?
Would the hand never be drawn away
from the eyes 1t covered?
At last. when the room had grown
quite dark. Horace Blagden moved.
The boys tense figure relaxed SO sud-
denly that his legs almost gave way.
Answer the telephone. please" said
Mr.. Blagden. his voice clam once more
but weak.
The telephone had been buzzing for
a minute or longer. Eric grabbed up
the receiver.
1T is Aunt Rena." he said lazily.
SHE wants to know If you are I'LL
why O are so late coming home.
uncle"
Tell her am all right and will be
there at once"
He arose from the couch. taller.
more gaunt than eve 1t seemed to
Eric as he saw him through the gath
I ering darkness.
Eric" he said from his position near
the couch. I'VE will go home at once.
Will you get my hat and zane from
the closet"
The boy hesitated. Il can't go home
with you now. Uncle Horace. Not after
what I've said to YOU"
There was another long nerind of