Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-05-20

SucSS L II iluS lle Dt!l hoN, I've
said, arising a moment later. Eric
started to ask another question, but
thought better of it. He looked at the
sturdy back and thick neck of the man
who pulled the bell knob, and thought
not of a bulldog, but of a bloodhound,
There was something cruel and relent-
less In the back of the strange man. in
keeping with the face of him. The boy
experienced the sudden, uncanny SEN
sat1on of an enduring c~loseness to Ad-
am Carr, as If he had known him in
tlmately, in some form or another. all
his life. and always would know him.
Oddly enough and concurrent With the
strange impression, Adam turned. af-
ter pulling the bell, and said:
Il like you. Well be good friends
for a long time, mark my word. Long
as we both shall live, I hope"
Judge Bright himself came to the
door IN respons to the tinkling OF the
bell.
"Ah, Carr" he said, I've been wait
ing for you. Good morning Eric"
He came out to the porch and shook
to do the same with Adam Carr. Eric
noticed the omission and wondered. All
thought of it was driven from his mind
an instant afterward when Judge
Bright, still c,asping his hand, bent his
head slightly forward and looked with
Sedl Ching ltlGLlleSS lnlo his eyes. FOE
a the great jurist appeared to
be studying the boys face as if it
We're something in which he sought to
discover a flaw. Then the hand pres
sure was renewed. more warmly than
before, n the eyes of the justice grew
kind and generous as he said. positive
relief in his voice:
You'll find Joan in my study. Eric y
His manner puzzled the young fell
low not a little. He had h feeling that
this great Judge of men q acquitted
him of crime. as he might have passed
judgment on a prisoner in the dock af-
ter hearing insufficient evidence against
him. What could it all mean? Vaguely
disturbed in his mind, he entered the
house. leaving the two men on the
porch. Looking back. he saw them
descend the steps n walk slowly
across the lawn toward a ton bench
in the shade of the vine covered wall.
Hello" hs said as be entered the
judges study, addressing the girl in
pink, who sat in the window seat look
ing over the lawn. Her attitude was one
her elbow on the window ledge, her
chin in her hand. che leg curled up I'M
der her. one small foot and ankle hang
ing free. She started 3s if aroused from
a dream.
Oh She cried, its YOU. l didn't
hear You come H."
I've been chatting on the porch with
Il saw, Joan, what is Adam Carr do
ing here? What's up?" He crossed
the room and stopped beside her. She
hcsitated. and then made room for hinl
on the seat. He was struck by the
wistful. inquiring expression in her ten
der eyes.
Il don't know. Eric. I wish / did"
she said. Father sent for him this
morning. II She locked away, un-
decided, and then returned her gaze to
meet his questioning eyes. Eric, Mrs.
Blagden was here yesterday afternoon
with Mrs. Presbrey. They talked to
me about-about that night we spent on
the reef II hin Mr.. Carr is here
to see father about It,"
His brow clouded. What could they
have to say about that night?" he de-
| manded.
She found it difficult to reply at once.
When she spoke 1T was in low tones.
suggestive Of tears that had come and
gone.
Mrs. Presbrey came expressly to tell
me that it was very wrong to have
| gone out sailing with you, n that
that people are talking about us. She
said the only way to stop the--the talk
was for us to have nothing more to do
| with each other"
He was silent for a long time, cold
to the marrow.
Nothing more to do with each 9TH
err" he repeated slowly.
your unit said that she felt
herself III duty bound to warn me
against too close an intimacy with
with Mary. She said"
What" He began to see things
blood red before his eyes. What" he
almost shouted.
II don't believe a word she said. ]
am only telling you, 50 that you may
know" she cried hastily. alarmed by
the expression in his eyes. She said
1t was the most humiliating thing she
ever had to do in all her life, but that
prompted her to tell me hat Mary is
OF always what she should be. She
said she could never forgive herself il
| fell into her ways. unsuspectingly. Oh,
yes, and she said that she and your
uncle were doing all in their power to
curb a hereditary tendency to-Eric!'
He had sprung to his feet with "A moan
Of rage and despair, clapping his hands
to his eyes as II to shut out some hos
| rid, devilish sight.
"Oh. Eric, I shouldn't ave told you
she cried TREMENDOUSLY.
My poor little Mary. my little angel
Mary" he %groaned. Suddenly he drop
her hand in both OF his. Joan. I'll
I'll do something dreadful to tina; WON
an. I'll kill her. I'll make her pay for
this. She's a liar. I'm going to take
Mary away. won't let her stay in tina,
cursed house any longer. Why why
she's as good as gold, Mary is. She
hasn't an evil thought in her whole be-
ing. You know that. Joan, don't you
She loves you better than anybody lf
the world. Why should that devil Of q
woman try to hurt her like this? l don
set"
Eric. listen! What she said to me
will never change my love for Mary.
told her SC. You must think it cruel in
me to have old you, but there iE a rca-
son. She said they were going to send
Mary off to a private boarding school
to Miss Lexis. You know what sort OF
a place il is. People send girls there
when they can't manage them at home,
It's like a reform school, a place for in
corrigibles. oh, Eric. she must not be
sent to that dreadful school"
He set his jaw after the first spasm
OF dismay had gone out OF his face.
She'll not go there" he said. clench-
ing his hands until the nails hurt the
flesh. Il know a a to stop that little
scheme"
His soul glowed with triumph. He
was thinking OF the blow he could strike
in return, q narrowing blow at the Very
heart OF BlaEden pride.