Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-08-18
l can see you calmly driving nails into

Stop it just a minute" said Adam
Sharply. Think what you are saying.
Are you losing your mind? Leave all
this to me. Eric. l beg of you. l am
But l am their flesh and blood. My
friend, are you? No! Adam Carr,
you are my master. You w me, body
and soul. Oh, don misunderstood me.
l L am not ungrateful. You have helped
me. 1 shan't forget all you did for me
six years ago. But l didn't realize what
you We're going to make of it. You
me into
Watt" cried Adam, plainly dis
tressed. Don't say that, Eric. I'll ad-
init l took advantage of-of every
thing-but l did not trick you. 1t was
a fair game. I've kept my lips sealed.
I've stood back of you in
Eric thrust his face close to the 9TH
er's. do you mean to tell me that
Jack Payson hasn't had the whole story
from you? Answer me that question.
You can't deny it,
Adam fell back a step, genuine
establishment in his face.
MOI" Why do you ask? What has
he said to lead o to believe-Non-
sense! He doesn't know it. It's i'm
possible. Eric, there isn't a soul OF
this earth that knows the truth, except
o and l."
Jack knows-Im sure he knows"
cried Eric hotly. And how could he
know, except through you? 1 know
what he is to you. But, even at that.
1t was a blamed scurvy thing to do"
The look in Adams yes put a sud
den check on the ruthless words that
face had turned a CHASTITY blue. He
glared for an instant into the fierce
eyes opposite. and then slowly drew
back. reaching out with his hand for
the support of a chair. The hue of
apoplexy had covered his face. Eric
this. He was filled with a sudden con-
sternation. Was the man about to die?
Look out, Mr.. ADAM" he cried out
Here! Sit down! Ii take it all
back. 1 shouldn't have said that. I'm
half crazy-l'm out of my senses"
Adam waved him off. The purplish
hue receded and left his ace almost
salloW.
You mean that you take back what
you said about-about what?" he de-
manded.
About your having told him. of
course"
"Ah, 1 see," said Adam. fixing Eric
with eyes in which lay the light OF
humble appeal. You don't take back
the other."
Eric's gaze wavered. That's neither
here nor there. We won't discuss 1t.
If you please"
Just as you please, Eric" said Adj
am slowly. Then with a positive snarl
in his tones: He doesn't know. Get
No one need know. Let me finish. I'll
put an end to the whole game If you
insist. Give me a week-no, a month.
I'm getting sick of the thing myself.
The pleasures all gone out of it. I'm
not altogether heartless; 1 can even
feel sorry for Horace. But we've got to
use judgment, discretion. l can't go to
him today with my lie about Chef
wynd's death in some foreign land-or
sea. 1t will have to be worked up slow
ly, deliberately. I've got the thing fixed
in my mind. I'll tell him that the boy
was killed in the South American rev.
olution now in progress in"
mo, MOI" cried Eric, pounding the
mantelpiece with his clenched hand.
I'm going to make a clean breast of it.
I'm going to purge my soul of all that
curses it. No more trickery, no more
lying, no more subterfuge, Mr.. Adam.
not ungrateful for what you've
done for me, God knows I'm not. 1
can only curse myself for letting it go
on so long. I've been a dog, a coward.
"a demon. That's it-a demon. But
1 can't go on with it. I just can't"
Adam laid a hand on his shoulder.
You'd better be guided by me. my
boy" he said kindly. Il am your friend
and I am in full possession of my wits.
Which is more than you can say. Let
it go as I have planned. There's no
harm in that. I'll go to Horace in a
few days n put his mind at rest for
ever. l will produce positive proof tina.
Chetwynd is dead and"
A sharp cry broke from Mary's lips.
The Two men were again conscious of
her presence in the room. She was
standing near the window with her
back to the light, her hands clasped
over her breast.
Eric! What is he saying?' she cried
in a shrill. unnatural voice.
Her brother hesitated and then
sprang to her side.
II don't know how to tell you, Mary
dear. It's such a horrible Yes! I'll
get it yer with. Eli begin with you.
Mary. Do you remember the night you
Fol heavens sake, boy" groaned
Adam, stop and think before you do
this"
No! You remember that night,
Mary, don't you?" he rushed or, some
thing like frenzy taking hold Of him.
six years ago? I slept on the floor
in"
Yes, yes. 1 remember" h cried, be-
well. that was the day that Chef
wynd died. He did not run away Mr..
Carr has not been looking for him all
these years. He's beer dead all the
time" He stopped to pull the collar
away from his throat.
Adam Carr dropped his arms de-
jectedly and turned away
'Irnpossible!" gasped Mary. why
why, Uncle Horace has been expect
ing him home all
"Uncle Horace doesn't know. No one
knows but Adam Carr and-I. Sit
down here beside me, grille. I'll tell
you the whole story, and Adam Carr