The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-09-02
..what va he .ellIng your. repeat-

What was ne telling your" repeat
ed Eric.
Payson opened his lips TO speak, then
thought better OF the impulse He con-
tented himself with long, hard, even
suspicious scrutiny Of the Questioner's
face.
some other time. IL you please" he
said tartly. 1T Is, our duty to get poor
Mary home as quickly as possible
Come, dear"
But. she chung to Eric, ignoring the
outstretched hand. Payson fell away
as IL he had been slapped in the face.
He kept pace with them all the way to
the Werner cottage. but not a word fell
from his lips in all that distance.
II was quite dark when they came to
the gate; the sharp, chill mist was still
| blowing. Mary's teeth were chattering.
Good night" said Jack Payson.
Eric hesitated. He had been think
ing hard all the way up from the coast.
but his thoughts were not hard. Some
how. the manliness. the self restraint,
the very thoughtfulness of John Pay
son wrought a subtle change In his es-
innate Of the man. He was wonder
ing IL he was not really grateful to
him. IL he was not, after all, more than
grateful Years ago he had been sor-
ny for him. Was he not sorry for him
now? g
|
abruptly holding the gate open.
Payson stared, first at one, then the
| other. He began to stammer an apol-
ogy for hurrying on.
Come to the fire" said Mary. look
ing at him over Eric's shoulder.
The look in those dark, piteous eyes
decided him.
II want to be friendly with you,
| Eric" he said "and l want to speak
with you about something that has just
transpired. will come In for few
minutes First of all, Mary must get
| out OF her wet clothes. And you. too.
| Something hot to drink" Ri.
And bed for her." added Eric mean
ingly. #.... ...-.
They entered the cottage. The room
was quite dark. except for the space
directly In front of the dying embers
shadows, filled the corner Of the room
nearest the door, where they had
paused at a word from Eric. "
He glanced keenly about the room,
then gave vent to short, apologize
laugh. ....' -
Il half expected Adam Carr sitting
here" he said. .... .......
HE took the 500 for New York"
said Payson. -...
Eric started. Are you sure?" I'M
easily. .#-r.. g...
Certainly. At least, that was his
intention, He had time to make 1t. We
drove to Stone Wall you see."
| Then you got there after we did7"
Payson smiled family, almost front
cally. Spies don't precede their vic
replenish the fire while you are chang
ing"
Mary left the room without turning
her bent head to look at her wouldbe
protector. Eric followed her. He was
back in moment. however. Payson
4 L. I'D &c. H. -
kindling over which he stopped.
Take of your wet shoes and stock.
ings." he ordered sharply.
Time enough for that" said Mid
thorne. coming up to stand over him.
What were you doing out there?
| Quick, before Mary comes back.
"Pll fix the fire first" said Payson
deliberately. .,..N.
| Neither spoke for three or four min
| utes, while he laid the paper and kin
ding. When the fresh, blue flames be-
gan to dodge In and out among the logs
he arose and faced Mary's brother,
cody brushing the wood dust from his
hands.
I'VE were out there TO look at the
place where my father was lost. My ia
ther. mind you," he said with curious
| emphasis. .>...
Eric's satirical smile was not lost on
him.
Would you mind taking off your
sou'wester Payson 2" he said irrelevant
ly IT'S dripping all over the rug"
I'm stand on the hearth stone" said
| the other. They were sparring for time
In a most deliberate manner
Then, move over a bit; I'm also
wet"
They stood side by side, with their
| backs to the blaze-two tall, tense fig
ures that waited. Outside the wind
shrieked and crooned by turns; the
| windows ratified In their frames; a soft
insistent beating on the panes, as Of
tiny insects hurting. told Of the rain
| that blew.
II waited at old Jabe's cottage for
Adam" said Payson abruptly, looking
strsight before him. I'D been worry
ing over something you put into my
head, Midthorne. / couldn't go to my
mother about 1t. Adam was the only
| one who could explain. He did not
hesitate. I had a buggy there. We
drove out to Stone WALL He showed
me where my fathers schooner was
last seen afloat, and where the wreck
crew. At the mouth OF the ravine. My
i father went down and never came
ashore. The schooner "a out there now,
| on the bottom, half way to Eddy's ISL
ands, 100 fathoms down. And there,
Eric, Is where my father was buried 80
years ago."
'Ts that all he said2"
| mo, he said my mother was true to
my father, as true as steel"
| He was still staring at the opposite
wall his face set and white.
Nothing about Chetwynd?" demand
| ed Eric bluntly.