Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-07-01
CHAPTER xI.-(continued).

y SoullS Wdlltu. IL lStd
everything to lose and nothing to gain.
The editor got very drunk-and he
hadn't been drunk in 10 years-and sent
his impotent lamentations to heaven on
more than one street corner. He desired
all Corinth to know hat he couldn't
help himself. hat was the curse Of
running a newspaper in a small w
His hands We're tied. But he was able
to give an excellent demonstration that
his tongue was not tied-that is to say,
not properly tied.
Before nightfall Of that memorable
day, the population of Corinth, from eN-
IRENE youth to doddering old e knew
that Chetwynd Blagden had robbed the
bank n had fled, under cover of
night. to join a vile temptress in New
York--a vampire in the shape of q
woman. M" 'er, everyone knew that
horace Ri; had gone up to the
Giants ca. -tghastly misnomerD
at noon and ...u not been seen outside
Its doors since. Hundreds of people
Went out OF their way to walk past the
house during the afternoon, casting fur
tive glances at the windows. Officials
OF the bank and of other concerns in
which he was interested, telephoned to
the house. and each in turn was told
that Mr.. Blagden could see no one, nor
would he speak with anyone.
MT. Presbrey approached the house
at =. confidently expecting to be admit
ted. He was turned away by the sour
FACED Martha, much to his surprise. A
couple of curious witnesses q the gate
below hurried away, %snickering over
the minister's rebuff. Mr.. Presbrey
walked very stiffly up the street, dimly
conscious OF q shy, evasive sense of Ella,
ton, admittedly unbecoming a man of
his parts, but singularly insistent, just
the same. AT his own dinner able that
evening he confided certain beliefs 20
ms Wife chief n NAM {1,n,, ll;,- A.
opinion that Mr.. Blagden was narrow.
lie even went so far as to question tina
gentleman'S attitude toward the unfo1-
tunate children of Mary Midthorne.
Chickens come home to roost," OBJ
served MIR. Presbrey, a remark which
may appear vague to the reader of
these lines, but not so to Mrs. Pres
brey, on whom the inference was not
wasted.
Neither of the Midthornes was seen
on the streets that day. They kept
close to the house, and they spoke in
undertones. All through the long af-
ternoon, they wandered through the
tomb like house, occasionally pausiug
IN the hallway near the closed door of
their uncle'S room to listen for sounds
from within. Sometimes they wondered
II the two people who confined them
selves there We're dead or alive. Only
at rare intervals were signs of life APP
PNASis, SbSll dS lllG SllllllIlS OIL q Cflalr,
or the tread of slow moving feet, or
the sharp tapping of finger nails on
the arm of a we'll known rocker. in
which their uncle was wont to sit.
Mr.. Blagden, on his return from the
bank at noon. had gone directly up
stairs, followed by his wife. Ten min
utes later he emerged alone. He or
dered the servants to come to the Ii
brary, and there, in the presence Of
the Midthornes. he announced to the
~astonished household that his son had
transgressed the law and was no long
er a member of the family. He gave no
details, knowing full we'll hat they
would be supplied by willing tongues
before the a was over, more eXpan-
slVely than he could nave presented
them even if he had been inclined to
stoop to the task.
You may go now" he said curtlv,
to a gaping audience, composed of cook,
parlor maid. waitress, gardener and
stable man. He had said all that he
intended to say. Bear in mind what
l have aid about mentioning ny sons
name in this house, or in the presence
of his mother or myself. 1t is possible.
even likely, that he may be apprehend-
cd and-er. ahem!-brought back TO
Corinth. If such should be the case,
l shall not deny. him the right to seek
counsel and the help of the two persons
who are responsible for his coming into
this world. This is his home when he
chooses to come back to it in humility
and contritGness. But as long as he
elects voluntarily to remain a fugitive.
a-an outcast. o might say-1ust so
long shall he be regarded as an enemy
10 this household. l am his father. If
he comes to me for help, for support
ay, even for love-I shall not fail him.
You may go now"
Turning to Eric and Mary, as the ser
wants filed out. he said: "Your Aunt
Rena will not come down to luncheon.
IT you will sit down, I shall try to tell
you as clearly as l can just what it is
that Chetwynd has lone. I do not ex-
pect you to say that you are sorry for
him. Perhaps / ought not to expect
you to be sorry for his mother or me
l snail merely ask you to be consider
ate. If you are to gloat over his fall
from the pedestal on which we placed
him, kindly restrain yourselves in our
presence"
AT the end Of his careful and rather
monotonous recital. he lowered his chin
and fumbled for a moment with the
tassels on the arm of the chair in which
he sat facing them.
my children" he said huskily, 81 am
a God fearing man, as YOU have rea-
son to know. But 1 am about to DEFY
Him. l shall pray to God that my son
may never live to face these charges !
would rather have him AXE his own
life today than to continue in the life
he has begun to lead"
He arose and. placing a hand or the
shoulder of each. looked into their eyes.
with a film over his own.
Il would give all I have in the world
If my son could have looked me fairly
and frankly in the eyes as you have
always done. If he could have done
that. he would not be where he is to-
day"
Eric's gaze wavered for a second
Il ne managed to keep it steady after
q mighty effort of the will. He would
not be where he is today!'' The words
seemed to burn themselves into his
very soul.
Adam Carr will not be turned aside
went on Horace, beginning to pace the
flour. He hates me. He will not rest
until he has found-him. There is nc
way to keep this dreadful thing from
going to the public. Before night the
newspapers will have it all. lit will
kill your aunt, l fear. To think that
her boy may be bounded for wears by
one so ,mplacable as Adam CARR" He
stopped at the table, from sheer force
of habit. arranged the magazines on the
corner, restoring the pile to its accus-