Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-06-24
MI III I'M
I'LL I'LL III

AAoN - SoA q hIlS, EIlS. - !
Why-Why are you glad?'
He caught his breath. The thrill OIL
exultatlon passed in a flash; his tur-
bulent thoughts crowded into a narrow
channel that led him back to safety.
For the first time since.the events of the
afternoon, he found himself in full pos
session of his wits. a wonderful Gun
ming took lodgment where despair and
remorse had been. God had punished.
1t was God, after all. Adam had said
so, Mary had hoped it would be so.
God had punished. through him-the
one best qualified to be His agent. 1t
was as 1t should be.
His brain worked quickly. I'm glad
we know just the kind of a scoundrel
he is. Their won't be n row between
us, Mary, but Tn going to tell him
In the morning that he's got to let you
alone. That's all. l can settle his case
by telling what 1 know about the girl
he's Keeping in New York"
Then, to ease his own mind. he brief
~ toio her of that single phase in the
unsavory life of their cousin. carefully
retralnlng from n mention of his
peculatlonS, leaving that to the devel-
opments of another day. Mary was APP
palled by the disclosure.
VIVA would AUNT Rena say if sh.
knew: h whispered, in awe.
he piled her with questions, eager to
obtain further justification for himself,
and succeeded in getting a rather tear
ful statement of facts. Chetwynd had
mad vile proposals to this 16 year old
girl, n had threatened her in no
vague terms. The hateful encounter
Q place at the noon hour, just before
she started out for her drive with Joan
Won't 1t be fine if they will let me
go to Miss Sinnox's with JOAN" she
cried in the end. IF only to get awav
from Chetwynd. Ii don believe /
could stay here mex winter, Eric, with
you away at college. l am so afraid
Oh nm. Why-why, placed a chair
against my door tonight. ] was afraid
he might try to come in before you got
home.
He started. Before I got home?"
Il looked into your room at 10 o'clock
and you were not there"
he turned very cold. 1T was so hot
in there that l went outside for a little
While he explained DULY.
Il listened nearly all night for him.
, He was out. too. Go and listen at his
door, Eric. See If he is in there"
Nonsense. can't go shopping
around Ike that. He's in, of course.
ne won't dare come in here. You're
foolish, dear. Go to sleep"
Leave your door wide open. please"
she begged. ~
He. was silent for a men IN
tell you What III do. You're nervous,
n l don't blame you. I'll get a blan-
ket and d pillow and lie here on the
floor by your window"
She was satisfied. In 10 Minutes sho
was our asleep, secure in his pres-
ence. He lay very still and tense under
the window ledge, staring wide eyed
Up into the darkness, the soft night
wind blowing across his face.
AT last his hands u~nclenched them
selves and his whole body relaxed in
| surrender tn tho now lnc,,n;r ~ a., -
there thinking it all out.
He could not go on being the sweet
heart of Joan Bright.
at TO- o'clock Adam Carr presented
himself at the bank and inquired for
PRESIDENT Blagden. He was informed
that Mr.. Rlagden had not vet come
down. he had not been late before In
the memory of the oldest employee.
"OVerslep, l dare say" remarked Ad-
am la~conicallv.
He never does that, sir replied the
ancient person who served as janitor
and day Waterman.
III wait" said Adam. "Bv the wav.
is his son here?"
mo, sir. That's what makes me think
there's something wrong up at the
house."
Have You telephoned?"
MI. Gray did, a moment, ago. No
NV dAC mere, SIT. nat lS
among the employees. It's Mr.. Blagden's
rule. Sickness is the only excuse. Or
a death IN the family"
"Umph!' said Mr.. Carr.
Horace came in at 1920. His first
glance was in the direction of the
%teller's cage occupied by his son. Adam
noticed a slight contraction of his eve
brows, and a no uncertain pursuing of
the lower lip.
He Intercepted Mr.. Blagden before ne
reached the door leading to his private
office.
Just a word. Mr.. Blagden-" he be-
gan.
Not at present, if you please in
terrupted Horace, so irritably that the
listening clerks forgot themselves and
looked up. Mr.. Blagden was never any
thing but suave.
I car wait" Adam
shortly.
Horace paused. His austerity seemed
to crumble before the very eyes of The
%furtive watchers. Indeed. they were
permitted to witness an amazing met
a~morphosis. He had turned sharply at
Adams curt remark. For a second or
two his naughty stare held. Then his
lips parted and his hand went up with
a spasmodic jerk as if to reclaim phy-
steal control of his features, but no
power of his own could the
sudden feeling of dread and appre-
hension that rushed up from within II
reveal itself in his eyes. Intuitively he
knew that calamity was upon him. A
blow was O to be struck.
Come into my ROOM he said harsh
ly. 1t would never do for those fell
lows behind the counters to see the
blow fall, n to go forth with the
story of how he shrivelled beneath 1t.
Adam followed him into the private
office.
"Well,'' said Horace, turning upon
him as soon as the dor was closed.
II have discovered the thief said
Adam quietly.
Fol a full minute the two men
faced each other
How much do you ask? What is
your price. ADAM" asked Horace, a
deathly pallor in his cheek. He put ON
his hand to steady himself against the
table.
'Price?" demanded Adam. with a
frown. What do you mean? l ask fol
nothing but the private reward you of
fered in the name of the bank
Tit isn't young Payson?"
No, it isn't. If I:were YOU, Horace
I'd put that fellow back in his Job here
He's honest"
Speak out, man. Tell me the truth
Have done with it," cried Horace, sud
denly losing control of his nerves. He
was shaking lika, a 1eof