Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-08-25
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IN IN lIl
CHAPTER xv1.-(continued.)

~ I'LL Il
CHAPTER xv1.-(continued.)
Horace may forgive Eric. but he'll
never forgive me-" said Adam slowly,
calculating. There's only one guilty
person in this case, and that is me.
Let's be perfectly frank about it. I am
the n who has made Horace suffer.
Q you, Eric; Can't you see what he
will do to me? He will take it all out of
me. He will ruin me-, destroy me. l
won't say he car put me behind the
bars. but he can make me the most de-
spised creature in America"
You should have thought of all this
before said Mary sharply.
Il have" quoth Adam, with a frown.
II he meant to say more. he was
checked bv a sharp. eager exclamation
from Eric.
by George! Listen to met" His face
was bright with a new resolve. He
leaned forward eagerly. his voice drop
ping to a tense, insistent half whisper.
Il know how I can protect you. Mr..
Adam. It's as simple as A B c. You
have stood by me; I'd be a dog to drag
you down with me. Here's what I can
and will do. I will not mention your
name in connection with the affair. I
will not call on you AZ a witness I'll
AASOoSNAtSAt 1At0 S&AS
the whole blame on myself. That will
let you off clean as a whistle. There's
no reason why you should be punished
for"
Hold on. Ezkc." cried Adam. rising
slowly from the chair to look the inn
FASHIONED young man SQuarely In the
eye. With an effort Of the will, he
managed to conceal the feeling of pride,
of joy that Eric's words produced.
There are several obstacles to that
sort Of a plan. First. leaving me out of
It, how are you going to account for the
A slight shudder ran over Eric's
frame.
"oh, I a say that l weighed it with
iron and rowed out"
You haven't told a lie in connection
with the affair up to date. have you?"
asked Adam levelly.
why, no-I haven't even mentioned
Don't you think it's rather poor
policy to begin now?"
We'll. it's the only way I can think
of to keep your am out of it."
Adam had been thinking hard all
this time. His active, resourceful brain
q been cropping for the means with
which to SUCCESSFULLY combat this rather
primitive. quixotic sense Of honesty
that afflicted Eric. To gain time: that
was Adams sole purpose. The real OBJ
JOSeO vi III ~ W lIlC xIIIlO NcIxlcT COLe
tage was forgotten in the face of his
amazing revolt. Strategy-ay, more
than that o be required in the
handli-- Of the conscience stricken
man; harsh. unfeeling measures would
be necessary. Nor was he thinking only
of his own safety, although, somehow,
It was becoming paramount. He loved
Eric, in a strange, bear like fashion,;
peculiarly his own. He was a far
sighted man: he foresaw dark trials for
the boy If his present purpose was car
ried out. 1t was quite impossible for
him to realize that he, too. had been
short sighted. He had played a deep,
ugly game without counting on the
certainty of this very hour. Time to
curse his stupidity to reckon the
cost. not only to Eric but to himself.
But suppose 1 don't choose to be
left out of 1t. what then?" he demanded
in a hard voice.
I don't have to implicate you" went
on Eric earnestly. you can appear to
be much surprised as anyone when the
truth Gomez out"
Jus go on being a detective.
Chasing a dead man for six years. eh?
Do you think l have no pride? Pom my
word. I'd rather be called a %scoundrel
than a fool"
Eric began to argue his point, but the
older man cut him off short with the
"a GAAoS AS was OIO 4OuEk
to look out for himself.
"See here. Eric" he continued, ignor-
ing the hurt look in his young friends
eyes. we'll get right down to cases. II
you go to Horace Blagden with your
tale, I shall have to tell the world what
I know Of the affair. Do you realize
what that may mean?"
you saw the fight" cried Eric. "You
can prove hat 1t wa self defense-no,
an accident"
Il can do nothing Of the kind" said
Adam coldly. He had thought of a way.
what do you mean ?" stammered the
other.
."Just this. I did not gee the fight. I
saw n blow struck. I do not know
what went before. I have only your
word for that. Not competent testimony
my boy"
Eric's face was a puzzle.
IL don't see what you are driving
at. Mr.. Adam. Surely you don't" He
stopped short. his lips twisting into q
-sickly smile.
Don't what?"
You don't mean that you doubt my
word?"
Adam Carr shook his head. eve al
ways said 1t was an accident, haven't
Certainly. Then what do you mean %
do you suppose hat any court,
knowing my interest in the case, will
accept my statement that I believed it
to be an accident?"
why not?"
Simply because what I believe and
what actually occurred are in no way
connected by fact. You did strike him.
] did moi see him strike at you. So far
z 2 can testify. you struck the only
blow"
Good heaven!"