Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-08-26
III I'LL nn
CHAPTER xv1.-(continued.)

Horace may forgive Eric. but he'll
never forgive me-" said Adam slowly
calculating. There's only n guilty
person in this case. and that is me
Lets be perfectly frank about it. I am
the one who has made Horace suffer,
not 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. ]
won't say he can 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 by a sharp. eager exclamation
from Eric.
by George! Listen to mel" His face
was bright with q new resolve. He
leaned forward eagerly, his voice drop
ping to a tense, insistent half whisper.
Il know how / can protect you. Mr..
Adam. It's as simple as A B G. You
have stood by me; I'd be a dog to drag
you down with me. Here's what I can
M will do. I viii not mention your
name In connection with the affair. l
will not call on you A. a witness. I'll
cave you out of 1t altogether. and take
n whole blame on myself. That will
let you off clean as a whistle. There's
no reason why o should be punished
for
Hold on. Eric" cried Adam. rising
slowly from the chair to look the i'm
FASHIONED young man squarely in the
BYE With nm 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 q plan. First, leaving me out Of
II how are you going to account for the
disposal OF the body?"
A slight hnddpr ran Oyer Eric'a
frame.
@Oh. l can say that / weighed it with
from and rowed out
You haven't told a lie in connection
with the affair up to date, have you?"
asked Adam levelly.
why, mol haven't even mentioned
Don't you think It's rather poor
policy to begin now?"
We'll. it's the only way l can think
OF to keep your name out Of It,"
Adam had been thinking hard all
this time. His active, resourceful brain
had 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
1ect of his visit to the little Werner cot
tage was forgotten in the face Of this
amazing revolt. Strategy-ay. more
ONAo ASAuIICa Ia IlC
han'Ns OF the conscience stricken
nam; harsh, unfeeling measures would
pc necessary. Nor was he thinking only
OF his own safety. although, somehow,
lt was becoming paramount. He loved
Eric, In q strange. bear like fashion:
sighted man: he foresaw dark trials for
yne boy II his present purpose was Gar
died out. 1T was quite impossible for
ssasyklIn to realize that he, too. had been
lyshort sighted. He had played a deep,
a0sgly game without counting on the
curse his stupidity and to reckon the
cost. not only to Eric but 10 himself
But suppose I don't choose to be
left out OF 1t. what then?" he demanded
In q hard voice.
4 don't have to impiicate YOU" went
on Eric earnestly. "You can appear to
oe much surprised as anyone when the
truth comes out"
Jus &c on being a detective.
en-" retorted Adam with grim humour.
"Chasing a dead man for six years. eh?
Do you think i have no pride? 'Pon my
word, I'd rather be called q scoundrel
than q fool"
Eric began to argue his point. but the
man cut him off short with the
curt reminder that he was old enough
to look out for himself.
See here, Eric" he continued. ignor-
lnG the hurt look in his young friends
eyes. we'll get right down to cases. If
Q tie Horace Blagden with your
tale. I shall have to tell the world what
! know OF the affair. Do you realize
what that may mean?"
You saw the fight" cried Eric. You
can prove that 1t was self defense-no.
IN accident
= can do nothing OF the kind" said
Adam coldly. He had thought of a way.
fE&4t INV ~ - Ye~aNf 49, - MS -
other.
Tvs this. I did not see the fight. I
q one blow struck. / do not know
whit went before. have only your
We'll Tor that. Not competent testimony
Eric's face was q puzzle.
Ii donstasee what you are driving
Z Mr., Adam. Surely you don't He
stopped short. his lips twisting into q
0ickly smile.
Don't what?"
You don't NEAR that you doubt my
Adam Carr shook his head. i've al
Mays said " was an accident. haven't
certainly Then what dc you mean ~
DO Q suppose that any court,
moving my Interest In the case. will
accept my statement that I believed Ii
TO be an accident r.
why not ~
simply because what / believe and
WhAt actually occurred are In no way
connected by fact. You did strike him.
Ibid ..ot see him strike at you. So far
ss ! = testify. you struck The only
Good h~eaven!s'
@sssJnat think II over. Eric" said Carr
#00olly. sD0nt put your neck In q moose
tnsSthe hope that can get It out FOR
H6sWaS powerful chan n