The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-08-19
iii iii mn
CHAPTER xv-(continued.)

CRATER NV-(Continued.)
BY the way" interrupted his INCL,
calmly, I'D like you to keep it a secret
Tor a day or two. The deeds are being
prepared by Mr.. Graves. Tomorrow
perhaps, I'll give it to the Courier. I
DelleVe newspaper men would all 1t
q scoop, or a beat, which it it? At any
saue, Wen supply the paper with
Biagden breakfast food, eh?"
ne capped the bewildered Midthorne
On n back and laughed his driest
cacKle. He was the am old Horace,
atter aH.-the same old egoist.
i can't believe it." Eric,
forgetting his own troubles in the face
of this stupendous philanthropy h a
was TO hang over the heads Of the Cor
inthlans till the crack Of doom.
see, my boy, you'll see,'' said
MS uncle. Come over this evening
ana WeIi discuss the plans. I have an
aoea or two myself, and SO has your
tnal ! purpose making Presbrey the
librarian in charge"
Again Eric stared. why, I thought
- dare say he'll try to decline the
.moIor at frst," said Horace blandly,
no oq 70 we g shant accept no from any man
70 Iar as this undertaking is concerned.
On, by the way, will Mary come to
church on Sunday ?'
Yes" said Eric. Are you sure you
want me to undertake a job as huge
mo one else will be considered" said
Horace with fnality.
I had come to the stairway lead
ing up to h editorial rooms of the
Cornlth Courier. With a grave bow to
Eric, Mr.. Blagden turned to mount
tnem, first glancing up at the window
rom when the publisher was peering.
He thinks I'm coming for the rent"
said Horace. Good day, Eric"
IN a maze of mingled wonder and
distress, Eric made his way homeward.
re was filed with wonder over his
ncle,s amazing act of generosity, dis
Fessed over the new complication that
vas o to be forced upon him. Out
the maze came a sharp, cruel reyela-
ION OF Horace Blagden's true motive in
giving this great edifice to the CITY of
Cor1nth. 1t was not for the sake of
the name Of Blagden alone, but as a
penance to his own disturbed con-
science.
1t was his way of measuring expia-
ton.
But how utterly impossible 1t would
be for Eric to accept this tribute! His
heart was full. He understood his
uncle, and he pitied him. The great
man of Cornith was striving to right a
SAoS AoW SSeilSO tTlFldl TO Ill0
young man. Compensation; that was
all it meant to Horace BIagden-a
splendid recompense. He could think
or no other way to pay so handsomely
as this. The world would never know
the r III meaning Of the gift to Cor
Nth, yet he would be square with it.
There was something truly pathetic in
his method; pathetic because his own
SELF qualification was q secondary con-
dition despite all outward appearances.
AS Eric entered his own little door
yard, the passive resolution that has
been gently Juggling at his conscience
for years leaped into violent protest
against further suppression. The time
had come when he could no longer
maintain silence. The truth would
nave to be told.
He could no longer watch the suf-
fering of those silent, harassed par
ents. He could not accept favors from
them, knowing all hi he knew. He
would nave to tell.
First of all. he must have 1t out with
Adam Carr. With this thought in mind
he was about to retrace his steps to-
ward the square in quest Of the detec-
tive. when Mary's voice called to him
from the window Of their cottage.
He hesitated. The voice of his sis
ter a a strange effect on his new
made resolve. What would all this
mean to her? Suppose hat Adam Carr
turned against him; that his
friend denied him in order to protect
himself from the wrath of Horace
Blagden?
These thoughts were racing through
his brain when Mary came out upon
the doorstep and called to him:
Eric. don't go away. Mr.. Carr is
waiting here to see you He has heard
that Chetwynd is in Rio Janerio
and
With a mad cry. Eric dashed up the
walk. sweeping her aside as he crossed
the porch. The next instant, he stood
In the little sitting room, facing Adam
Carr, with blazing eyes and quivering
Ups.