Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-08-19
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thing-but l did not trick you. 1t was
! q fair game. I've kept my lips sealed.
I've stood back Of YOU IN"
Eric thrust his face close to the 9TH
ers. DO o mean to tell me that
Jack Payson hasn't had the whole story
from you? Answer me that question.
You can't deny it."
Adam fell back a step, genuine
astonishment in his face.
mol" Why do o ask? What has
he said to lead you to believe-Non-
sense! He doesn't know it. It's i'm
possible. Eric, there isn't a soul on
you and l."
Jack knows-Tm sure he knows"
cried Eric hotly. And how could he
know. except through you? l know
what he is to you. But, even at that,
1t was a blamed scurvy thing to do"
The look in Adams eyes put a sud-
den check on the ruthless words that
were rushing to his lips. The mans
face had turned a CHASTITY blue. He
glared for an instant into the fierce
eye opposite, and then slowly drew
back, reaching out with his hand for
apopleXy had covered his face. Eric
had never seensa man who looked like
this. He was filled with a sudden cor
sternation. Was the man about to die?
Look out. Mr.. Adam!" ne cried out.
Here! Sit down! Ii Take it all
back. l shouldn't have said hat. I'm
half craZy-lm out OF my senses
Adam waved him off. The purplish
hue receded and left his face almost
sallow.
You mean that you Jake back what
you said about-about what" he de-
manded.
About your having told MIN. of
course"
"Ah, l see" said Adam. fixing Eric
with. eyes in which lay the light of
humble appeal. You don't take back
the other
Eric's gaze wavered. That's neither
here nor there. We won't discuss 1t,
if you please"
Just as you please. Eric" said Ad-
am slowly. Then with a positive snarl
in his tones: II doesn't know. Get
that out of your head. No II knows.
Nc n need know. Let me finish. I'll
put an end TO h whole game if you
insist. Give me a week-no, a month.
I'm getting sick of the thing myself.
The pleasures all n out Of it. I'm
not altogether heartleSs; l can ever
feel sorry for Horace. But we've got to
use judgment, discretion. l can't go to
him today with my lie about Chef
wynd's death in some foreign and-or
sea. 1t will have to be. worked up slow
| - AN \ " kA4S A1i111S ~
in my mind. I'll tell him that the boy
was killed in the South American rev.
olution now in progress in"
No. no." cried Eric, pounding the
mantelpiece with his clenched hand
I'm going to make clear breast of it
curses it. No more trickery, no more
lying, no more subterfuge, Mr.. Adam
I'm not ~ungrateful for what you've
done for me, God knows I'm not. ]
can only curse myself for letting it &c
on SO long. I've been a dog. a coward
IA demon. That's it-a demon. But
l can't go on with it. l just can't"
Adam laid a hand on his shoulder
You'd better be guided by me, my
boy" he said kindly. Il am your friend
and 1 am in full possession of my wits
Which is more than o can say. Let
it go as ] hav planned. There's nc
harm in that. I'll go to Horace in a
few days and put his mind at rest for
ever. l will produce positive proof tina
Chetwynd is dead and"
A sharp cry broke from Mary's lips
The two men were again conscious OF
standing near the window with her
back to the light, her hands clasped
over her breast.
Eric! What is he saying?" she cried
in a shrill, unnatural voice.
Her brother hesitated and Their
Sprang TO ner S1Qe.
Il don't Know how to tell you. Mary
dear. It's such a horrible Yes! ri
get It over with. I'll begin with you
Mary. Do you remember the night vol
dreamed that Chetwynd-'
For heavens sake. boy groaned
Adam, stop and think before you dc
this"
NO! You remember that night
Mary, don't you?" he rushed on, some
thing like frenzy taking hold Of him
Six years ago? 1 slept on the flool
in"
Yes, yes, l remember" she cried, be.
wildered.
wei that was the day that Chef.
wynd died. He did not u away. Mr.
Carr has not been looking for him al
these years. He's been dead all the
time" He stopped to pull the collal
away from his throat.
Adam Carr dropped his arms de.
jectedly and turned away.
"Impossible!" gasped Mary. why
why, Uncle Horace has been expect
ing him home all"
Uncle Horace doesn't know. No one
knows but Adam Carr and-I. ST
dow here beside me, grille. I'll tel
you the whole story. and Adam Car
will vouch for it. I'm going to tel
Uncle Horace, too. He can do what HI
likes with me-hang me, If he want.
to-but I've just got to tell"
He drew her down beside him on thu
sofa, over in the darkest corner of tn,
room. Then, for 10 minutes, he deliv.
cred his soul to her. She sat as on.
petrified, white and still, staring will
unblinking eyes at his twitching, dis.
torted face all the while he poured GU
his unhappy story.
Once her gaze was diverted, ever 81
briefly, to follow his as it went to tn.
broad, motionless figure of Adam Carr
who stood at the window looking GU
upon the street.
But, Mary, Mr.. Adam says it wa.
not murder" pleaded Eric in con.
clusion. Fl says 1t was an accident
It might just as well have been l wht
went over"
And he's been dead all these years,
she murmured. "Out there in thu
ocean,"
Yes"
H can't be washed ashore? 1t wa.
a great iron chest. you say 2" she Wen
on duly. Her hand went to her temple
For heavens sake. Mary, don't pu
it"
And they think he is still ~alive?"
He nodded his head slowly, his lip
writhing.
"Oh!" she cried, as If in dire pain 4
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