The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-05-06

missed several things. and--and-well.
he as much Is said I'd taken things
that didn't belong to me"
Horace smiled with grim derisiveness.
1T Is possible he had as much right to
accuse you as you have to accuse MN
1t seems to me his case is as good as
yours"
81 am not a theft
II might say the same. Did he find
the scarf pin?"
Eric flushed. He told her he founs
II. But he lied"
"EricI" ...
"He liedl"
white and then turned purple. He
sprang to his feet and advanced upon
the boy, a furious glare in his eyes.
You scoundrel! You vilifierl You
unhung rascall How dare you come &c
me with such a story IA this? 2" He
choked, he appeared to be s%trangling.
Eric shrank back aghast. No one had
ever heard a blasphemous word on the
lips of Horace Blagden. but now Eric
was to listen to a torrent of wild pro-
family that would have shocked even
the walls of a ships ~forecastle. He vas
seized with the fear that his uncle had
gone mad. utterly mad.
"Uncle!" he cried, putting up his
hands as If to shield himself from a
blow.
Il could kill YOU where you
A great light broke in upon
him. "AhI Now 1 understand!
Now I can see how a man justifies
himself for taking another's life. BY
heavens, / know nov sweet 1t would
be to kill" In his frenzy. he looked
about for a deadly weapon.
Then, as suddenly, his whole man.
ner changed. He fell back against the
table, his jaw dropping, an expression
OF great horror crossing his face.
Good God. help me-" he groaned.
shaking as with the ague. What is II
l have said? What is 1t that is In my
heart? Murder? oh, my God"
He would have fallen had not the
boy leaped forward to catch him by
the arm. Mr.. Blagden shook him off.
Eric fell away, moving toward the door,
ready to fee from this amazing figure,
this unknown being.
His uncle turned his sodden eyes
upon him, and motioned with a trem-
bling hand for him to stay.
Stop! Don't run away. Wait, Eric.
II ask you to wait here until-until
L" Whatever It was that he meant
to say, the words were not uttered.
Somehow Eric understood. He stood
In the middle Of the floor and watched
his uncle stagger to the couch I'VE
near the wall, upon which he
dropped as II every vestige Of strength
had deserted him.
The minutes passed slowly. The pic
ture remained the same. The wondering,
half stupeied boy in the middle Of the
room; the motionless figure on the
couch, from whose lips ever n anon
came two hoarsely whispered words:
MY Cod"
The shadows of dusk crept into the
E1..-I A. LN-h ~
waning light of the summer day looked
In upon the strange tableau. and vague
sounds from the street came, but with
out the power to disturb. Somewhere,
off in the deserted banking room, q
Waterman was shutting and whistling.
Eric waited for him to open the door
and break h spell tina had fallen
else, IT seemed, could shake the fet-
tiers from his feet, or drive the warm
blood back into his empty veins. Would
the heavy breathing figure on the
couch change its limp position?
Would the hand never be drawn away
from the eyes 1t covered?
At last, whOn the room had grown
quite dark, Horace Blagden moved.
The boys tense figure relaxed so sud
denly that his legs almost gave way.
Answer the telephone, please" said
Mr.. Blagden, his voice clam once more
but weak.
The telephone had been buzzing for
a minute or longer. Eric grabbed up
the receiver.
1T is Aunt Rena," ne said lazily.
"She wants to know II you are ILL
why you are so late coming home,
uncle"
Tell her I am all right and will be
there at once"
He arose from the couch, taller,
more gaunt than v 1t seemed to
Eric as he saw him through the gath
ering darkness.
Eric" he said from his position near
the couch, we will go home at once.
Will you get my hat and can from
the closet?"
The boy hesitated. II can't go home
with you now, Uncle Horace. Not after
what I've said to you"
There was another long period of
silence. The mans yes were half
closed,