The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-12-08


put down her knitting and rose will
some difficulty. Clinging to the man
tel, she took down one of the photo
graphs and turning 1t, read in tn
beloved handwriting: ITO my darling
mother from her adoring son, Dick.
She kissed the photograph and car
ried it back to her chair.
An elderly maid brought in the morn
ing paper and few letters, which thu
mother ran through eagerly. Find
Ing none from Dick, she shook her fin
ger reprOvingly but affectionately al
the photograph; she then leaned back
in her chair to glance carelessly over
the paper.
Almost Immediately her eyes lighted
on the headlines announcing her sons
death, with a hint of suicide. The
shock Of the news almost killed the
mother; for she was old and Dick was
her only child and she knew only the
good side Of him. The evil that he
/ wrought in the world was mercifully
kept from her.
The maid, hearing her moan. ran
out Of the house and summoned tho
doctor who was caring for her. He saw
that her disease was the incurable one
, that mothers are often prey to, the
I loss Of their children. There was no
remedy for this In the doctors books
| and the only help he could give was
| to answer her one remaining wish that
her sons body should be brought home
to be buried In the family plot where
his father lay and where she hoped
soon to rest.
The doctor telegraphed the mothers
request to Freneau's partner, Frank
Mulry, who took steps at once to
comply.
Thus 1t was that Gloria was de-
prived even Of the sad satisfaction Of
following her lover to the grave. Her
her best, Stephen Royce and her own
father. They would do everything
they could to thwart her. When she
learned of his mothers wishes her first
impulse was to go to Colorado herself,
but that impulse she quickly put aside;
for her most important duty was to
find his murderer, and that search she
must start at once.
Pierpont Stafford felt deep resent
ment against the world for Its treat
ment Of his children. He had won and
held a position Of power in the f1nan-
dollars and he controlled more, yet
his son was married to a worthless
woman and his daughter mourned the
death of BLACKBOARD.
He could not buy happiness for his
children and his own success was
therefore worthless. His whole soul
rose in revolt. His son would have to
win his own way out of his mesh;
he was a man. But his daughter his
Gloria, must be helped out Of the
shadows and back into the light.
Stafford could hardly think Of Ere
neau without wishing to kill him over
again with his own hands. 1t was I'M
thinkabie that his girl should be al
lowed to wear his engagement ring
and mourn for him. Yet 1t was deli
CdlC ulultCl lOl u 1dtiSi W hohoiS' IL
could not bear to blast the fresh inno-
cence of his daughter by recital of
Freneau's wickedness. He felt also
that her loyalty would not permit her
to believe evil of the dead man who
was now unable to defend himself.
The whole situation was intolerable.
He went to Gloria's room, finding
her as he had expected, brooding by
the window He took her in his arms
and clasping her hands found they en-
folded a picture Of Freneau. Anger
mastered him he took the photograph
from her, saying: 81 wish you would
put that out of my sight and out Of
your life"
Gloria stared up at him in amaze
ment tears trembling on her eye
iashes. Then she gently disengaged
the picture from his grasp and Rugged
it to her breast.
"Why do you hate him now? What
do you know against him? How can
you be so cruel, so unjust?"
Pierpont uneasily avoided her gaze
and shrugged his shoulders with
sigh.
Gloria put her hands pleadingly on
his shoulders and he tried to take her
in his arms again, but noting the en-
gagement ring on her hand, he froze.
Then, with determination in his tone,
he commanded: "Take it off !"
Terrified, Gloria snatched her hand
away from his arm and shook her
head, moving swiftly away from him.
Pierpont followed and clasped her
hand. Pointing to the photograph ac-
cusingly he said:
Everyone will ask who 1t Is you are
engaged to. You are not engaged to
him any longer. 1 insist on your re-
moving that ring"
Gloria protested. Pierpont stood
firm. She studied him anxiously. He
reiterated his demand. She refused.
Baffled in his coercion, the old man be-
gan to plead. She was all he had He
was old and heartbroken. He could
not endure the sight of her in black.
He was jealous of the dead mans hold
on her heart. Pity moved her as fear
could not. To comfort him she yield
H. T. -. r. g.