Charlevoix county herald., 1916-12-22

crimes, when at last the curse over
took you. You sinned. But always
you sinned that others might be happy.
"You can conquer the curse by will
power" urged Borden. "You can de-
stroy the evil that is in you. You can
save yourself and me. You can do
this. 1t will be fearful conflict, but
If you exert all your will-power, you
can win. Will you do this, June? An
swer mel"
June, longed to cry out to him that
she would make the fight; that she
would strive with all her might to
stamp out the curse Of the Red Circle.
But she could not speak.
you will not speak? You will not
help me? You will not help yourself?'
stormed the wrath.
my plea cannot move your" he
rumbled. Then there is only one
way to end it. Even as hoped, once
before, to destroy the Red Circle and
its curse Then, killed myself and
the lad l thought was my son. If l
had known you were my daughter, you
should have died, too; even as now,
you shall .die!"
The gnarled hands 'clutched at June's
full, white throat in murderous fury.
But the spectral hands-bodiless,
shadowy-were harmless against her
warm, living flesh.
Slowly the impotently murderous
hands withdrew their grip.
cniyit hands hava M nOUT-
er against your human body!" he
snarled. Il am helpless. 1t is my pun
ishment."
He bowed his head in his arms; his
phantom body twitching with emotion.
Then, turning abruptly, without so
much as a backward look at the
trance-held girl, he melted through the
closed door and was gone.
For a moment June remained as he
had left her. Then she shuddered from
head to heel. Her great dark eyes
gradually opened. They were horror
filled and wild.
Dazedly June got to her feet, glar-
ing about the room in abject fright
She moved uncertainty, step or two.
Then her tense nerves giving away,
she shrieked aloud and reeled to the
floor in a dead faint.
Mary and Lamar, at sound of hel
cry, rushed headlong into the room.
They few to her aid, applying such re-
storatives as were within reach. Pres
emily, the swooning girl came to her
r self. Looking up, she encountered the
nurses loving. frightened old face.
"Oh, Mary!" she gasped, trembling
all over, I've had such an awful
dream! Such horrible dream. Mary!
lift it was a dream! If 1t was
dream!"
Charles Gordon, in the lounging
room of his club, read and reread the
fiaring headlines that told of June
Travis arrest on the Red Circle
charge.
The lawyer was muttering to him
self:
Guilty or not-she saved me from
prison. No girl with eyes like hers
is a criminal. lift 1t wasn't for
this damnable embezzlement charge
against me, I'd defend her. If only
could get Farwell to admit I'm inno-
cent, could practice again. And be-
lieve / could clear her. But Farwell
would never"
He glanced up quickly. A man had
hurried into the room and was speak
ing excitedly to little knot Of idlers
who sat near the door,
Well" Gordon heard the newcom-
er saying, II think Silas Farwell has
about paid his debt to those employees
of his that he's been swindling.'
What's upg" asked Gordon, joining
the group.
II heard this morning that crowd
of them tried to storm his office again,
to make him settle. He had lot Of
roughneck guards, who scattered them.
But Just now, as he was coming here
from his factory, for lunch, lot of
the strikers mobbed his auto"
did they get him? Orr"
Il don't know. l saw part Of the
row, from the club steps. 1t was no
affair OF mine, to interfere. Let him
pay for his crookedness, for all l
care. He"
The speaker was interrupted by the
entrance OF Farwell himself-hatless,
disheveled, painting.
Il got clear from them!" hoarse-
ly painted the fugitive, as he dashed
into the room and slammed the door
behind him.
He was shaking with fear.
Then Gordon, recognizing the value
of the psychological moment, leaped
forward and seized Farwell by the torn
coat lapels.
"Silas Farwell!" Numbered Gordon,
his face close to the frightened mans.
Confess that the embezzlement
charge you made against me was false
Confess 1t was a conspiracy-that you
liedl"
The onlookers remained outwardly
neutral; only pressing closer about
the two, as II not wishing to miss
single detail Of the scene.
Contest" ordered Gordon again.
Farwell, gasping, painting, In utter