The evening world., 1916-06-08


serted, denautlv. II know he Ia not!
! lie is an innocent man!"
"luu know ho IN mott" Mr.. Pelc-
noff's bushv eyebrows went up and
! his forehead furrowod.
"Oh, I know what YOU mean" she
| exclaimed, tensely. How should |
know that he is Innocent lust because
| he, perhaps, told moi Well. he did
! tell me so! And believe him. He Is
! guiltless! I think II must have been
| his fine, strong face that made mo do
| what | aid tho Ilrst timo he came"
"The first time he Gamer echoed
Mr.. pelenoff in a startled way, What
what do YOU mean, Mera7
| She smiled inscrutahly.
"Oh, I'm going to tell you.' she said.
Not where he IL, you know-that
wouldn't be fair to you. But i've got
io mako you help me. I'm your
daughter. and you'll have to protect
me. won't you-dadg
| you mean" gasped Mr.. Pelenon.
"that-that there's something moro 10
this nfralr1 Something that l don't
already know?
She nodded.
"a little" she announced calmly
"On the way up from The Forks to
Mnnloops. while Mr.. FELTON, was tell
ing us tho story OF the robbery and
I sat with my back against that state.
room door-he was hidden inside.
made him get of at Aanloops. I'm
sorry | did now.
"Whntl" Mr.. Pelenon sat down
dazedly on the edge of tho bed again
Good God" calculated Mr.. Pelenon
in earnest perturbation.
Mera nodded her head again.
And so you see" she added com
placently, that. as they say here IN
America. I'm In good ana deep' ana
now--so are you"
Mr. Pelenoff's hngers twisted nerv-
ouslv at his beard. then at his watch
chain and then back at his beard
again. The big, pleasant. genial race
wrinkjed In mingled bewildorment
yexation and dismay.
..But-.but this Is an absolutely un-
tenable positionl" he burst out hnal-
Iiy. What am | 10 dol"
Keep them from annoying ms
with their questions she replied
promptly. "You might as we'll: fol-
not only will 1 not answer them. bu'
I intend to do everything l can &c
prevent Larry Lannigan from os'ns
captured" , A..
ouixotic. too-too"-- Words fail'
ing. he waved his arms helpleseiy
Jumped up once more and again be'
1an TO pace tho statero0m moor
"Nera. what on earth have you done
The man actually seems to nave At
tracted you--thcre appears 10 DO
great deal OF tho personal element
in this"
There is," she declared ingenu-
ously. ''That n man should risk hid
life for mine Is "A very personal thins
to me-.
brushed the reply away. AZ ~ were
with an impatient wave OF his hand
But you know what | mean--youl
position. your
Il know quite well what you mean.
she said softly. There Is only one
answer to that. No woman. no mat
ter what her position. ever jeopar
died that position or lowered 1t be-
cause OF her interest IN an honest
man; no woman. no matter what her
station. could reach higher than TO q
brave and true gentleman. Wealth
does not buy one. does III Nor dosa
wealth make one
Gracious heavensi" murmured Mr.,
Pclcnoff weakly. Has It gone az
far AZ that"
Il am only replying to your arsu-
pcating what I have heard you say
yourself many times" she returned
calmly AS for It having gone az
far as that It has gone this far: that
| have helped him, that you should
have helped him. and that you
must help him now-because the
simplest way to protect me from
what You say may be serious trouble
Is to establish his innocence"
But do not admit him to DO In
nocent, p
Then prove I. 10 satisfy yourseifi"
she urged. "He saved your life--and
mine. Don't you owe him his
chancc7"
prove TT" muttered Mr.. Pelenofi
heavily. "Mera, don't know what 10
make OF this.or you What do you
Go back to Angel" she said quick
ly, earnestly
And then what7"
"Oh. ! don't know yet" she ac-
knowlcdged In a troubled way
Something. There IL another reason
why he should appeal TO you"
What Ia that" Inquired Mr.. Pele-
non.
He Is n railroad man" she said
simply. you have always said that
lU'Io was a sort OF DONl brt Wcen rhll-
road men that existed nowhere else
that YOU were prOulcr Of being rail
road man than anything else. Well
no Is railroad man, tOo-dnd Ona
who loves his work, and IL master OF
II in every dctall, that Is. OF the
practical side OF H., Just as you were.
dad, when YOU were work king your
wny up, and until wider expert
onro brought YOU TO where YOU are
to-day"
But ! do not know these things
any more than | know that ne Il
innocent" objected Mr.. Pelenor,
"But I do" shs cried iuyously
And | know YOU viii help me- Don't
you think I can read that dear old
heart Of yours? | knew YOU would
| know YOU would! You are going
to-
II am gong 10 have very bad
half hour ne interrupted hurriedly
making a wry face, trying to pacify
that sheriff thanks TO very OBJ
durate and inComprehensl daughter
who haunts the law To his face"
Her arms went around his neck
She was laughing happily nov.
Promise me- she whispered
well, well, well see lie kissed
her HffcctlOnlt"ly ana walked toward
tho door. eco 10 bed, now, Mera--.
you've been through a terrible night.
She watched him cross the state