The Detroit times., 1916-01-17

fro, with tightly clasped hands, was
Mary.
June ran down the steps and
reached her side, brCathless and
alarmed. As she approached Mary
looked up In piteous supplication
Don't ask me, precious Don't ask
me. dear don't knew I couldn't
tell you, blessed" she moaned. and
raised her hands to ward on Junos
embrace
The girl sat down and put a low
ing arm across her shoulders.
People who bring up children and
love them" she began slowly, "el-
ways forget thore children are
grown once a baby always baby.
to loving mothers and dear, foolish
old nurses But I'm not a baby any
more. Mary Espt cially not since
the horrible thing that happened to-
day. I am branded am guilty OF
guilty Of"
Her assumed gaycty had fed Her
voice rose to a hysterical pitch that
cut sharply into the quiet that was
about them. Mary put quick hand
over the trembling lips, cutting on
the plea.
Hush Oh. darling. hush!' she
besouRht They will hear YOU at
the house. You mustn't Say word
about it any more, not even TO me
you mustn't think Of II ever again
Promise"
Il can't promise anything per
sisted June, lighting TO regain her
composure until you tell me about
this mark that has soiled my hand
tell me what you know OF " Just
now. when I came downstairs and 20
my mother. / had 20 hide my right
hand. for fear she might see that
awful thing Yet. II YOU refuse TO
tell me about Il nov. shall go
straight to her and ask her"
"Oh, no No"
Then tell me-
As she got up from the bench The
old woman leaned heavily on the
Young arm beside her. for support.
She locked cautiously toward the
house and then IN the opposite direc.
ton With the same nervous fear
she stared into the shrubbery sur
rounding them. then sank back on
10 the bench. her lips moving as Il
IN silent prayer
I'm afraid I'm afraid SIN" re
peated weakly
Tel me
God knows I've kept the secret o
far-sha never knew nothing about
lt-your moth,r-and nobody There
isn't anything you can keep "a secret
forever But II could e. protected
YOU from II always. precious ! would
a given my soul pretty near. TO do
il n all happened so long ago--2o
years IL was-full 20 years
"ron me. Mary. urged June gen
It's pattlng her writhing hands
Twenty years ago Mrs Travis
went west on a trip with Mr. TRAY
IT," said Mary. speaking rapidly, os
IN forcing each word ~ vent along
i was the maid. II was terrible
place. out west WAS. In those day7
And the place sc went 10 was a min
ing town whe.e there WAS nothing
but shacks and saloons and rough
looking men and halfdoad looking
women.
AZ tho end " the trip Mrs Travis
was pretty near spent She oughtn {
10 have been travelling al such a
time Hut she just would insist on
coming along. 1 remember Mr. rrav.
is and me had to pretty near carry
her into the place where We We're
gcing to stay while We were there.
II wasn't regular hotel--the sign
said Gem Saloon Also Rooms.
Jake was the name of the man
who kept II. and downstairs. when
We Went in. was nothing but bar
room all filled with tobacco smoke
and smell OF liquor. There was tables
with men drinking and gambling and
they stirred AT US like we were
strange animals
Jake led tho way up the stairs
and MIR. Travis and me put our arms
around poor Mrs Travis and Just
lifted her up that rickety staircase
into the bed room on the second
floor"
Mary's eyes stared duly back
through the mist OF 90 years Her
voice falterei-and stopped
THE bedroom on the second floor.
repeated June, "Rnd then"
And then We put her TO bed" be
tween us, Mr. Travis and me. lie
had to go down and speak to some
men, on business lie had gone out
west on some business about a gold
mine he was interested I'm, you know
And the reason Mrs Travis went
along was because she was so sick
and nervous. she said IL would "a
killed her TO stay behind And then,
that afternoon. Mr.. Travis and most
all the men in the town went into
the mountains TO sec a new gold
claim.
They we're the toughest looking
lot. an there was one a big. power
ful fellow. a gsmbler-'Jim Borden
they called him"
Jim Borden" cried June.
Why"
And he was rougher even than
the rest Of 'en1 hut thew all minded