Evening journal., 1916-02-26

n As@fY by Mcclure Pub
.sa Iications.
brother. why was she willing to be
his wife?"
The girl flushed and answered less
readily
"Wen. you see-there were reasons
and she had promised
"Wm YOU please tell US those
reasons?'
A little gasping sob wrenched from
a woman's overburdened heart proNe
the stiffness az that question, and Mrs
Page suddenly dropped forward. hiding
her face in her hands.
with her own eyes tear-dimmed
Mary stretched out her hands yearn-
ingly. half whispering. Mother! Mo-
therl" and Langdon was at her side in
"A moment She waved him back. and,
drawing her veil across her distorted
face. smothered the sobs that shook
her thin shoulders like a storm, as the
prosecutor repeated his question.
1T all happened several years ago
five-maybe six. Mary and l we're very
good friends at that time. and ! was
at her home a great deal So l knew
that-that--they were greatly in need
OF money"
was Il n pressing need. or do you
mean simply that they were poor2'
'Bothl" she said, hesitatlngly. "They
were poor. but at the time I speak OF
I overheard Mr.. Page say that there
would be ruin for all OF them. and that
they'd be turned out on the streets un-
less he got the money before morn
ing. Mary overheard him, too. and
when he went out she and ! sat try
ing to think OF some way by which we
could raise money. II was while we
were still talking that Mr.. Page came
back. He-he-had been drinking. and
he was waving a check around his head
and cried. i've done a good turn for a
friend and I'VE been well paid for it.
The Lord helps those who help them
selves He seemed terribly excited,
and went out again almost Immediately
saying that he wanted 70 cash the
check before the banks closed"
Did Mr.. Page say who the friend
was that had given him the check2"
mo; but we learned later"
Whose check was it?"
my brothers"
was he interested in Miss Page al
that timer"
yes. He had always been. l think
but she was not at all In love with
him. She had told me that"
"Yet he gave her father a check 10
a large sum-"
"No" She flushed hotly now. AM
cast a timid glance at Mary. as II hal
deprecating the necessity Of the testl
mony IN spite OF the circumstance
that had built a wall OF horror and ha
tired between the erstwhile girl friends
"No." she continued after an in
stants pause. carefully choosing he
words. "That was just II. Ny brother
had not-signed that check"
do you mean" broke in the Judge
chat the check was forged"
YES"
How do you know that?"
a detective sent by the bank came
10 the Page home while I was there
and told Mrs. Page and Mary and me
Mary didn't believe It az first. but at
any rate she said she didn't know
where her father was. though we both
guessed he-he-was in the bar OF the
hotel He was mostly there. When
the detective had gone Mary wanted
: 90 go and warn Mr. Page. but
thought it would be better TO go &C
/ David: and we did. lie was Mortified
when he found out that IL was Mary'i
father who had cashed the check be.
cause. not knowing, he had airead,
a..
% the limit Mary cried and begge,
him 20 do something 20 save he
; father and David said. III save hin
Tor your sake. Mary. II you viii prom
ise 20 DO something Tor me in return
did be say what that something
nas?T
"No. She didn't even ask. She Jus
. said che would DO anything in IN
] world he wanted II he would save he
. father. 50 be went with US 20 n
hotel and we got there Just In time {
! save Mr. Page from arrest"
"H0w did you save him. as you ca
n7'
: David told the detective that he ha
forgotten about giving the check {
Mr. Page and that it was perfecu
good"
"And Miss Page was naturally CRATE
ful 20 your brother for his havin
saved her father prompted the Dis
trict Attorney. as Ruth broke of. nc
knowing how 10 go on.
Grateful? Yes She-she promise
10 marry him"
'How soon were you told OF the en-
gagement?"
WELL" a faint little wrath Of
smile crossed her lips Il had guesse
what It was that my brother woul
ask Mary. and then / heard her te
Mr. Langdon."
was Mr. Lsngdon at the house a
that timer"
mo, he came while was sitting talk
ing TO Mrs Page. Mary and Davi
3 were IN the next room. so I went to Il
Q Mr. Langdon In He stopped at IN
Z gate. looking at my brothers automo
70 bile, and walked down the path {
meet him. While we were comm
j. back toward the porch the others cam
20 the door. Suddenly David caugf
lt Mary up In his arms and kissed he
ne She seemed 20 struggle against hil
;" and slipping away. ran into the hous
Mr.. Langdon. thinking that my broth,
ir had kissed Mary against her wi