Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-17

good TO be q father--a good father"
suddenly he seated himself st the table ana !
buried his face In his arms. For some time
he remained thus but when he raised his
head again there wers tears in his eyes,
"A little child for me-and I shot Har-
gravesv % he moaned.
Just then Miriam came back into the
room. At a glance she realized what was
going on In his mind; and. going over TO
him. placed her hand affectionateiy on his
shoulder and with great tenderness said
Don't think any more about that.
Laurie It's past and gone. You're new
man, don't you see?'
Ee stopped suddenly. fercely. caught her
roughly by the arm, and cried in loud
| voice
Miriam, Miriam. thank Heaven have
thought about II Listen, dear--I can see II
now-just as 1t happened" He stopped and
| looked down at her. Can you stand It.
! dear?"
What Is it?" asked his young wife.
| trembling with the horror OF II all
Chaloner gripped her arm with painful
| force.
Il did not XIII Richard inrgravesl" he
cried in sudden Joy. mo. did not kill
| him 80
| Miriam caught her husband about tho
neck and tried TO soothe him.
Laurie" she said gently. you're beside
yourself"
| No ne answered calmly enough, lnOukH
| evidently laboring under great excitement,
| no, | know / did not kill Hargraves, It's
| the first timo / have thought about ". Five
| years ago everything was muddled--life
was n mudde them and on that night at
| Cradlebaugh's everything was hazy But
| now Miriam. it's as clear as day I can see
t--l do SEQ IT," lie lifted his arm. his
forefnger crooked significantly and de-
clared:
| 81 shot -"
Yes" she said eagerly, "you shot
81 shot at Hargraves. but did not hit
him. It's all come back; can see 1t now -
And pointing toward the junction of the side
wall and tho ceiling. he went on to explain :
The bullet lodged In the panel OF the wall.
Hargraves put up his arm like thls--l meant
| to kill him and shot; but didn't hit him.
1t was the last thing I remembered before
| toppled over in the big chair-that, ana
his starting over toward the door. / re-
member that. It's all come back in fash.
But never saw him after that"
"Yet." she protested, you confessed
yes" he answered. II tell you every
thing was muddled-lfe was hasy knew
| shot NJ him knew | shot to XIII. Of
course / thought that had done It but It's
not So | tried to do IT, and then
She caught him wildly about the body
and cried Historically:
"Iaurie--are you sure
I "I know, I tell you" he answered, ant
4 FASTENED to add. Yes, and there's anothe
: man that knows--pemmican. that's tn
L chap"
T. lie stopped again and looked down a
o the small dress. which through all his ex
| citcmcnt he had held tenderly In the crool
) of his arm.
I'm going to be a father" he went on
/, "and It's we'll that didn't kill Hargraves
= But have got to prove 1.-THE world mus
| | tInt 1n't Iii m /
n it-Pcmmican will prove II for me-he wa
n there"
Miriam shook her head.
d 'You remember his testimony at the tria
It Laurie; besides" she added softly. takin
II an old newspaper clipping from a sma
IS drawer of her desk "Pemmcan Is dead
Dead" His voice rang out in astonisf
v ment "Dead! ! didn't know 1t. Wh
'r didn't you tell me?"
For answer she placed her finger on I'D
lips.
?! why, he died in the county jail not lon
lie after | was tried 80 exclaimed Challone
y who was now reading the newspaper cllI
ir ping Poor chap. the confinement kile
him | imagine. Well, l never killed Iia
h graves, and I'm going to prove 1t som'
h. how" He leaned over and kissed a tin
bit of rufe. I'm going to prove it for yo
IN and the little one"
| Laurie" insisted Miriam. quivering. ''al
IL you suro?'
W Il was never surer OI aHStHihb ~ ~
I'll life than this" replied Challoner II tt
YOU IL has all come back to me like
:" flash 1t was you little one" he said. benz
ing once more over something imaginal
in his arm, that brought 1t back to me-
IT, Miriam had watched him closely
',' Yes, yes" she conceded. ''it is true,
lh can see 1T know" And sobbins, dropps
no her head upon his shoulder.
Us "Ivo got to prove it," he repeated ov'
pt and over again, patting her head affe
tionately.
-Murgatroyd-why II you were II
III noccnt ." suddenly cried Miriam
ne "Wcl?"
id "IIc ought to know IT,"
a. What do | care about Murgatroyd VIII
no do I care about anybody but you and Il
ry little one that Is coming-coming to yc
as and to me!' ,
Is. Laurie" breathed Miriam softly, II
as happy oh, so happy | knew felt, som
~ how, that things would come out right
n don't care whether you ever prove this
d. long as we know. Happy?" she repeated I
ID she nestled closer to him. 81 should thif
I'll so with five hundred dollars in the bar
and a small business, and after a viii
n ."