Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1917-01-04
A single glance made Blackford real.

ize their meaning.
"Oh, David, Davidl" he cried.
| A thousand voices the confused
murmur of mighty throng, seemed
ringing In Toinette's brain, and she
| fought against sickening giddiDess
that made the walls whirl around her
"That is enough, Mr.. Blackboard"
she asked weakly; and on tottering
| knees she turned and left the two
men alone.
"Surely you can explain this, Davy!"
cried Ike; his faith in his friend chung
to him in stubborn defiance of the doc
uments' mute accusation.
"Do you think it necessary to ex.
plain?" said David harshly. The anger
which he had withheld from Toinette
had mounted slowly until now his iron
will had reached a white heat of furi-
GUS resentment. 'By God, I explain
to no manl'
| Ike looked him straight in the eyes.
mo man on earth can use that tone
to me-" he said quietly, Except
you, David, old man."
He laid his hand gently on his
friends shoulder and the angry light
in David's eyes was suddenly quenched.
| at isn't true" he said, and was ST.
lent once again.
THAT'S the only explanation you
and need, David" Ike answered with
a grave smile; and David crushed his
hand in mighty grip.
| ''Ike, you understand! You believe
in mel" he cried in a voice that
showed how cruel the strain upon his
nervous pride had been; and the two
young men smiled straight into each
others eyes.
| David had meant to keep his own
| counsel, but now the burden of his
heart flooded over at Ike's trust in
| him. He told of what he had learned
| concerning Cranmer; told how he had
i come into possession of the secret
agents maps and documents. 81 had
search for Cranmer," he said, "and
meant to take these papers there at
the first opportunity. How Toinette
guessed that l had them, I cannot un
derstand. But, by heaven, Blackboard
| can't explain to her Don't you I'm
derstand? / wanted her love.
thought she had given it to me. But
if she doubts me, then"
/ His voice faltered again.
"She has worried herself over some
rumor-poor Toinette, she's strung to
the breaking-point," said Ike gently.
II want. you to do something for me,
Ike" replied David, unheeding the ex.
cuse. II cannot stay in Corydon after
this. / cannot be indebted to Mr..
O'Bannon any longer. must go"
"You know best, Davy. It's not my
business. But where?"
"Vincennes, 1 suppose. I may as
well stay on there, after / have de-
livered this evidence to General Glib
son. 1t doesn't make any difference.
But want you to see Mr.. O'Bannon
and turn my accounts over to him.
Will you do this for me, Ike?"
Willingly, Davy. But, oh, I'll hate
to give you upw
you're the best friend ever had.
So shall have to lose you, as l have
lost everyone I ever loved" David
smiled bitterly.
'Davy, don't go! You'll win yet
She can't hold to this silly mistake.
Why, I'll explain things to her! Go
back, you sore-headed old bear, and"
| But David checked him.
II shall never enter that house And
forbid your speaking to her on this
| subject Do not speak of her again"
His tone was unyielding, final; and
| grieving in silent sympathy for his
! friends shattered hopes, Ike helped
him close up the meager affairs of the
little store and babe him good by. -.
To Ike remained no question of Da-
vid's honor; but the poison of Elliott's
words had found an abiding hold in
| the girls heart. Toinette had reached
| her fathers house she knew not how.
! She gained the harbor of her own
chamber, closed the door, and sank
upon her bed in a paroxysm of grief.
She had saved the frontier from the
traitor, she thought; but she had
| broken her own heart.
.
Dayid's back was toward Corydon
| and all his hopes. His face was toward
the north. The trace through the for
| est stretched away toward Vincennes
and he marched along resolutely.
There he handed over to the terrific
rial officers the plans that he had
taken from Cranmer; had from them
their blunt thanks and found employ
ment in the ancient trading house Of
the Spaniard, Vigo.