Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-02-22

bled about many things, about GIoria's
determination 10 probe into the Sc
crets that could mean only a cruel dis
H~iusionment for her. about the chances
for Trask's recovery, and the dangers
that threatened the Staffords IL the
newspapers Or the police learned with
what independence of the law the pris-
oner Trask had been captured and
held. He wondered ut his own con-
riIvaiice in The matter, md he shud-
dered To think how many Illegal acts
ire constantly committed by the most
respectable people.
When he reached the Stafford cs-
tate he stopped the driver Of his car
and got out. telling the man To take
the case of instruments up To the
house Royce had seen Lois stroIlingI
about the lawn In Il mood OF solemnity.
He felt that the time was appropriate
for the surrender of the letters. He
wondered IL he had the right to de-
liver them over to her. Yet he knew
that he had no right to keep them. 1t
seemed hat he had so tangled him.
self in the net Of the Frcneau affair
that anything soever he did was bound
TO be wrong.
He hurried to Lois and called 10 her.
She turned TO him sadly and weakly.
lie knew too much about her for 10
face him without shame. He brought u
little smile of relief To her along with IA
swift blush Of guilt when he said;
Lois. / have decided to give back to
you the letters you sent To Freneau.
] read only one OF them. and ! have
forgotten. / think. what Il said. I
think you have earned them back, and
! advise you to burn them up nj the
: first opportunity"
He took the long envelope from his
pocket and her hand was just moving
forward Ia take II when he saw her
blush vanish in a flash OF pallor.
My husband" she whispered.
Royce thrust the envelope back in his
pocket just before he felt David's hand
on his shoulder and turned 10 look into
Iavid's smile Of ~comradeship.
Royce had 10 play-act with all his
might To pretend "a cheer that he was
far from feeling. Once more the loath-
some phase OF deceit was uppermost.
lie could not control himself under
David's eyes and he made an excuse
10 move on.
II was looking for Gloria" he said.
"She's over by the marble pool" Da-
vid answered. Royce moved on. know
ing that he was watched. He did not
want TO meet Gloria with those letters
in his pocket. but he must 20 on with
the role.
Gloria seemed a figure In a painting
ms she stood at the edge of the blue
water In its white frame. with the for
NAL ~shrubbery and the graceful colon
made back OF her. The boy Stas was
on n knee at her feet. He was sail
ing a tiny sloop on he tiny ocean.
As 500 as Gloria saw Royce she
beckoned 10 him with q cord!ality that
She regretted at once. remembering
that someone else had waved 10 him
before. Having just seen him speak
10 Lois. she felt sure that ID was 10
Lois that he had waved when he left
the house.
When Stns saw Doctor Royce he left
the sloop IN It's fate and ran whooping
70 him. Royce caught the child In his
hands and tossed him high, then
brought him IN the level Of his shout
der for a hug and kiss. He loved chill
dren and children loved him.
He did not notice thar the little
cropping hands of Stas had happened
on the envelope full Of F%reneau's let
ters and lifted II stealthiIy from his
pocket. When he set the boys feet
on the ground again Stas ran away.
brandishing the envelope and challeng-
ing Royce 10 a game Of tag.
Royce's heart bounded with alarm.
If the child had carried a stick Of dy-
Mantle In his hand 1t would hardly
have been more dangerous.
'Give me the letter. my boy" Royce
said. putting out his hand.
Stas laughed and ran a little farther
OF. Royce followed. demanding. The
more anxious Royce was the more Stas
liked the game.
Royce was in mortal terror lest the
letters fall from the envelope aud
somehow Gloria would learn their ma
ture.
He made q dash for Stas. Stns
whisked behind a Juniper and circIed
L.. Royce chased him through a clump
Of rhododendrons.
Gloria began to laugh and encour-
age Stas. At length Royce made a
frantic rush for the boy, and Stas.
growing breathless. made for Gloria's
arms and flung himself into them, pant
Ing: Take il! take 1t! take itl
quick !"
lie placed the envelope In Gloria's
hands. She was about to return II to
Royce without a glance. Eut the heavy
seals on the back caught her eye and
she looked down.
Instantly she recognized the en-
gelope. Ii "A the one that had fall
IN from Freneau's pocket the night
ne came 10 bid her good-by. 1t was
the one that she had seen the crouch
ng figure take from Freneau.s pocket
after Trask had murdered him and
IN away F
(TO BE CONTINUED.)