The state herald., 1917-06-01

nivance In the matter, and he shud-
dered to think how many illegal acts
are constantly committed by the most
respectable people.
When he reached the Stafford es-
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 strolling
about the lawn in mood of solemnity.
He felt that the time was appropriate
for the surrender Of the letters. He
wondered If he had the right to de-
liver them over to her. Yet he knew
that he had no right to keep them. It
seemed that he had SO tangled him.
self in the net of the Freneau affair
that anything soever he did was bound
to be wrong.
He hurried to Lois and called to her.
She turned to him sadly and weakly.
He knew too much about her for to
face him without shame. He brought n
little smile of relief to her. along with a
swift blush Of guilt when he said:
"Lois, / have decided to give back to
you the letters you sent to Freneau.
l read only one Of them, and l have
forgotten, l think, what 1t said.
think you have earned them back. and
I advise you to burn them up at the
first opportunity"
He took the long envelope from his
pocket and her hand was Just moving
forward. to take 1t when he saw her
blush vanish in a fash 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 to look into
David's smile Of comradeship.
Royce had to play-act with all his
might to pretend cheer that he was
far from feeling. Once more the loath-
some phase Of deceit was uppermost.
He could not control himself under
David's eyes and he made an excuse
to 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 Q painting
as 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 one knee at her feet. He was sail
ing a tiny sloop on the tiny ocean.
As soon as Gloria saw Royce she
beckoned to him with n cordlality that
she regretted at once. remembering
that someone else had waved to him
before. Having Just seen him speak
to Lois, she felt sure that 1t was to
Lois that he had waved when he left
the house.
When Stas saw Doctor Royce he left
the sloop to Its fate and ran whoopine
to him. Royce caught the child In his
hands and tossed him high. then
brought him to the level Of his shoul-
der for hug and kiss. He loved chill
dren and children loved him.
He did not notice that the little
cropping hands Of Stas had happened
on the envelope full Of Freneaus let
tcrs and lifted II stealthily from his
pocket. When he set the boys feet
on the ground again Stas ran away.
brandishing the envelope and challeng-
ing Royce to . game Of tag.
Royce's heart bounded with alarm.
II the child had carried q stick of dy-
Mantle In his hand It would hardly
have been more dangerous.
"Give me the letter. my boy" Royce
said. putting out his hand.
Stas laughed and ran little farther
on. Royce followed. demanding. The
more anxious Royce was the more stas
liked the game.
Royce wns In mortal terror lest the
letters fall from the envelope and
somehow Gloria would learn their ma
turc.
He made a dash for stas. stas
whisked behind Juniper and circletl
II. Royce chased him through clump
Of rhododcndrons.
Gloria began to laugh and encour-
age stas. At length Royce made q
frantic rush for tho boy. and stns,
growing brcathicss. made for Giorin's
arms and nung himself Into them, pant
ing: "Tnko III take iii tnke III
quick r.
Hc plnccd the envelope In Gloria's
hands. She was about TO return II 10.
Royce without a glnnce. But the heavy
seals Oh tho bnck caught h-r eye and
she looked down.
Instantly shc recognized the en-
veiopc. II wns tho ono that had fnll-
en- from Frencnn's pocket the night
no cnino to bid her good.by. II was
tho one thnt she hnd seen the crouch.
Ing figure tnkc from Frcncnus pocket
nftcr Trpsk Ind murdered him and
run awnyl
tTo DE coSrrNuEp)