The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-05-02
CHAPTER XVl-continued.

mat WOUlu De IDOlISIiJ WOulih / II,
when you have done so well? And,
besides, since you are not guilty, Sid
ney-"
''I didn't do it !" she cried passion
ately But / can't keep on; that's
all there is to 1t, keep saying to my
self: You didn't do 1t, you didn't do
it, and all the time something inside
of me Is saying, Not now, perhaps !;
but sometime you may" She looked
up at him fo~iornly. 81 am just not
brave enough, X"
Wouldn't 1t be Drawer to keep on?
Aren't you giving up very easily?"
Her world was in pieces about her,
and she felt alone in a wide and empty
place. And, because her nerves were
drawn taut until they were ready to
snap, Sidney turned on him shrew-
fshly.
81 think you are all afraid / will
come back to stay. Nobody really
wants me anywhere-ln all the world !!
Not at the hospital, not here, not any
place. | am no use"
when you say that nobody wants
you" said X, not very steadily, Il
think you are making mistake"
She scanned his face closely, and
reading there something she did not
understand, she cOlored suddenly.
Il believe you mean Joe Drum
mond."
mo; do not mean Joe Drummond."
If he had found any encouragement
in her face, he would have gone on
recklessly; but her black eyes warned
him.
IF you mean Max Wilson," said
Sidney, you are entirely wrong. He's
not in love with me. Anyhow, after
Shis disgrace"
"There is no disgrace, child"
He'll think me careless, at the
least. And his ideals are SO high, K"
"You say he likes to be with you
What about your"
Sidney had been sitting In q low
chair by the fire She rose with a sud-
den passionate movement. In the in
9ormality of the household, she had
visited X. in her dressing gown and
slippers; and now she stood before
him, a tragic young figure, clutching
the folds of her gown across her
breast.
81 worship him, H." she said tragi-
caily. when | see him coming,
want to get down and let him walk
on me. When l see him in the oper-
ating room, cool and calm while ev-
nIC &c he
he looks like a god"
Then, half ashamed of her outburst
she turned her back to him and stood
gazing at the small coal fire. 1t was
as well for X. that she did not see his
face.
ITS real, ell this?" he asked after
a pause. You're sure it's not just
glamour, Sidney"
''Its reaI-terribly real" Her voice
was muffied, and he knew then that
she was crying.
She was nightly ashamed of it.
Tears, of course, except in the privacy
of ones closet, were not ethical on the
street.
Perhaps he cares very much, too"
ney In n muffled tone, and the little
scene was broken into while K.
searched through q bureau drawer
Then K. questioned her, alternately
soothing and probing.
'sWho else had access to the medi-
cine closet?"
"Carlotta Harrison carried the keys,
r
90 six When Carlotta left the ward,
the probationer would have them"
"Have you reason to think that Ell
Their one of these girls would wish
you harm?"
"None whatever" began Sidney We
hemently; and then, checking herself,
''unless-but that's rather ridiculous"
what is ridiculous?"
ave sometimes thought that Car
iotta-but 1 am sure she is perfectly
fair with me. Why, X, she wouldn't!
It would be murder"
Murder, of course" said X, ''in in
tention, anyhow. OF course she didn't
do it. Tn only trying to find out whose
mistake 1t was"
Soon after that she said goodnight
and went out. She turned in the door
way and smiled TREMENDOUSLY back at
him.
You have done me q lot of good.
You almost make me believe in my
self"
That's because believe in you"
With a quick movement that was
one of her charms. Sidney suddenly
closed the door and slipped back into
the room. X. hearing the door close,
thought she had gone, and dropped
heavily into a chair.
''My best friend in all the world !"
said Sidney suddenly from behind him,
and, bending over, she kissed him on
the cheek.