The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-02-22
CHAPTER xVI--Continued.

, -13-
That would be foolish, wouldn't it.
when you have done so well? And.
besides. since YOU are not guilty, Sid
ney-"
II didn't do it" she cried passion
atcly. but l can't keep on; that's
Ill there is to it, l keep saying to my
self: You didn't do it, 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 forlornly. II nm just not
brave enough, X"
/ "W0uldn't it be drawer to keep on ?
Aren't you giving up very easiy?"
Her world was in pieces about her,
AMI She felt alone in Il wide and empty
place And. because her nerves were
drawn tant until they were ready to
snap Sidney turned on him shrew-
i>hly
II think you are all afraid 1 will
come back to stny. Nobody really
wants IN" anywherr-in all the world
Not at tho hospital not here. not any
place. am no use"
when YOU say that nobody wants
| you.' said H., not very steadily "I-I
think YOU are making II mistake"
She scanned his face closely, and
reading there something she did not
understand. she cOlored suddenly.
Il believe YOU mean Joe Drum
,nond"
No; do not mean Joe DrumnOnd."
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
this disgrace"
There is no disgrace, child"
Hell think me careless, at the
least. And his ideals are so high, X"
You say he likes to be with you.
What about you?"
Sidney had been sitting IN Il low
chair by the fire. She rose with a sud.
+ urh passionate movement. In The in
! formnlity Of the household, she had
visited Il. in her dressing gown and
slippers; and now she stood before
. him. tragic young figure. clutching
=
:, Breast
Il worship him, H." she said trayl
'ally. when l see him coming,
: want to get down and let him walk
Q M me. When see him in the 0per
n ating room, cool and calm while ev
cryone else is tlustercd and excited, Ii,
he looks like god"
Then, half ashamed of her outburst
she turned her back to him and stool
gazing at the small coal fire. It wa!
us well for Is. that she did not see hi
0 face.
4 ITS real, all this?" he asked aftc
y II pause. you're sure it's not just
glamour Sidney?"
> "lts real-terribly real" Her voic
was mutilcd, and he knew then thn
she was crying.
She was nightly ashamed Of II
Tears, Of course, except In the privac
i -ef ones closet, were not ethical on til
4 street.
t Perhaps he cares very much, too.
: "Give me Il handkerchief" said Sid
Q ney in II mutiied tone. and the littl
o scene was broken into while II
d searched through IL bureau drawer
d Then II. questioned her, alternatel
h soothing and probing.
d "Who else had access to the medi
J. cine clOset?"
J. "Carlotta Harrison carried the keys
h of course. l was Off duty from fou
y to. six. When Carlottn left the ward
d the pr0bntiOner would have them" :
"iiave you reason to think that ei
!. ther one of these girls would wisl
3 you harm?"
"None whatever" began Sidney We
n hemently; and then, checking herself
/. "uness-but that's rather ridiculous
r ,"What is ridiculous?"
Y "rve sometimes thought that Car
b lotta--but l am sure she Is perfectly
. fall with me. Why, X, she wouldn't
. 1t would be murder"
81 "SIurder, Of course" said X, "ln In
tention, anyhow. Of course she dldn't
10 It. I'm only trying to find out whose
nistake 1t was.'
/ Soon after that she said good-night
and went out. She turned in the door