The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-03-16

did ! ever say anything to you
began Meade In fierce alarm, while
Shurtliff started to speak but checked
himself. ito lead you to think that !
suspected any weakness In the bridgeY'
The woman was watching him keen
ly and listening to him with every
sense on the alert. Nothing was es-
Gaping her and she detected in his
voice note of sharp alarm and anx-
fety as If he might have said some
thing which could be used to discredit
his assertion now.
perhaps not In words but In little
things, suggestions" she answered
quietly. II can't put my hand on any
of them, / can hardly recall anything
but the impression is there"
Meade smiled miserably at her and
again her searching eyes detected re
lief in his.
SIT is your affection that makes you
say that" he said, "and as you admit
there is really nothing. What said
just now is true
1t was much harder to speak the
lie to this clear-eyed woman, who loved
him, than to the reporters. He could
scarcely complete his sentence, and IN
the end sought to look away.
"Bertram Meade" said the woman.
putting both her hands upon his shoul.
der, "look me in the face and tell me
that you have spoken the truth and
that the blame is yours"
Meade tried his best to return her
glance, but those blue eyes plunged
through him like steel blades. He did
not dream in their softness could be
developed such fire. He was speech
less. After moment he looked away.
He shut his lips firmly. He could not
sustain her glance, but nothing could
make him retract or unsay his words.
81 have said it," he managed to get
out hoarsely.
''It's brave of you. It's splendid Of
you," she said. 81 won't betray you.
don't have to-"
"What- do you meanT asked the
man.
But the woman had now turned to
Shurtliff. In his turn she also seized
him in her emotion and she shook him
almost eagerly.
"You, you know that 1t Is not true.
Speak"
But she had not the power over the
older man that she had over the young
er. The secretary forced himself to look
at her. He cared nothing for Miss H.
lingworth, but he had a passion for
the older Meade that matched hers for
the younger.
Gle has told the truth" he cried al
most like baited animal. mo one is
going to ruin the reputation of the
man / have served and to whom have
given my life without protest from me,
It's his fault, his, his, his y he cried,
his voice rising with every repetition
of the pronoun as he pointed at Meade.
Helen nlingworth turned to her lover
again. She was quieter now.
Il know that neither of you Is telling
the TRUTH she said. Lying, FOR q
great cause. lying iff-spfrn5iin n
rifce. You are running YOURSELF for
your fathers name and he Is abetting.
Why? 1t can't make any difference to
him now. But it makes great differ
enee to me. Have you thought of thatl
I'm going to marry you anyway. Only
tell me the truth, Bert. By our love !
ask you. If you want me to keep your
secret I'll do it. But If you won't tell
me I'll get that evidence, will find
out the truth, and then / shall publish
1t to the whole world and then
"And you would marry me then?'
asked Meade, swept away by this pro-
found pleading.
II will marry you now, instantly, at
any time" answered the girl. Indeed
you need me. Guilty or innocent, am
yours and you are mine."
'Listen," protested the engineer,
nothing will ever relieve me Of the
blame, of the shame, of the disgrace of
this. But am man. have youth
still, and strength and inspiration. I'm
til / can hold up my head among men
7 am nothing to you and you are free"
There was a finality in his tone
which the woman recognized. She