The Elbert County tribune., 1917-05-25

what independence OF the law tne prlS-
oner Trask had teen captured and
held. He wondered at his own con-
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 strolliDg
about the lawn in a 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. 1t
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 a
little smile of relief to her along with
swift blush of guilt when he said:
"Lois. have decided to give back to
you the letters you sent to Freneau.
1 read only one of them, and I have
forgotten, / think, what 1t said.
think you have earned them back, and
l 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 it when he saw her
blush vanish in flash OF pallor.
"My husbandl" 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 so on with
the role.
Gloria seemed a figure In 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 tiny sloop on the tiny ocean.
AS soon as Gloria saw Royce she
beckoned to him with cordiality 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 it 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 whooping
to him. Royce caught the child in his
hands and tossed him high, then
brought him to the level of his shoul-
der for a 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 Freneau's let
tiers and lifted it 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.
If the child had carried 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
off. 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 and
somehow Gloria would learn their ma
ture.
He made a dash for Stas. Stas
whisked behind juniper and circled
it. Royce chased him through clump
of rhododendrons.
Gloria began to laugh and encour-
age Stas. At length Rovce made a
frantic rush for the boy, and Stas,
growing breathless, made for Gloria's
arms and flung himself into them, pant
Ing; Take it, take It'll take 1t
quick ~
He placed the envelope in GIoria's
, hands. She was about to return 1t to
Royce without glance. But the heavy
seals on the back caught her eye and
she looked down.
Instantly she recognized the en-
velope-. 1t was the one that had fall
en- from Freneaus pocket the night
he came to bid her good-by. 1t was
the one that she had seen the crouch
ing figure take from Freneau's pocket
after Trask had murdered him and
run awayl