The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-08-29
Persuasive Peggy"
u-wa ny MARAvENE THOMPSON saas
rnnst ssryie
CONTINUED From Our Last issuc)
CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII.
Contrary 90 his usual custom. II
WAS long past sun-up when Trow
bridge awoke Even then his head
was still whirrlng from his LONG
drive or else something had hap.
pened to tho room; instead OF the
new blue wall paper. IA rcd brick
wall now confronted nina circn.
| lar wall without doors or windows
aud with the light falling from
above. Yet he felt tho mattress be
meath him and was dressed as he
had been the night before. No. hia
shoes and collar were off, And
Hut his brain no longer stumbled
gropingiy In the dark the white
| llrht OF knowledge broke like a
thousand power electric arc upon
him: the circular rednesa was the
wall OF disuaed cistern situated
quarter OF a mile from the house
In grove OF trees. and near the
/ site Of their old home that had
burned down ~ years before. Eight
feet IN diameter and l6 feet deep.
sound and dry. II had sometimes
been used temporarily TO store
bags OF grain, and n miscellany OF
| thinEa that could be carried up cas-
lily on ladder or drawn up by
means OF pulleya adjusted for that
purpose II had been put 10 numer.
Gus uses. but never before had II
served the purpose Of prison For
that he was hts wife's prisoner he
knew even before he read peggy's
missive. pinned In plain view on
the wall.
I'd, darling. you won't have
10 stAy but iuat little while,
| didn't want TO do this but
there wasn't any other way
could see out OF II.
Yoau find a jug 81 water and
lots OF things to eat and
buggy robe In case It's cool
thers. and magazines TO read.
Every ono but SIN Steve and
will think you've gone to
Endwater on business. and SUI
Steven don't count
I'm be Tuesday morning
when you read this and I'll be
there In the evening ms soon an
It's dark TO get you. want
TO get the house really fixed
so that you can see how II
looks. and iuat know then
you'll let me keep Il that way.
You don't mean 10 be selfish
with me. It's Just that you
don't understand. darling.
think you forgot that you
promised me that | could run
tho house. and you tho farm.
Bushels and bushels OF kisses.
Your Pretty Peggy Love"
TrowhridEe got TO his feet. stood
there bit. sat down. got up. A
big Iron prong in the wall part way
up held his attention. He threw
tho mattress up TIL It caught. held.
then tried to raise himself by means
Of Il. But bis 100 pounds were too
many. Tho ticking rentcd and he
dropped To his feet with a thump.
He might shout. but no one ever
passed that way And even II he
could make himself heard he had
no Wish TO be found in this pretlca'
ment
He hardly sensed the passing of
time
Ed" II was a shrili whisper.
I'm here wi,h tho ladder. darling"
She took hts hand Wen have 10
hurry before Lefty sees us. sent
her TO tho DuEEan house on an err
rand"
She led the way swiftly TO their
bedroom before sha stopped. Her
arms went TO his neck.
I've invited hundred people
bore tonight 10 a reception. It's
almost time for them To come"
He understood now why Peggy
had not feared his undoing her
work once she had Il completed
she had counted on hla pride sup
porting her because OF tho recep-
ton: after that II would DO too late
TO remedy.
i've laid your clothes out" she
hurried on. Dress now. dear. then
tomorrow"
Her words t-ailed OF under the
strange look I'm HIS eyea. not anger.
not condemnation. but o question
ing-the celebrating. contempla-
tive questioning OF a man debating
vital matter with himself
wv what is IT, she faltered.
I'm Just trying TO decide which
can live best without--you or my
self.respect." he answered.
Peggy stood transfixed. She did
not move. just stood stock-still and !
gazed ahead. seeing her husband
carried out OF the house Ike bag
Of meal. 10 the disuHed cisiern. and !
there dumped TIL woman saw TT
TO let him out,
obi" she cried. an asonIzed
"ohl"
sobbing. she caught him by the
arm.
Go down ane break the furni. |
ture to pieces she cried IN her
frenzy Of rrmnrse. Burn the |
things, all OF them, Then come !
and beat metill can't stand up"
Lefty stuck her head in at the
door.
The teams r lined up In front
thick as n fnneral-be y comm
| I'M