The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-12-13
CHAPTER XII.
CCPIRlC1I
MARY RoeEETS RihEhART L
II

were nO IEdluS DeIWeeu HllullSll anu
morning. And Talbot's car, which he
night have used, had been long de-
iayed by his burst tire. He took a
suburban trolley line for perhaps half
the distance and walked the rest.
At four o'clock in the morning he
pressed the arbor button, and old Hen
riette, grumbling at this second dis
turbance of her rest. reused Elinor
again.
Time was precious. Huff, having
rung the announcing bell, made his
way up through the dew to the house.
And so 1t was that Elinor, opening the
house door, met him face to face. AS
she recoiled from him, he closed the
door.
Il have brought you a message from
Boroday," he said swiftly. 1--WE been
a fool and Scoundrel and-it's about
all up"
Elinor hardly realized what he was
saying. The light of horror had hardly
died out of her eyes. To her, Walter,
once her lover, now typitied all of suf-
fering and nearness to death that lay
In old Hilary's room upstairs.
'"The first train leaves the city at
six O'clock" he said, trying to keep his
voice steady. ut is hardly likely they
will be out so soon, but under some
pretext or other they will search the
house this morning"
"How can l leave the house now?
Upstairs in fathers room"
II know" he put in hastily. II know
all about It, Elinor, am sorry, ! am
wildly sorry. It's no excuse to say
was crazy, but l was"
"If go away" Elinor said, with
white lips, "how will they manage
about him? The nurse needs so many
things, and IL see that she has them"
flame leaped into the boys eyes.
"If you care for him like that
what are you going to do about 1t?
Even if he cares for you, you cannot
marry him. If he ever found out about
you"
"He will never marry me. And-he
does know"
The fact that Ward knew the truth
about Elinor and the band brought
back to him their common peril. He
thrust aside, for the time ut least, his
passion and his despair; and calmly
directed his energies toward preparing
the house for the inevitable search.
So systematic had old Hilary been
that there were few papers to destroy.
Such Of the ledgers as were incriminat-
ing he burned in the furnace. Ellnor's
box of jewels he carried upstairs and
placed on the library table. Such set
hngs as had remained from the coun-
try club raid, after the gems had been
taken out, he melted together in old
Hilary's crucible and placed the gold
and platinum nugget in ElinOrS box.
He had set the safe to simple COM
blnation and closed it, Except for its
size, and for the protective wiring
buried in it's walls it might have been
a family safe, built by nervous and
elderly gentleman living In the coun'
try to hold his silver spoons.
1t was too late by that time to bury
the box as BOroday had suggested
Huff did the next best thing. He
buried 1t carefully in Elinor's garden
under a clump of crimson phlox.
Ellnor worked hurriedly, but with
hopeless eyes. Her preparations con
sisted in little more than putting or
the clothing in which she meant tt
travel. In this new life on which She
was entering she wanted little to re
mind her of the old. A letter to Hen
riette contained enough money to pay
off the servants and the household &C
counts. In another envelope she fold
ed the deed to the house and a not'
conveying it to Henriette.
"YOu can sell it," she wrote. Good
by, dear Henriette. l shall never for
get you. and If ever 1t is possible, b'
sure I shall see you again"
The time came, just before dawn
when she and Walter stood again fac,
to face in the library.
HUFF was going at once. 1t was no
Boroday's plan that any of then
should further incriminate Elinor b,
accompanying her to the train. At
sound of steps on the stairs, Hut
started.
1.-THE nurse going down, probably 70
Ice" she explained.
HE Is getting better, isn't her.
"Yes, but he still suffers at times"
When the steps had died away, Ell
nor slowly drew off her engagement
ring, and held 1t out to him across tn
table. Although he was watching hel
he made no move to take it, and sh
laid 1t down between them on tn
table.
II don't think we need talk about II
Walter" she said simply. There,
nothing to say, is there"
II suppose not" he returned bitterly
He added: "If only you will try nc
to hate me, Elinor."
~ do not hate you. But If ne ha
died"
Huff came swiftly around the tabl
and taking both her hands in HIS hel
them to his throat with despairin
gesture.
"If didn't know that 1t would max
you more unhappy" he said slowl,
"Fd kill myself today"
"Walterr
II tell you now. It won't chang
matters any, but perhaps 1t wi
change your memory Of me. Eve
since I've known you I've had or
dream. You were to marry me and
was going to turn straight. coul
have done IL with your help. Bl