The Washington times., 1918-06-09

time tnaI l realized ByrOnS coWardice
He insisted that should 20 to his rooms
and that he would destroy the letters in
my presehce. He was even afraid to trust
them to me ! finally consented" she
paused for an instant. Her breath was
coming in sharp gasps 'T-I-stopped
on my way from the opera, the night-of
the-shoOting. It wasn't until then that
I discovered what a beast he was" She
; turned and looked at Byron. He tried to
make love to me. He refused to give me
the letters-unless-I submitted to him."
She stopped and hung her head. embar-
rassIngly, her voice choked with sobs
Il then understood how he had COM
promised me-"
She looked up and gazed straight into
his eyes, her glance steady and unwaver-
ing.
Il refused. There was a struggle.
had seen a revolver on the table. Why It
was there | could only suspect. grabbed
It in a panic of fear. He tried to hold
me as we struggled. heard some one en-
ter Then fired" She stopped and shiv-
cred and brushed a hand over her eyes
as though trying to drive away the mental
picture of the tragedy.
What happened Immediately afterward
l don't know. When / revived he told me
I had shot his servant wanted to call
you, to go to you right away but he told
me that you would not help me. believed
him. He said he would rather face the
charge himself than to confront you"
She mechanically began putting on her
fur scarf Strong never stirred.
"The reason he retained you to defend
him was apparent from the first He knew
he would never dare tell you the truth
and that l would not break my word, be-
cause dared not. Besides. you we're the
most successful criminal lawyer in the
city. If anybody could defend him it was
you-but-but now that everything has
gone against him IL can't let him die
for a crime he didn't commit"
She stopped in sudden horror as she
realized the import Of her words.
"Oh, Jack! I've done a terrible wrong
shouldn't have allowed him to stand
trial But I thought that you-you would
be able to find some loophole for hint
was despicable Of mel know"
She turned wearily towards the corri-
dor door Her husband stood watching
her intently, a new expression in his eyes,
a newborn hope in his face He seemed
to straighten, and the years fell like a
dark mantle from his face. She had
reached the door
Marion" he called softly.
She turned and her hand fell from the
knob. For a moment she gazed in per
plexity at him through the fire-lighted
room. There was a gentleness in his tone
that she failed to understand.
Yes" she answered.
Strong walked over to her, the muscles
of his face twitching; his voice trembled
perceptibly when he spoke.
You're a brave woman, but there was
no need for your suffering and the sacri-
flee you would make now. believe you,
and for you | could make any jurv in the
world believe you. for I love you better
than anything in this whole world
He grasped uer by her shoulders and
gazed into her suddenly startled happy
eyes, wet with tears.
Marion" he whispered unsteadily, 'it is
indeed an ill-wind that blows nobody good
Byron tainted before the foreman of the
jury had a chance to announce the YER
dict He was found NOT GUILTY."
She gave a sudden start, gasped and fell
inertly into his arms. He looked down on
her pale and trOuble-lined face. His whole
heart cried out to her. Gently he lifted
ner and carried her to the door. He turned
and looked back at Byron. who was crawl
ing. daZed and Ditifully weak to his knees.
Suddenly he saw Strong with his wife in
his arms as he stood by the corridor door.
The din outline of his tall figure, with his
beautiful burden. brought shook of hyster-
ical energy to '5yron. who rose like a flash
to his feet and staggered toward his law
yer.
Strong, Strong. he cried hoarsely "for
PHYS sake, don't desert me now I didn't
kill him-it-was-it was"
He stopped again Strong smiled sar-
dOnically and pressed the soft, yielding
form closer to his heart. She opened her
eyes and looked with wonderful love and
confidence up into his face. He bent his
head and kissed her With ineffable tender
ness on her sweetly tempting lips
Byron staggered and stared like a man
gone suddenly insane. He groped about
the room and finally staggered across and
leaned against the table
Byron said Strong looking at him
with a peculiar expression in his ewes.
You're a coward and you've done a COW
ards necessary suffering II it was not
for her" he spOke very gently. 81 should
have killed you"
He shrugged his shoulders
That's 4 melOdrama." he said. the sig.
upgfiOn of sD1i1a about hi.