The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-25
TIE DAILY
sEIOR STORY.
When the Stake is High.
by A. w. F6ASa
EC0pytight, 1919, by the Mcclure
a Newspaper syndicate.)
y Al. ". PEACH

= $50 VI
4 + 3 yARlON BISHOP listening in
y IVA the quiet Of the hall knew at
q N = last the reason for the sudden
change IN her father. She heard with
slowing heart the grave voice OF the
lawyer saying, "Colwell has the papers
which are the evidence against you;
and while we who know you feel that
your action was never criminal to
q any degree, IN the eyes Of the law and
gang who are determined to drive
Il must tell you frankly. You must
prepare for the worst. Colwell takes
office this week. naturally he Will
want to star: with q rase he can win"
Marion heard he fathers low groan
81 pain, and she hurried down the
hall to her room. There she stood, in
h silence and thought. She had gradu-
ally watched her father seem to grow
Y old that month. He was haggard and
worn, and he WAS gradually breaking
down under the burden Of what he
was facing.
What couid she do? That was the
question: She had often seen Colwell
the, young attorney, who had been
elected states attorney. His strong,
serene face had appealed to her. and
she knew thai if his mind was made
up to imprison her father no plea Of
hers could count. !.
"But / must do something-some.
thingl Fathers lawyers evidently
think there is nothing to be done" she
thought to herself. Then the decision
flashed into her mind. Il will see Col
we'll and tell him. just how 1t Is. /"
Her decision reached she set about
carrying It out; but all the way to
the heart Of the city she was wonder
ing what she could say-and what
he would say. There was nothing for
her TO say other than that she had
faith in her fathers honor and hon
esty. She realized how foolish that
statement would sound to the keen
lawyer whose life had been spent
among men who did not do things
from honest motives.
When abe reached the great office
building hcr courage almost failed
her: but setting her will, she entered.
She went into the outer office, and,
without realizing the stir she made
among the clerks as she came into the
busy Office tmosphere looking like 9
( wild rose strayed from some garden,
she founi herself guided by a polite
young man to the waiting room.
She was one Of three girls waiting.
Her wonder as to their errands there
was quickly ended when she heard
one Of them say, "I'm going to make
q try for the Job even Il I don't make
good afterwards. -
1t dawned upon Marion that the
girls we're applicants for q position as
.stenographer or secretary to Colwell.
IA binding thought made her culver!
i She had prepared herself for secre-
taria1 work III order to aid Yer father.
Colwell did not know her nor did any
one else In the district. avid, rash
PLAN formed In her mind; she too,
J. would apply for the position and per.
4 haps- perhaps she could secure the
fatal papers which alone could convict
her father.
Shivering slightly With nervousness,
she watched the girls go in and come
| out depressed. Then her turn came.
She stepped into the quiet office
bravely, and found herself courteous
/ " seated and then scanned quickly.
She had never been near enough to
\ see his eyes; she found them grave.
Searching, With the thought Of his
mind hidden
I He asked her the usual questions,
I and then gave her some dictation.
4 With trembling but skilled fingers she
wrcte, and afterward typed the mat
ter. She watched him, half praying.
half hoping he would reject her, for
& she ssensed that he was stayorabl i'm
4 pressed. 5. !.
he looked up with his. gray ewes.
slf you wish the POSITIONS IS yours.
Y Miss ~ -
Quickly Marion breathed the name
she had already sent in to him-.Mar.
Ion Lane n
She was soon at work beside him.
and through that fated afternoon she
came IN touch for the first time, with
re- personality 80 strong that it master
red her. When the afternoon ended he
turned to her with friendly word.
You are very capable, Miss Lane,
and e you will tell me more about.
yourself Iawould like to make YOU my
sectetaty," he said, his gray eyes up
ION her.
She shook her head, frightened.
Really, there is nothing to tell.
IIis words disturbed her. II she was,
Slo be his stenographer she would not
Ieaye the opportunity to secure the
damaging papers; as his secretary she
would: But evidently before giving her
fte position Of trust he wished ia
know more about her. =
no her surprise the next morning
she found herself doing secretary's
work. Her hopes rose again: she
Would get those papers.
The week went by. Her fathers
case was approaching trial. She
caught herself wondering now and
then, it she had not better tell COL
Well the whole story her own action
Mho she was. She felt sometimes as
e she simply must 90 to him. Her
thoughts were often with him: mem.
prtes hahntel her after working hours
memories OF his face, his ways: and
suddenly the truth came.
RAaa ~ R. l1.N = ~