The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-04-24

CURVED
BLAD E S
Ry WELLS
Author of "A Chain Of Evidence" "The Gold
Baa," "Tha Clue" "The White Alley" Etc.

other thought"
but | don't want you to think, Mr..
Stone and Anita began to cry, that
| want to suspect Pauline"
Il am no considering your wishes
in the matter" said Stone, coldly. IF
you do not want to think Miss Stuart
implicated in this matter, your words
and actions are unintelligible to me,
but they are equally unimportant, and
l have neither time nor thoughts to
waste on them"
With this somewhat scathing
speech, Stone went away, leaving the
angry Anita to be comforted by Havi-
land.
What did he mean?" she cried, her
cheeks pink with anger, and her blue
eyes shining through tears. Gray,
does he suspect me?"
mo, Anita, Of course not. But he's
on a trail. Perhaps it wasn't Polly
after all"
But it had to be! 1t was somebody
in the house, and it wasn't you or me
or any of the servants"
"Well, you listen to me, girl. If
they quizz you any more about that
talkfest you butted into, don't you col
or the yarn to make 1t seem against
Polly. l won't have it,"
How cross you are! But I never
did, Gray. never made it seem to be
evidence against Pauline"
"You never did anything else!"
Don't you love me any more?" and
the soft lips qufVered az an appealing
glance was raised to his face. Her
eyes, like forget-me-nots in the rain,
were 8 beautiful, Haviland clasped
the lovely face in both his hands, and
said as he held it: II won't love you,
'Nita, If you go back on u Polly.
I'm surprised at your attitude toward
her Just now, and l warn you I won't
stand any more Of it. I'm forced to
think she did this thing, but l intend
to admit that to nobody but you and
Stone. II he can find the real crimi-
nal, and it isn't Polly, I'll bless him
forever. But you know, as we'll as 1
do, why he is clinging to that forlorn
hope. It's because he's"
"Of course, I know! Because he's in
love with her"
"Yes; and it's a remarkable thing
for him to fall head over heels in love
at first sight, like that"
well, Of course, she is handsome"
and Anita's grudging admission was
real praise.
you bet she is! And old Stone fell
for her in a minute! Now there's the
old adage Of Love will find a way
and If Fleming Stone has any magic
ability, or whatever these wizard de-
tectives claim, he's going to work it
to the limit to prove Polly innocent.
And l hope to goodness he succeeds.
Great Scott! wouldn't suspect the
gil. if there was a glimpse Of a CLEAN
of any other way to look. But, you
hear me, Anita! Don't you say a word,
true OF false, that will help On the case
against Pauline Stuart! / won't stand
for it! And don't o say you saw
her coming from that room, when you
know you didn't"
The postman came just then, and
brought with him two letters adj
dressed in Pauline's dashing hand.
well what do you know about
that" exclaimed Gray, half glad and
half scared at the sight. zone for me
and one for F. s. Here, Anita, take
Mr.. Stones to him, while I eat up
NINE"
81 won't do it. I want to see what's
in yours, first" and Anita stood by
Gray's side to look over his shoulder.
"All right, them" and they read to-
gether:
Dear Gray:
1 couldn't help it.@You see, I was SO
frightened at what you all said. that
didn't know what to do. / came over
to New York, with a vague idea Of ask
ing Mr.. Price to help me. ! stayed with
Ethel all night. and somehow things
seemed to look so black, / couldn't
think of anything but to go to Carr. ]
went down to the steamer office to sec
about changing my tickets for an ear
lier date, or something, and l found the
catalonia sailed today. I'm scratching
this off to go back by the pilot. / had
about two hours to get ready. so ]
bought a trunk and some clothes, went
to the bank and got a letter OF credit
and here / am. I don't know ye
whether I'm glad or sorry to be here
But l know I could not stand 1t a.
Garden Steps another minute, with yol
and Anita both against me! Mr.. Ston'
doesn't believe I did it, but he is doubt
full OF being able to prove my limo
i cence. SC. I'm going to Carr, and 20,
can address me In his care. He's m.
nearest relative, and it's right for M
to go there. I cabled him from New
York to expect me. and to meet me q
Il Alexandria. I'd write more. but 1T
most time for the pilot to go. and
want To send q word to Mr.. Stone. %
course. YOU will look after all my bill
and affairs until further notice.
Pauline.
"Good Lord!' said Gray, Think 10
that poor child going OF like that, b
II - AHMN aA v.LT1-x 49, - HAa1