Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-24
CHAPTER XXXIX
In Which Jennie's Drama Reaches ar
AnticlimaX


SHE kept on sobbing out her purpose
~ while she waited for Uncle George
to como. As she sobbed on her deter
minatlon became more fixed; an exata
tion began to swell in her as in one
VINO goes forth to sacrifice. And then
shc thought of something she might
have done, and that thought pricked
her bubble Of exaltation and made her
suddenly view herself as small and
shameful
The sudden thought was that many
weeks ago. when Uncle George and her
father had first broached the matter
of llarry's extremity. she might of her
own accord. while still in high sta
| ton. have gone to the district attorneys
office. told the TRUTH, exposed herself
and have established Harry's alibi.
That would have been a fine thing to do
heroic and magnificent-to have
given up voluntarily position and honor
in order that justice might be done a
man. That had been her big chance.
Yes. that would have been a splendid
! thing to have done. Whatever else
people might then have said about her.
they would at least have said that she
was woman of courage and honor
| something of a heroine in a way. But
now-cxposed-huntcd-what a pitia-
ble figure she would seem in all the
worlds eyes even if she did 20 to
Harry's rescue.
Yes. she had missed her big chance
She was going to do in poor way
what she might have done in big
way. That proved that she was not a
big woman. She cried yet further as her
mind dwclt upon this. But her tears
were not tears of self pity They were
tears of abascmeut. She felt herself
so poignantly smaller that she had al
WAYS considered herself to be.
When Uncle George finally did come
she changed from self accusation to
fury.
why didn't you tell mo about Harry
Edwards's trial--about what is about
to happen to him." she demanded
"Why-why. stammered the old
man. taken aback for u moment. Then
he recovered himself For one reason
Jennie. this is the first day I have seen
you since YOU ran away. And another
! is | supposed You knew all about it
from the papcrS-and knew Just what
YOU wanted to do in that matter"
Her sudden indignation very oh
viously had no case against Uncle
| George, so the fare of her temper died
down.
Hurry up, .Tcnnic-just slip on that
veil Uncle George went on. ''ThC
cars waiting below and everything is
all fixed for the get away
There's not going to be any get
away, Uncle George. I'm going to give
myself up
"Give yourself up" exclaimed the
old man, staring at her. Nov. what
in thunder are you thinking about?' e.
Don't you see. Uncle George? It's
because of Harry. Harry's in much
worse fix than I am Aid she went
on, rather brcathlcssly. and covered
the ground her mind had covered since
she had read the story in the paper
he had left behind, Uncle George pro
testcd-argued-but finally, signing
deeply. he gave in.
ITS going to be Just as you say
Jerry and I have been monkcying with,
and guess you've got a right to de
with it as you please
But. my Cod he groaned. after
all the big things we thought wed done,
to have it all end up like this. Jerry
it will most kill Jerry
He put his hands upon her shoulders
and steadily regarded her with lashlcss,
affectionate eyes. His next words were
soft. aud rather husky. but after all
Jennic-you mighty square little
guy Two h0on "a cou
ard" Her tone changed to almost
breathless eagerness. Il want to GO
down right now--and l want to sec
Harry the first thing-so he won't have
to worry an extra minute
Not so fast, dear. We've got tC
tell Jerry. And if you want to see
Harry first, before the grand blowottf
there's some things that have got TO be
fixed up. And If you're going to dc
this-you might as well clean up the
whole business.