The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-10-22

4
months-w worry, worry, worry; crop
Ing. trying to remember. Yet 1t was
there, the memory, down under. |
knew 1t was there. II was that which
compelled me to keep trying to escape
from them-time after time. And
when at last / did, 1t led me in that
half-blind daze all the way home--it
led me TO the pit"
"Fhe pitT questioned Mrs. Kirk
land,
In the abandoned brickyard beyond
City Park. -. The moment
came TO, and looked around. 1 rec
ognized the place. | went straight to
the hole where I had hidden the
bonds"
you hid them out there?" exclaim-
ed Ellen.
yes. All flashed back into my
mind-all about that day when BENIN
brought me down from Pueblo--the
fear that drove me half insane when
he tiippantly suggested that we might
get away with the bonds by smashing
and setting fire to the car and pre-
tending the bonds were burned up in
the wreck" ...
HE did that? Charlie did that?"
cried Amy. But he is a detective /"
Yes, found that out afterwards
Toodlums. suppose he was trying
to test my integrity. l can't believe
worse of him. But ] was then in a
bad way, and what he suggested COM
pletely unbalanced me. 1 was certain
he meant to steal the bonds from me.
| must have been half insane. To
save them from him, l rented a safe
deposit box and pretended to him that
l had put them in it; but instead I
want out past City Park and wandered
about until I found the hiding place
in the clay pit"
$50 that was it," remarked Amy.
lie did not reply. He was engrossed
In gazing into Ellen's tender gray eyes.
The fond parents beamed upon the
blissful couple. Amy sighed and stole
out of the room, unheeded by the
others.
Ellen Struggled closer to her lover.
You fell into the pitt" she recalled
the mishap. Your poor dear head !"
only little cut" he treasured
her. 81 wiped the blood off my face,
and hurried home with the bonds to
see Momsey and Amy before rushing
down to the bank. I did not wish to
see you until 1 could tell you l had
restored the bonds. There was no one
in the front of the house; so 1 went
direct to the bathroom. I washed my
head and started in to my room-Who
Is the man visiting here"
Visiting here?" repeated Mrs. Kirk
land. "What made you think thatP
There has been no man staying here
except yourself, WIN"
mo Oner he cried. you saw no
one? Then I'm not cured lit was an
halIuclnation
- Here, here, keep quiet This won't
do" ordered Doctor Kirkland what
was 1t? Explain"
The young man sought to repress his
shuddering. "I-when when OPEN
ed the passage door there was "a
N'''''SNA'A NNipSS Ut TIE LulEFOF-lt--
it"
POOH" rldiculed the physician.
Your own reflection"
"rhen why-why was it's back to
me?"
ITS back?" quavered Ellen. ooh,
WulW
Pooh! pooh! Nothing to 1t, nv
boy" insisted the physician. sNfereIv
freak of vision. Think no more
about it. Any-What! Where is
Amy?"
Indeed, where--?" murmured Mrs
Kirkland, gazing about the room. "She
mas gone out. Perhaps she
has gone to call Title. Would it NOT
be well TO telephone the good news
that VIII is safe homer"
Yes, yes, to be sure-police. bank
sanitarium-allw shouted her hus.
band, and he rushed out to the tele.
phone.
They'll come here. dearest" whis-
pered Ellen, you shall not leave moi"
How could II" he rapturously re-
piled.
Mrs. Kirkland sank into chair 70
dab her tearful eyes and smile unon
the lovers