Graham guardian., 1920-07-30

thin by every month, He's as inter-
ested as | be In gittln' the mortgage
paid off,
The colonel swung about and
frownlngly walked the room for sew
eral minutes. He was debating n
question with himself. "T'll wait until
morning." he decided finally. There
was no reaSCn why he should spare
Tom, but hes could not bear the
! thought Of hurting poor, trusting Bet
1 ". No matter what came of delay
he would do nothing hnsty or lll-ad'
vised
Supper over. he strolled TO the barn.
What he had counted upon happened
Tom followed him out. The latter"
began abruptly,
"of course yCulI have me arrested
sIrf"
"Yes, unless you show clean pair
| of heels between now aud morning.
snapped the harassed elder man,
Tom stared, amazed at the sugges-
tion the words conveyed. Flight He
+ had not counted on being shown any
mercy. But he shook his head.
mo shall stay and face the
worst"
"The bigger fool you'll It's n clear
! case. You must know that flight Is
( your only chance.p
mo matter. Some day everything
will come right"
The colonel looked at him sharply.
What did he mean? .-.
I "See here" he said grullly. "You're
i in love with that girl What were you
going to do II ! hadn't turned up so
( inopportunely2 Marry herr"
"NOt with a stain upon my name"
"She cares for you. If ! hold my
tongue, she will never know You
ought to think of her happineSs-and
of your own"
Tom turned resolutely. but his face
was white.
"Betty's name must not brought into
this" he said. 81 made up my mind
t1 20 when 7 saw how II was between
her and me. was only waiting until
the crops were harvested, or Daddy
Grin es had found q man to take M
place. II did not know how uselr
II would he. I'd ask you to spare Il
until then"
The young mans eyes were wistfun
Colonel Burton struck his fist into one
palm with sudden passion II angered
him beyond all reason that Tom
should take this course with him.
Don't count on concessions from
me-" he grOwled "You1l get none"
"Nery well, sir"
And yet Colonel Burton did some
hard thinking that night when he
should have been asleep He had al
ways liked Tom. For year and
half the follow had made good lie
had not even hidden his identity I'M
der 'anothcr name II was hard to
think III of him. And yet an innocent
man would have turned every stone
to prove his innocence, instead Of tax
ing to his heels.
Suddenly. alone In the darkness. he
spoke aloud.
~ did the hoy some favOrs. lie
seemed to regard me as an elder
brother. II is very strange--lncompre
hensible-that--"
The words died in n gnsp of pain
as a sudden thought struck him like
stunning blow.
Next morning he went down TO
breakfast with rather tragic face.
"YOu are needed here" he said
when there was chance for word
with Tom alone. Better stay for the
present"
Two days later be returned to the
city.
A month went ba One morning n
brief letter came from him. II read
as follows:
'"rom--Marry the girl as soon as
you like. You tried to screen the real
thief. but I've found him out Enough
of that The subject Is too painful. I
owe you something for what you have
suffered through me and mine. Set
the wedding day and I'll come up and
lift the mortgage on the farm"
Toms eyes blurred as he read.
"Poor man. am not sorry that ]
did what could to spare him"