The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-05-22
THE Ally
SHORT STORY
Something to Confess.
Hy r. hsY BAKER.

BY r. RAY BAKER. u
@ LIFFoRD NILES was worried. i
showed in his speech ano ms
- actiora. Signs Of nervousness
we.t not lost On Media Clemmons.
She wondered what had gone wsopg
With Clifford. and she wished ne u
you'd unburder himself, 80 she coulo
conse.e him, or Try to, Whatever Sne
difficulty.
In ,ae wear aud a half they had
known esca other Media never naa
seen Clifford 50 III VI ease. DE was
merry-bearted blond young man
with ewes that laughed With dansms'
hue light. and q muuthful OF iifm,
white tseth thai assisted in the opera
iion-and he had seemed TO sned az
tlouble as olcioth sheds xSser. ne
MS assIstoit CASHIER in the bank OF
,snich Mr.. ClemlIOns was PRESIDENT,
and that is how he happened % nee!
Media. She was anxious for Cnilom
10 tell har his troubles, but she Woulo
moi ask him. Several times ne ap-
! pea.ed on the point Of unposomns
n;.aselI. for be leaned forward IN nS
char. and his eyes took on an appear.
Inc COX and be uttered words tnas
se,,pis d preliminary 10 unfolding a Sc
cret: but evidently he CHANGED MS
mimi. FOR be switched the subject
before giving even an mixing as 70
Inc nature OF the subject, and talked
\ ! main eyerydav matters, winch ols.
appointed Media, nevertheless dio no.
discourage her. q. ....s
She kuew things soon were 70 ts - !.
/. climax for Clifford had been acans
Ills way for q week and eacn tme
) she saw him It WIS evident lle nst s
ynuS strain had become aggregat1.
"a tha particular evening with wnica
Ma have 10 deal passed uneyenttully;;
sSha Jolayed and sang for Nun; anu
they MED their hand at cpoosse'
ana he went home at 10 O'Clock.
when he opened the door 10 ieaVs
he stood hesitatingly with one manu- nan.
an the Knob, moving one 1901 ress.
iieesiW md made believe the secfes
mai about 10 be diyulged. -.
SMeda' he said rattlig the KnoD
md looking from her, "taere Is SOME.
thing that has been preying on my
MIND for weeks-something serious.
hays a confession to make. and -
sSut. an second thought. I don't oelis. =
/ an tell you tonight, Good nign as,
y And he. was gone, while she stooa
nnen smouthed and wondering.
Tke riaxt evening at the dinner u
bie Meda's father acted queeriy; az he
inset tie sugar once and spiiiea ai s
eofiea. and during the meal SPOKE
scarcely a word. o.,,n II,
WHATS the matter Samuel ,I MS
ma Snouired solicitiously. HAS >,
,ss. N gone wrong at The bank!
sfjn nothing much" he returned
but did. NOT youchsafe an e1piana-
''s aGoodness! It's catching" Media
,n,S herself as she left the table anu
went IA, into the library 10 read. some
TSere sbe had mislaid her harekef- :,
sS;sf and she went back toward the
dining room presently to look for y.
S uar narents remained seated at the
tabia and her father was speaking IN
law tones, but his words were per.
.fectiy audible to MEDIA. They had no.
heard her approach so she crept o9s
81 the,r range Of vision and nslene =;
avon must not breathe a word Of
th,s IA 4 sor,l," her father was saying
NV; Nv = yery serious matter. II It sot
sSont town It might cause a crltlcai
situat.on-might even result IN . :. run ~
an ma bank 1t doesn't take much "
siart such a thing. you know,
M Msds waited eagerly and an1iously
for the next words. ::
aThe fact is sorL has got ava!
rith lei, thousand dollars" Mr. Clen.
, m., continued. ave discovered Il
tS;s morning and only the directors
and myself kow o. it-e1cePL .S u
course, the person who has tne ten
thousand" o,,~ his
wife inquired. owl.
dance We han a detective working
~ SvE tSaScase now, and have hopes tne
M viii be solved and matters
stsaishtened up without publicly.
sMeda crept away to ner room ~
yhsre aha threw herself On the oea
ana pg SsDcel CIR" she sOSeed; $40 think Fl;
IA hs ss' got into such 8 mess. But ~
NJ seo back on him not even 4 ne
sc - e 70 prisss. He wouldn't delioel,
stsiy steal. He mrG have neeoeu
money badly. and intended to pay 1t
Oa SSs si,l SLEPT, little that night, and
!, tSs e morning was up early. she
- hy scarcely walt until evening lot
niifsnrd was to call at s O'clock. Sne
~, ... fearful he might leave town or pc
swv = IA the meantime so she eau,
n Nun On the phone and receiVeu
assurance be would be on na1 ra,,,..s
Eirht o'clock came and Gniioso
40 snunct,al although Appearing as
,~nrries as ever, or more SO. Ine!
~ se, .to5 a cribbage game in the Hbrar!
sshiie MI. and Mrs. Clemmons snut
themselves in the living room ,,.,s
sISs got. TO come tonight Meda
Sscided shutting the cards.
Bafcre either had rounded 9e e
.ioaM once they tossed their nanos
9. ia don't TT feel like playing" said
me Neither do r he agreed. and
.they went 10 the piano. However,
WeSa Vas unable to ret through me
f;,St selection. She had developed q
case OF nerves as intense as tne one'
fhat gripped Clifford. -,
Suddenly she left the piano, stood
NJ, and confronted him;
~. Sis shoulders and looking him m
tsatiy IN the eyes, you've got to make e
tSaE confession tonight What Is II
that's bothering you? Don't you be-
Heya YOU can trust @e-wtth any Sc
crst. no matter WHAT"
Clifford smiled, something after MS
aid manner.
0's Certainly, MEDIA, / can trust you;
End I'm going to make the confession,
loo loo, I've got to get it off my lind.
MEDIA" said her mothers voice
,.o,a +ha living room, "Can you come