The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-02-06

Hello. little girl. thought would
wait few cars. In hopes Of seeing
you. I want to engage you for the
evening" he said easily.
II am not Free" she answered as
coolly as she could, although trembling
within. He was wearing the very suit
he had worn when he robbed her. How
keenly she recalled that gray stripe she
had seen as she had struggled
Il suppose 1t IS Reed. this time.
Well. ! can't complain. You have
treated me fairly" he said genially.
He chatted with her, but she had
little to say, and when he dropped
from the car at his destination she
was relieved, although she could
hardly restrain herself from follow
ing his swinging form as 1t disap-
peared in the crowd.
All that day she fought silent bat
tle-whether to tell Mr.. Martin what
had happened and who the guilty party
was. Like a Gagged animal her mind
went back and forth. At last she
sought freedom.
The gray-halred veteran listened to
her story without comment; then he
said gravely: "The evidence Is clear
against him. My dear little girl, you
must learn, as we all learn. not to trust
a handsome face, friendly way, I'M
I'll 1t has been tested. I'll send for
him and see what he has to say. My
boy likes him, and hate to have him
Jailed"
She suffered In silence until, hours
later. released from his work, he came.
He was changed In some way, and she
guessed that he sensed what he was
wanted for.
She caught him impulsively as he
started to the private office door.
and whispered: ooh, Alden" Then
recovering and remembering, she
backed of, leaving him bewildered, q
glad smile on his face fading to a
shadow Of pain.
Martin called her in after a little.
She went In with trembling step. Al
den sat. white-faced and silent, in a
corner, wearing the look Of trapped
man.
Martins voice was grim. "Margery,
Kenyon admits that the pin is his. 1t
Is such an odd one that doubt II he
could do otherwise, and he practically
admits that he robbed you, although
he won't say So"
She looked at him with tears in her
eyes. 81 can't believe It'll I can'tw
Kenyon stared at her and half rose
to his feet; his lips opened, but he said
nothing.
Martin looked at him coldly. IT shall
take action against you unless you re-
turn that money. Can you do it?"
"Tll try" Kenyon answered-and
the answer was admittance of guilt.
AS she sank back with a low cry,
she heard sharp knock on the door.
1t opened and In came Reed his hand
some face dark. He threw his hat into
chair and sat down.
II Just heard what was up. I'm the
one. room with Alden. 1t was easy.
l needed the mOney-debts-ca l
pNiiO"Nu Suit, Tic rest VI nIS
stuff. He was wise, and I knew he
would try to save me. I'm not such
dog as l might be-and, dad, I'm down
right sorry. l feel like a cur"
She saw the old man at the desk
age years In a moment. AS his sons
self-condemning voice went on, his de-
spair seemed to be checked.
She caught Alden's signal, and they
both went out.
Outside the door, he looked down
at her with a twisted smile 81 was
afraid the old mans heart would
break, and thought could save him.
Reed told me, and I urged him to TESS
up this afternoon, but didn't think he
would. Now he has. Gee, but It's
rotten mess. And the only thing that
looks good to me now is you. Say,
will you go to the park with me this
night?'
She leaned her face against his
shoulder as his boyish voice ram
bled bravely on to cover his own
emotion; and then, while his hand
patted her encOuragingly, she man.
aged to say with more quavering than
she wished: 81 guess So" which
seemed to be quite satisfactory to him.