The Ordway new era., 1920-12-31

those months. those dreary awful
months-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 rhem-time after time. And
half-bllnd daze all the way home-it
led me to the pitt
THE pitT' questioned Mrs. Xix
land.
In the abandoned brickyard beyond
| City Park. The moment
came to. and looked around. rec
ognized the place. l went straight to
the hole where 1 had hidden the
bonds"
You hid them out there?" exclalm-
ed Ellen.
Yes. All flashed back into my
mlnd-all about that day when BENIN
brought me down from Pueblo-the
fear that drove me half insane when
he filppantly 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 u detective !"
"Yes, 1 found that OUT afterwards,
Toodlums. l suppose he was trying
TO test my integrity. l can't believe
worse of him. But l was then In
bad way, and what he suggested com
pletely unbalanced me. / was certain
he meant to steal the bonds from me
must have been half insane. To
save them from him. | rented safe
deposit box and pretended to him that
| had put them in it; but instead
want out past City Park and wandered
about until | found the hiding place
in the clay pit"
$50 that was It," remarked Amy.
He did not reply. He was engrossed
in gazing into Ellen's tender gray eyes.
The fond parents pealned upon the
blissful couple. Amy sighed and stole
out of the room. unheeded by the
others.
Ellen snueSleI closer to her lover.
you fell into the pit" she recalled
the mishap. Your poor dear head !"
"Only a little cut" he reassured
her. Il wiped the blood or my face,
and hurried home with the bonds to
see Momsey and Amy before rushing
down to the bank. l did not wish TO
see you until 1 could tell you | had
restored the bonds There was no one
in the front of the house; so | went
direct to the bathroom. 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 that?
| There has been no man staying here
except yourself Will"
NO one" he cried "You say no
one7 Then I'm not cured lit was an
lnlluclnntion
Here, here, keep quiet This won't
do" ordered Doctor Kirkland. what
was it? Explain"
The young man sought to repress his
shuddering. "I-whcn I-when open
ed the passage door there was IA
| something across ut the mlrror--It-
| it"
Pooh" ridiculed the physician.
Your own reflection
''Then why-why was It's back to
me?"
ITS backf" quavered Ellen. "Oh.
Will"
Pooh. pooh Nothing to 1t, my
boy" insisted the physician. Merely
"A freak of vision. Think no more
about it. Amy-What, Where is
| Amyf"
Indeed, where-?" murmured Mrs.
Kirkland. gazing about the room. "She
has gone out. Perhaps she
| has gone to call Tillie. Would 1t not
he we'll to telephone the good news
thar VIII is safe home?"
Yes, yes. to be sure-police, bank.
sanltarium-alll" !" shouted her hus-
band. and he rushed out to the tele-
| phone.
They'll come here. dearest" whls-
pered Ellen You shall not leave me ="
How conld II" he ,rnpturously re-
| piled.
Mrs. Kirkland sank into II chair to
dab her fearful eyes and smile upon
the lovers.