Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1920-06-04

"aello, little girl. I Thought would
wait few cars, In hopes Of seeing
sou. want to engage you for the
evening"" he said easily.
Il am not free" she answered rs
coOlly as she could. although trembling
within. He was wearin" the very suit
he had worn when he robbed her. How
! keenly she recalled that gray stripe she
! had seen as she had strugged!
II suppose it is Reed. this time
Well, l 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 it disap.
peared in the crowd.
All that day she fought a silent bat
tle-Whether to tell Mr.. Martin what
had happened and who the guilty party
was. Like Gagged animal her mind
went back and forth. At last she
sought freedom.
The gray-haired 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
handsome face, a friendly way, un-
til it has been tested. I'll send for
him and see what he has to say. NY
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: "Oh, Alden" Then
recovering and remembering, she
backed off, leaving him ,bewildered a
glad smile on his face fading to a
shadow Of pain.
Martin called her in after q little.
She went in with trembling step. Al
den sat, white-faced and silent, in q
corner, wearing the look Of a trapped
man.
Martins voice was grim. "Margery,
Kenyon admits that the pin 10 his. It
is such an odd one that doubt il 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. II can't believe It! can't"
Kenyon stared at her and half. rose
to his feet his lips opened, but he said
nothing.
Martin looked at him coldly. II shall
take action against you unless you re-
turn that money. Can you do it?'
It'll 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.
I needed the money-debts-ca I
borrowed his suit, and the rest Of his
DULL AAC was VASE, anu Mic" Lc
would try to save me. I'm not sucfpa
dog as might be-and, dad. I'm down.
right sorry. feel like cur"
She saw the old man at the desk
age years in a moment. AS his sons
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 twisted smile. II was
afraid the old mans heart would
break, and thought could save him.
Reed told me, and urged him to TESS
up this afternoon, but I didn't think he
would. Now he has. Gee, but it's a
rotten mess. And the only thing that
looks good to me now is you. Say,
will you 60 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
and then, while his hand
patted her encouragingly, she man
aged to say with more quavering than
she wished: Il guess So" which
seemed to be quite satisfactory to him.