Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-05-04
CHAPTER xvI-continued.


I'm goin' in and get Tony, EIDE"
he explained. "'Twas a promise give
the kid, she could see you alone first
Just sit here. It'll / come back. You
don't want to see Pendlehaven, ehY
Edith shuddered and shrank back.
mo. ! don't" she whispered. Il
just want TO talk to the baby min
ute. l want her to forgive me before
we go away. We been. cussed mean
to that kid. Uriah.'
Devon made a grunting assent, left
Edith sitting behind the rose bush
and slipped up the steps of the
house.
A little while before, Reggie Brown.
well filed up on brandy, had descend
ed to the library TO wait for Devon.
If he hadn't had this thing on. and the
importance of it hadn't weighed on
him all the long day, he'd have gone
to bed, his head ached so, but his de-
sire to capture Tony Devon kept the
fumes of alcohol from completely be-
fuddling his brains. Inside the library.
he stood swaying near the door. tap
ping his pocket from time to time to
make sure he was armed. Then ne
stumbled across the room, threw him
self on the divan and in another mo-
ment had forgotten in a drunken
sleep that there was any such person
in the world as Tonnibel Devon.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Curtis was walking
the floor upstairs, half mad with anx-
iety, and Katherine, in state OF
nerves, was smoking one cigarette af-
ter another.
"God! When she's gone" broke
forth the girl. "I'll know what happi-
ness meansP'
$50 will l." echoed Mrs. Curtis.
ITS almost time for me to 20 down,
isn't 1t? I hope that man won't dis
appoint us"
Don't fear about that" sneered
Katherine. Hes even more anxious
than we are Sos Reggie, but l don't
envy you telling Tony her mothers
alive"
81 think you might do It," com
planned Mrs Curtis with a snifie. "All
the anxiety and worry of this thing
has fallen on me-"
"That's because you're so clever.
my sweet" retorted Katherine, sarcas-
tically. "Oh, go on down and don't
act rs If yeu were afraid of your own
shadow. Say, Rege was drunk as
anything at dinnerp
"Disgustingly So" sighed the moth
er as she vert out. 81 hope to the
high heavens he's; st~aighten up some
day"
First Mrs. Curtis stole down 10 the
library There she found Uriah De-
Won. standing with his hat in his hand.
and, as he saw her. he made a grin
ming bow.
where's Rege?" he asked eagerly.
"Upsto'rs, think" replied Mrs.
CT It's H. a low voice. Hes had too
much t" drink. Did you bring your
wife?"
"Yep; she's outside" was the mans
answer. "And the kid? Does she
know Ede's still I'm the land of tle
livin'?"
"No, but Tllstell her now" returned
Mrs Curtis desperately. Here's the
FIVE thousand dollars" She thrust s
roll OF bank notes into his hand. "Tn
send Tony right down." ended the
woman and she went swiftly out.
Uriah glanced about the room In
anticipation. He intended not only
to take Tony with him, but every
thing else of value he could lay his
hands on. Edith had often described
the valuables kept in walI-safe in
this very room. Mrs. Curtis had no
more than closed the door before. re-
volver in hand, he began his search.
An exclamation of delight almost es-
capped his lips when he discovered the
sate-door was unlocked. He grinned
at the carelessness of the rich as he
flung into the black bag the boxes of
jewelry. completely stripping the safe
of its contents. He didn't lake time
to look over his haul
All through the day Tonnibel Devon
had told her Joy over and over to her
self. Now, almost ready to retire, she
was sitting reading the Bible. II
SStlucu must hpBADBllA lc titdt Oh IfliS
night she should sing with the Poet
the Psalms of Thanksgiving.
A knock at the door caused her to
close the book and put 1t on the ia
BE before she called: Come in"
At the sight of Mrs Curtis she rose
to her feet, startled.
"Tve good news for you. child"
clicked the woman, and Tony went
forward eagerly.
''whatI" she demanded. as Phil
ip-"
NOW. don't get nervous, my dear"
came in quivering interruption. "But
but you were not correctly inform
cd about your mother. She's-she's
downstairs"
A violent emotion overlook the girl.
She knew then she had never really
believed what Uriah told her.
'My mother I" she breathed, her
eyes deepening in color. MY dear
little motherl Oh. let me go to her :"
"she's in the library. This is a
happy day for you, my dear-for-aI
Of us. You'd better dress, hadn't
your"
Tonnibel hadn't even heard the last
words. She fed down the stairs and
into the library, painting for breath.
Her cup Of happiness was fall to the
brirn, now that Edith had come back