The Snowflake herald., 1921-06-10
CHAPTER vI-contInued.

/ SIrlpp0u Ou uSI WCI SlOtACOS hou
blown out the light and was in bed
beside her mother.
When Edith was assured the girl
slept, she crawled out of the bed and
lighted the lamp. She tried to collect
her thoughts, to lay a plan for the fl-
ture for herself and husband. John
Pendlehaven had been therel Pendle-
haven. the one man in the world she
dreaded the mention Of And Tony
had said he would come back tomor-
row
She turned and looked at the sleep
ing face, haIf-hidden in the blankets.
She had stolen this child from her
father, and now she had to escape the
consequences of her wicked deed. She
had to go away, and that quickly. If
she had dared to face her husbands
wrath, she would have, then and
there, communicated with Paul Pen
dlehaven.
She reached out and touched Tonni-
bells face.
"Baby, darlin', wake up," she said.
''T want to ask you something!"
Tony opened her slumber-laden eyes
and smiled.
Don't go to sleep again." exclaimed
Mrs. Devon, hoarsely. "Tell me this.
Do you honest believe what you said
about that thing on the card? About
it bein' holy7"
yep asserted Tony, with droop-
ing eyelids.
"You don't want to hurt Uriah and
me, do you, honey?"
The girl shook her head slowly, and
a doubtful shadow settling in her eyes,
seemed to make her wider awake.
"I wouldn't hurt you, darlin'," she
replied at length, "but sometimes,
when daddy's beatin' you, feel like
whackin' the life out of him. Why,
today"
Edith stopped her by a tug at her
sleeve.
IF you swore by that card you
brought, mean If you took an oath
would you keep it?" she asked hoarse-
ly.
"You bet would" There was
amazement, surprise and eagerness in
the young voice.
Didn't you tell me the feller said
Jesus was holy birdY'
Tony nodded.
Mrs. Devon gripped her fingers
about the girls arm.
"Adebbe he's in the Dirty Mary here
only you can't see him, baby deary
| The wOmans voice was slyly toned
but she shivered in superstition.
'He's right here" affirmed the girl
thinking of a boys earnest uplifted
face and vibrant assurances.
'Then say after lie what Tn
thinkin' Of" said Edith.
Tony lifted her eyes to her mothers
but drew back when she discovered
how terrible she looked, white like a
dead person.
Il swear by the livin' Jesus" began
Edith, and then she paused. "Say it.
she Missed.
81 swear by the livin' Jesus" Tony
repeated fearfully.
II swear to my mummy never to
say nOthin' mean against Uriah De
Won, my daddy" went on Mrs. Devon
Tony repeated this, too, almost
frightened into fits. She had never
seen her mother look and act so mys.
teriously.
'Now say this, keepin' in your mind
you'll be blasted to hell if you break
your word, Il won't never tell that my
father beat my poor mummy. or that
he's q thief and a liar" A thick
fearless sob burst from the woman's
lips and brought an ejaculation from
the girl.
Il swear to it all, honey mummy. =
she cried. "You believe me, Edie
darlin'. don't your"
Eyes, / believe you," replied Edith
duly. Crawl into bed, and go tC
sleep, baby dear"
Shiveringly Tony Devon got back
under the blanket.
Then for more than an hour there
was silence on the canal boat, silence
that was broken only by the night
noises outside.
Then, extremely weak, the woman
prepared herself to go out. 1t took
her a long time to write q note she
had to leave for Tony, and when thai
was finished, she divided the money