Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-06-30
CHAPTER xvI-continued.


gled thoughts went the question, II
Uriah wasn't her father, who wasf
How she dreaded to face Doctor Paul
with his infinite kindness, and the ap-
neal she knew he would make. Never
before had he seemed so dear; never
had Philip MacCauley been so rar
away as at this minute!
At length she lifted her head and
rested her troubled eyes on Mrs. Cur
tbs.
"Please don't tell my father. mean
Doctor Paul, about your saying my
mother was here" she moaned.
Mrs. Curtis considered the request
quickly.
perhaps that would be best" she
answered. II really thought she was
or wouldn't have told you so. 1t
might bring trouble to her, and that
would be dreadful for an innocent per-
SON"
Doctor Paul went directly to Tony,
when, followed by his brother ana
Philip, he came back into the ROOM
He tried to draw her to her feet.
I'D rather stay here, please" she
said, without looking up.
''Who was in the room when the
man was shotY asked Doctor Jonn'
staring at Mrs Curtis and her daugh-
ter.
"Just Tonnibel, as far as l can tlnd
out" Sarah answered. Heaven knows
that Kathie and 1 don't want to De
mixed up in such thing as this. lts
perfectly disgraceful."
"Then go upstairs" shot back DOC
tor John.
Loath not to witness the vanquish-
ing of their enemy, the two women
trailed out reluctantly.
In spite of Tony's resistance, DOC
tor Paul placed his arm about her.
"Can't you tell your father about IT,
dear?" he pleaded. "How did you hap
pen to have the gun in your hanos'
and what did he dor
II just shot him." sighed Tony'
duly. She was too exhausted to say
ANYTHING more. What was there to
explain, after all? The only sure way
to save Edith was to insist she, her.
self, had fired the shot.
A strange, strangling sound came
from Captain MacCauley. TEen ne
blurted out:
"Tony, darling, please don't sit there
that way. Tell us about 1t. DO, dear.
Oh, don't you know how much we all
love your"
Did she know? All, yes and more
Her own devotion to him was almost
forcing the truth from between her
chattering teeth. She glanced at him.
and then, Edith, pale, beseeching and
wan. came between her face and his.
"There isn't anything more to tell,
Philip" she choked hopelessly. Il sup
pose I'll be arrested. If he dies
She burst into broken sobs and
crouched lower.
"He's not going to die" Paul told
her softly ''He only has slight scalp
wound. So put that worry out OF your
head. Tony, don't you love me
any more?"
Love him! The agony in his voice
made her fling her arms around him,
and she chung to him shivering, en-
treating him to forgive her, not to
cease loving her, for she'd die II ne
did.
Child dear" he murmured, run
ming his fingers over her curls, you're
going to steady yourself now and tell
your father just what happened Now,
begin"
He had not finished when his eyes
caught sight of the safe. He stared
at its open door, and Doctor Johns
gaze followed his. Then the latter
strobe across the room, and for long
moment peered into the opening.
"Irs empty! Everything's gone" he
muttered, turning slowly, and Philip
exclaimed:
"That's why she shot him, Jack. He
was steallng Tony darling" and the
speaker went down beside the girl,
Ebony, did you find your father here"
az didn't see him take anything,
Philip" she sobbed bitterly. Her eyes
were looking at him, but their express
sion told him they didn't see him at
ALL Another problem was tormenting
her. Her misery was being added to
by the minute. So impatient was
Philip to have the matter cleared that
he spoke harshly to her.
"Tony, you know where those jewels
arN" said he. Tell us Instantly
Then he calculated: "That man has
them upstairs"
He was out of the room In a flash,
and an awful silence settled over the
three until he was with them again.
"He hasn't got Them" he faltered.
ct searched every pocket In his
clothes. But l found this wad of
money. There must be thousands In
itw
He passed the money to Doctor
John.
ut wasn't in the safe" said the lat
ter, thoughtfully, slipping 1t into the
table drawer.
His words struck a new terror to
Tonnibel. Edith had robbed the safe,
then, Edith who never stole unless she
was forced to It. The shudders that