Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1921-06-02
CHAPTER xvI-contInued.


CHAPTER xvI--contlnued
10
Tony didn't reply. nor did she look
at the speaker. Her mind was follow
ing her mother along the boulevard,
yes, even down the lonely forest path
to the Dirty Mary. Through her tan
gled thoughts went the question, II
Uriah wasn't her father, who was?
How she dreaded to face Doctor Paul
with his infinite kindness, and the APP
peal she knew he would make. Never
before had he seemed so dear; never
had Philip MacCauley been 80 far
away as at this minutel
At length she lifted her head and
rested her troubled eyes on Mrs. Cur
tbs.
"Piease don't tell my father. l 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 I wouldn't have told you 80. 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.
"Wbo was in the room when fne
man was shot7" asked Doctor John,
staring at Mrs. Curtis and her daugh-
ter.
"Just Tonnibel. as far as / can nnd
out" Sarah answered. Heaven knows
that Kathie and I don't want to pc
mixed up In such a thing as this. It's
perfectly disgraceful."
"Then 60 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.
Cant you tell your father about It,
dear" he pleaded. "How. did you hap
pen to have the gun In your hands
and what did he dol"
II just shot him." sighed Tony,
DULY. She was too exhausted to say
anything more. What was there to
explain, after ALI The only sure way
to save Edith was to insist she, her
self, had fred the shot.
A strange. strangling sound came
from Captain MacCauley. Then he
blurted out:
TONY, darling, please don't sit there
that way. Tell us about II. Do. dear
Oh, don't you know how much we all
love your"
Did she knowf All, yes and more
Her own devotion to him was almost
forcing the truth from between hel
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. II sup
pose I'll be arrested. II he dies"
She burst into broken sobs and
crouched lower.
.He's not going to die" Paul tolt
her softly. ''He only has a slight scall
wound. So put that worry out Of you
head. Tony. don't you love m,
any more7"
Love himl The agony In his voic,
made her fling her arms around him
and she chung to him shivering. en-
treating him to forgive her. not I,
cease loving her. for she'd die II b.
did.
Child DEAR" he murmured, run
ming his fingers over her curIs, your,
going to steady yourself now and tel
your father just what happened Now
begin"
He had not finished when his eye,
caught sight of the safe. He staret
MT its open door, and Doctor john
gaze followed his. Then the latte
strobe across the room, and for a lon,
moment peered into the opening.
Its emptyi Everything's gone" h,
muttered, turning slowly, and PhiliI
exciaimed:
That's why she shot him, Jack. III,
was stealingl Tony darling" and III,
speaker went down beside the girl
"Tony, did you find your father hereY
81 didn't see him take anything
Philip" she sobbed bitterly. Her eye
were looking at him. but their expires
sion told him they didn't see him q
all. Another problem was tormentin,
her. Her misery was being. added I,
by the minute. So impatient a
Philip to have the matter cleared ina
he spoke barshly to her.
TONY, you know where those jewel
are" said he. "Tell us instantly I
Then he calculated: "That man hs,
them upstairs"
He was out Of the room In q fiast
and IA awful silence settled over tn
three until ha xraa NTH thosy owosv~