Graham guardian., 1921-04-01

IOhgi Ntil nus lA'''9N N''i' S'S
that way. Tell us about it, 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. 81 sup
pose I'll be arrested. If he dies"
She burst into broken sobs and
crOuched lower.
Hes not going to die" Paul told
her softly. "He only has a 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 clung to him shiverlng, en-.
treating him to forgive her. not. to
cease loving her, for she'd die If he
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
strode across the room, and for long
moment peered into the opening.
'Its empty! Everything's gone" he
muttered, turning slowly, and Philip
exclaimed:
That's why she shot him, jack. He
was stealing Tony darling" and the
speaker went down beside the girl,
"Tony, did you find your father here"
~ didn't see dim 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
are" said he. "Tel us instantly o.
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
u searched every pocket in his
clothes. But I found this wad of
money. There must be thousands in
itp
He passed the money to Doctor
John.
at 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
ran over her brought feeling of re-
belliOn to Paul Pendlehaven. Philip
groaned and began TO speak, but the
doctor waved him to silence.
stony" he said sternly, there's
something beneath all this, something
you must tell me. DO you know where
the things went that were in the
safeT
To deny 1t would be the same as tell.
ing that a third person had been there
To ADMIT ii would forever place her
beyond the pale of his love. Yet there
was Edith--and Uriah, whom she had
sworn to protect,
"Yes, J know" she whispered. "Of
course, know she repeated louder
"You'll tell me-" begged Philip
hoarsely. Great Heavens, child, CAM
you see how awful it looks for your
YES" was ali she said, miserably.
Doctor John was wandering aimless.
ly about the room. The mysetry that
had hung over Tony Devon ever since
she had been with them was deeper
than ever. He felt like shaking the
truth from her, for the sight of his
horror-stricken brother filed him with
r0ge which did for the moment obliter-
ate the past two years in which the
girl had been the one bright spot in
their home.
"Then If you know, Tony" Doctor
John calculated, "just out with It.
Your father evidently didn't take
them"
81 did" interrupted Tony.
"What for?' was his bitter retort.
MY brother gave you permission to
wear them whenever you wanted tor
Tony couldn't answer. She was be-
coming hopelessly entangled, more so
with every word she uttered.
God, I'd rather have given them all
to YOU" mourned Doctor Paul II In.
tended to, anyhow"
"If your father dies, TOnnibel," said
Doctor John, sternly, "you'l be arrest
ed. Oh, Lord What a mess"
IT'S awful" muttered Tony.
Simultaneous with her assertion,
Reginald Brown opened the door and
minced over the threshold. Perfectly
certain now that Urlah had but a TEN.
porary wound, and that for the love
they bore Tonnhel Devon his cousins
would hush the matter up, he had de.
termined to make his plea openly to
the girl.
Tony" he snld, coming forward
with a magnanImOus swagger, "Tm the
only one In this house who loves
you"