The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-09-22
CHAPTER XVII.
Payment In Full.

Payment In Full.
Edith Devon, with the small black
bag in her hand, crept out of the Pen
dlehaven garden, unapprehensive. She
had no power to think-no desire to go
anywhere or do anything. She lin
gered about Pendlehaven place until
the morning dawned. During the hours
preceding daylight she studied over
the events of the afternoon and eve
ming. AS her mind cleared, all her
love for Uriah rose up and clamored
to help him. She remembered leaving
him stretched out on the floor as If he
were dead. When the town below be-
gan to show signs of day she walked
back into Pendlehaven place and slow
ly up to the house.
1t was a servant who ushered Mrs.
Devon into the library where Doctor
John and Doctor Paul still sat, strug-
Cling with the mystery that had come
into their usually quiet home. After
vainly trying to force more than mono
syllable replies from Tonnibel, they
had put her to bed, gibbering with
fright.
Edith advanced to the middle of the
room, holding the little bag in her
hand, looking first at Doctor John, who
tried uBsuccessfully to recall where he
had seen her, and then at Doctor Paul.
where's my man, my Uriahr she
asked hoarsely, and then Doctor John
recognized her and rose to his feet.
you got my husband here with a bit
Of lead in 'im," went on Edith, mo-
notonously. IT want to see i'm; want
to take i'm back to the boat"
For the space of thirty seconds, per-
haps, no one ventured a word. Then,
as the woman swayed, Doctor John
leaped forward and put her into
chair. The bag dropped to the floor
beside her. Tears began to flow down
her cheeks and, with her sleeve, she
brushed them away.
where's my man, my Uriah" she
demanded again fiercely. "Give i'm
back to me, mister. and I'll Where's
the pup that shot 'imT'
"Who shot him7" cried Doctor John.
Edith gave him a peculiar look.
"Reggie, Reggie Brown" she whined.
II saw i'm, and Tony, thinkin' I did
it"
A sharp cry fell from DR.. Paul Pen
dlehaven.
TONY vowed she did it." he gasped.
"Oh, my poor little girl! She didn't
even mention your being here"
"Tony's like that" assented Edith.
'She wouldn't peach on a dog"
Doctor John came to her side with
one long stride.
Are you ready to swear Reginald
Brown shot your husband" he de-
manded.
"Of course l am, mister" nodded
Edith. ''He was always runnin' after
Tony, and she hated i'm. He was
right over there when. suddenlike, he
banged bullet smack at my man.
That duffer, the dirty pup, amt fit to
clean Uriah's boots. When Tony
pushed me out of this house she says,
we'll, she says, Run, mummy, before
somebody gets you,' and 1 was kind
dazed like and ran away"
Just then Philip flung into the room.
room.
I'm half crazy" he exclaimed and
thCh SloppCh, ScCiHs DSNohs put
he was so filed with misery that he
gave no further heed to the stranger
and went on hastily. "Jack, Paul,
there's something behind that affair
of Reggie's!'
There sure is" said John Pendle-
haven. "Sit down. boy. We're just
getting at it. This is Mrs. Devon"
"And my man," she insisted, strug-
Cling up. "Uriah always was d-n
fool, mixln' up with swells like Reggie
Brown but love i'm; and, mister"
she wiped her face and. shudderingly.
appealed to Paul Pendlehaven, "if you
give I'm to me, mister"
"Wel see Tony first" he interrupt
ed. "Wait."
While their cousins were with
Uriah's wife below, Mrs. Curtis and
Katherine were talking over the events
of the night.
"if Tony1l only stick to what she's