The Adair County news., 1921-01-26


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 himl The agony In his voice
made her fling her arms around him,
and she chung to him shiyering, 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,
beginT
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.
TITS emptyl Everything's gone" he
muttered, turning slowly, and Philip
exclaimed:
THAT'S why she shot him, Jack. He
was stealingI Tony darling and the
speaker went down beside the girl,
''Tony, did you find your father.herer
81 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
are," said he. "Tell us instantly I"
Then he CALCULATED: "That man has
them upstairs"
He was out Of the room in flash.
and an awful silence settled over the
three until he was with them again.
HE hasn't got Them" he faltered.
II searched every pocket in his
clothes. But / found this wad Of
money. There must be thousands in
It'll"
He passed the money to Doctor
John.
at wasn't in the safe," said the lat
ter, thoughtfully, slipping it 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 1t. 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.
"Tony," 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
safer"
To deny it would be the same as tell
ing that third person had been there.
To ADMIT 1t would forever place her
beyond the pale of his love. Yet there
was Edith-and Uriah, whom she had
sworn to protect.
"Yes, know" she whispered. "Of
course, know" she repeated louder.
you'll tell me-" begged Philip,
hoarsely. "Great Heavens, child, can't
you see how awful 1t looks for your"
"Yes," was all she said, miserably.
Doctor John was wandering aimless-
Iy 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
rage 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 forT' 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.
Sod, I'd rather have given them all
to you," mourned Doctor Paul. Il In
tended to, anyhow"
eff your father dies, TonHibel," said
Doctor John, sternly, you'll be arrest
ed Oh, Lord! What a mess!"
its awful" muttered Tony.
Simultaneous with her assertion,
Reginald Brown opened the door and
minced over the threshold. Perfectly
certain now that Uriah had but tenn
porary wound, and that for the love
they bore Tonnibel Devon. bis cousins
would hush the matter up, he had de-
termined to make his plea openly to
the girl.
'Tony," he said, coming forward
with magnanimous swagger, I'm the
only one in this house who loves
you"
"You- Iie." flashed Philip, as Doctor
John took a step toward his young
cousin, but the girls expression
brought him to halt. She was look