Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1921-01-13

the happiness or tnree people. Drune
assert his innocence and tell all he
knew, he felt sure of ultimate acquit
tal-at the expense Of the fiance OF
the girl he loved. For now came back
to him many little acts on Wilbur's
part-petty excuses to see his books
an erasure or substitution he could moi
recall making.
Suppose he kept silentf His Own
life would be ruined and his great
hope of making his fathers name hon.
orable, defeated. Yet, now that his
mother was dead, what did 1t matter
compared to virginia's shattered hap
piness and loss of faith in men? He
had seen one woman's life wrecked
through the per1dy of the man she
loved. Through the long, %sleepless
night Roger struggled-and when
morning came, he had made his de-
cision. Virginia should be happy.
With the morning came an early
summons from the president of the
bank to come to his Office. To his sur
prise, Roger found him not alone.
Wilbur, chewing the end of an un-
lighted cigar, sat on the edge of a
chair, obviously less at ease than
either of the two men.
"My nephew tells me-" began How
ard without preamble, shat you came
to the bank late one evening. Can
you explain?"
Roger looked at Howard in surprise.
Then, with a f1eeting smile at Wilbur,
NO." he said quietly. 4
1t was the presidents turn to be
amazed. "My boy" he said, "just why
are you doing this?"
At that moment the door opened and
Virginia, beautiful in soft furs, stood
on the threshold. II came as you
asked me, uncle" she hesitated. II
don't know just why"
Howard stood up. "Come with me,
Wilbur" he said. II have had my eye
on you for some time-on your fire.
quent trips out of town-on your noe
turnal visits to the bank. In fact, ]
sent Bennett here n night for some
papers when 1 felt sure he would
stumble upon you. l let suspicion
rest temporarily on an innocent man
hoping to see you make q clean breast
of it. If you had things might have
gone easier with you. AS it is" His
look was significant as he frightened his
hold on the arm Of his nephew, who
during his words had appeared tt
shrink %perceptibly into his clothes
The door closed upon them both.
Left alone, the man and girl were
for a moment at a loss. Then 1t oc
Cured to Roger that Virginia was tax
ing very easily this startling new!
about her fiance. 'Tm sorry abou
Wilbur-on your account" he bega1
hesitantly.
"You may be for him, but not OF
my account" cried Virginia witt
heightened color. "Every n seem
to be laboring under a mistake. Las
night Uncle Will called and asked m,
if Wilbur and I were engaged. Whel
/ denied it he said he was glad. Thel
= he told me of the accusation agains
you and well, I wouldn't believe |
and was so-indignant. 7 CUES
) that Uncle VIII thought-thinks-
Y mean"
: Roger rose suddenly. What wa
giving Virginia those wonderfully ros
y cheeks, and why was she flounderin
{ so helplessly?
Anyway" the girl was continuing
= "uncle said that yesterday when 20
{ were questioned you were not as en-
{ phatic in your denials as he though
!. you ought to be and he decided 70
/ were being quixotic and shieldin
T somebody for some reason or other"
: virginia." cried Roger suddenl,
Il bending down to her, "since there
\ 10 N else may 1 hope that SON
d day"
Is Virginia lifted love-lit eyes to hi
"Sooner than that!" she said, and 6
Roger drew her into his arms,
guess I know why uncle wanted n
to come" she whispered happily.