The daily Alaskan., 1921-04-09

ed, rigldly erect side by side. The | girls gaze passed over their glaring eyes and settled on Philip MacCauley. l Was that a smile she saw lurking around his lips? Of course not! He couldn't smile when she was in such l trouble! She shivered as she met Reginald Browns eager eyes, and, ] thrusting back q sob, she went to Paul i Pendlehaven because he had held his hand out to her. Then she saw her mother, and a bewildered expression | spread over her face. Doctor Paul, his eyes soft and gleamlng, hls lips ! twltching nervOuSly, drew her down beside him. [ Mummy doesn't know anything about it." gasped the girl, extending her arms to Edith. "I won't hear any one say-Oh, Uriah," she turned to Devon, you know. Oh, say I did It."
 "Won't say any such thing" nut 1 tered Urloh.
 "Of course he won't, Tony" exclaIm- ed Doctor John. "We know the truth now"
 !. Tonnibel got to her feet, pulling her | self away from Paul Pendlehaven.
 "Oh. you can't arrest my poor little mother" she cried. Her whole life has been so miserable. l must help her. You must, you, Philip" 1 Philip got out of his chair, but Doc tor John put him back into 1t again.
 Wait" he whispered into the boys ear.
 "I want to tell you, everyone" went on Tony, tiercelE that I'll swear til l die my mother"
 1 Paul Pendlchavcn took the speaker by the shoulders and forced her face l up to his.
 This woman. here, your mother" and he waved his arm toward Mrs. Devon, says you didn't have that gun in your hand, and it's loaded to the br.m now. She didn't use 1t, either"
 Reggie'S jaw dropped, He made a dash for the door, as Mrs. Curtis 1 screamed. Doctor John caught the fleeing boy and wheeled him around i to face his hOrror-strIcken mother.
 Its lie! I didn't" he mumbled. "Where'd l get a gun to shoot any one? This woman did 1t herself. l saw her"
 Then you were here" cried Philip.
 Mrs Curtis acted as If she were go- | ing to faint, out, as no one paid any attention to her, she slumped back be- ] side her daughter who turned away cOntemptuOuSly.
 That settles one question:" com ! mented Doctor Paul, grimly. You 1 shot Devon, Reggie" and the boy sank | into chair beside his mother. Now" continued the doctor, ''who robbed the Safc?
 To know that her mother hadn't i done the shooting relieved but one of ] TOnnibel's worries. Uriah wasn't hurt much anyway but the doctors ques- ! ton brought vividly to her mind an- other danger, not a whit less serious. ! Edith was certainly involved In footing the safe!
 q told you once," Tony began weakly.
 Child" lnterposed Doctor Paul, you'll shield no one else. l shudder to think what might have happened if your mother hadn't come here for her 1 husband"
 His tones were low and stern, though much moved.
 His eye caught sight of the black bag at the same time his brothers did. Doctor John opened 1t and, amid m appalling silence, took box after box | out of it.
 "Plan stealing" he growled, and then he stared at Mrs. Devon in open mouthed amazement "Whatd you bring 'em back fOr?" he questioned. Edith paid no attention to Doctor , Johns query but addressed her hus- band.
 "Uriah, now you went and done 1t again!" She turned to Doctor Paul. You got everythin' back, give me my man. He didn't know what he was doin', sir"
 "ThCn he'll be taught a lesson, the same as Reginald will, madam" re- joined the doctor. Ever since your daughter came to us, she's been in dread of your husband, her father. Once he was sent away, and she had peace. This time he won't come back in a hurry"
 Doctor John reached into the drawer Ut the table near him and produced the roll of bills that Philip had found on Devon the night before.
 How about this, yOuT he inquired of Devon. "Where'd this come from before it was in your pocket? While we're at 1t, we might as well clear up everything"
 The center of interest, Uriah Devon shifted unpaSily In his chair. He had discovered the loss of the money but had not dared to make any inquiry about it. Hastily he ran over the sit uRtion, and 1t appeared to him as hope less as possible, but five thousand dol lars was a good thing for man to have, whatever his position, If Mrs.