Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-05-26
CHAPTER XVI-contInued.


ing her mother along the boulevard,
yes, even down the lonely forest path
to the Dirty Mary. Through her tan
gled thoughts went the question, If
Uriah wasn't her father, who was?
How she dreaded to face Doctor Paul
with his infinite kindness, and the ap-
peal she knew he would make. Never
before had he seemed so dear; never
had Philip MacCauley been so far
away as at this minute!
At length she lifted her head and
rested her troubled eyes on Mrs. Cur
tbs.
"Please don't tell my father, mean
Doctor Paul, about your saying my
mother was here" she mOaned.
Mrs. Curtis considered the request
quickly.
Perhaps that would be best" she
answered. II really thought she was,
or l wouldn't have told you so. 1t
might bring trouble to her, and that
would be dreadful for an innocent per-
son."
Doctor Paul went directly to Tony,
when, followed by his brother and
Philip, he came back into the room.
He tried to draw her to her feet.
'Pd rather stay here, please" she
said, without looking up.
"Who was In the room when the
man was shot?" asked Doctor John,
staring Mt Mrs. Curtis and her daugh-
ter.
"Just Tonnibel, as far as can find
out" Sarah answered. Heaven knows
that Kathie and 1 don't want to be
mixed up in such thing as this. It's
perfectly disgraceful."
"Then go upstairs" shot back Doc
tor John.
Loath not to witness the vanquish-
ing of their enemy, the two women
trailed out reluctantly.
In spite of Tony's resistance, Doc
tor Paul placed his arm about her.
"Can't you tell your father about 1t,
dear?" he pleaded "How did you hap
pen to have the gun in your hands,
and what did he do?"
II just shot him." sighed Tony,
duly. She was too exhausted to say
anything more. What was there to
explain, after all? The only sure way
to save Edith was to insist she, hef
self, had fired the shot.
A strange, strangling sound came
from Captain MacCauley. Then he
blurted out:
"Tony, darling, please don't sit there
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. II sup
pose TIL 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 slight scalp
wound. So put that worry out of your
head. Tony, don't you love me
any more7"
Love him! The agony in his voice
made her fling her arms around him,
and she chung to him shivering 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 curIs, 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
strobe across the room, and for long
moment peered into the opening.
tits 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?"
II 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"
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.
IT searched every pocket in his
clothes. But l found this wad Of
money. There must be thousands in
It'll"
He passed the money to Doctor
John.
ut wasn't in the SAFE" said the lat
ter, thoughtfully, slipping 1t into the
table drawer.