The Hope pioneer., 1921-03-31
CHAPTER xv,-continu.d.

mo. I DON'T" she whispered. II
just want to talk to the baby min
ute. I want her to forgive me before
we go away. We been cussed mean
to that kid. Uriah."
Devon made a grunting assent, left
Edith sitting behind the rose bush
and slipped up the steps Of the
house.
A little while before, Reggie Brown,
well filled up on brandy, had descend
ed to the library to wait for Devon.
If he hadn't had this thing on, and the
importance Of it hadn't weighed on
him all the long day, he'd have gone
to bed, his head ached so, but his de-
sire to capture Tony Devon kept the
fumes of alcohol from completely be-
fuddling his Brains. Inside the library,
he stood swaying near the door tap
ping his pocket from time to time to
make sure he was. armed. Then he
stumbled across the room, threw him.
self on the divan and in another mo-
ment had forgotten in q drunken
sleep that there was any such person
in the world as Tonnibel Devon.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Curtis was walking
the floor upstairs, half mad with anx-
iety, and Katherine, in a state of
nerves, was smoking one cigarette af-
ter another.
God! When she's gone," broke
forth the girl, "I'll know what happi-
ness means"
0S0 will
"1t's almost time for me to go down.
isn't it? hope that man won't dis
appoint u.s."
Don't fear about that" sneered
Katherine Hes even more anxious
than we are. Sos Reggie, but don't
envy you telling Tony her mothers
alive"
II think you might do IT," COM
planned Mrs. Curtis with sniff1e. "All
the anxiety and worry of this thing
has fallen on me-"
THAT'S because you're so clever,
my sweet" retorted Katherine, sawas-
ttcaily. "Oh. go on down and don't
act rs if you were afraid of your own
shadow. Say, Rege was drunk as
anything at dinner"
"Disgustingly so." sighed the moth
er as she went out. 81 hope to the
high heavens he'll stra!ghten up some
day."
First Mrs Curtis stole down to the
library. There she found Uriah De-
Won, standing with his hat in his hand
and. as he Saw her. he made a grin.
ming bow.
Il where's Rege?" he asked eagerly.
I upstairs. think" replied Mrs.
Curtis in a low voice. '''IIe's had too
much to drink. Did you bring your
. wife?'
"Yep: she's outside" was the mans
answer. "And the kid? Does she
know Ede's still in the land Of the
iivin'?"
"No. but I'll tell her now" returned
Mrs. Curtis desperately. Here's the
five thousand dollars" She thrust a
roll Of bank notes into his hand. 'lli
send Tony right down." ended the
woman and she went swiftly out.
Uriah glanced about the room in
anticipation. He intended not only
to take Tony with him, but every
thing else Of value he could lay his
hands on. Edith had often described
the vs.luables kept in a wall-safe in
this very room. Mrs. Curtis had no
more than closed the door before re-
volver in hand, he began his search.
An exclamation of delight almost es-
capped his lips when he discovered the
safe-door was unlocked. He grinned
ut the carelessness of the rich as he
flung into the black bag the boxes of
jewelry, completely stripping the safe
Of its contents. He didn't take time
to look over his haul! That would
come later.
All through the day Tonnibel Devon
had told her Joy over and over to her.
self. Now, almost ready to retire, she
was sitting reading the Bible. It
seemed most appropriate that on this
night she should sing with the Poet
the Psalms of Thanksgiving.
A knock at the door caused her to
close the book and put it on the ta-
BILE before she called: "Come in."
At the sight Of Mrs. Curtis she rose
to her feet, startled.
"I've good news for you, child"
choked the woman, and Tony went
forward eagerly.
'What1" she demanded. 'Is Phil
Up"
snow, don't get nervous; my DEAR"
came in .qufvering interruption "But
but you were not correctly inform
Cd about your mother. She's-she's
downstairs" -
A violent emotion overlook the girl.
She knew then she had never really
believed what Uriah told her.
"Bfy mdther!" she breathed, her
sye~s deepening in color. my dear
4 little mother! Oh. let me 60 to her T.
"Sb' In the library. This IL 4