Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-05-11
CHAPTER xvI-cOntinued.

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 APP
peal she knew he would make. Never
before had he seemed SO dear; never
had Philip MacCauley been so far
away as at this minutel
AT length she lifted her head and
rested her troubled eyes on Mrs. Cur
It's.
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. Il 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
4 hiAtHs bG Ddth lllO AAAV
He tried to draw her to her feet.
I'D rather stay here, please" she
said, without looking up.
who was in the room when the
man was shot?" asked Doctor John,
staring at Mrs. Curtis and her daugh-
ter.
"Just Tonnibel, as far as can find
out" Sarah answered. Heaven knows
that Kathie and / 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.
Cant you tell your father about it,
dear?" he pleaded GLOW did you hap
pen to have the gun in your hands
and what did he do?"
81 just shot him." sighed Tony
DULY. She was too exhausted 10 say
anything more. What was there to
explain, after all? The only sure way
TO save Edith was to insist she, her
self, had fred 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 ii. Do, dear
Oh, don't you know how much we ali
love your"
Did she know? All, yes and more
Her avn 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. Il 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 slight scalp
wound. So put that worry out of your
head. Tony, don't you love me
eny more?"
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 curls, 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.
ITS emptyl 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,
stony, did yOu find your father hsre?''
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 1t
all. Another problem was tormentlng
her. Her misery was being added to
by the minute, So impatient as
Philip TO have the matter cleared that
he spoke harshly to her.
TONY, you know where those Jewels
are" said he. "Tell us instantly p
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.
81 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
tab drawer.
H words struck a new terror to
ICi-...oel. Edith had robbed the safe
then. Edith who never stole unless she
was forced TO it. The shudders that
ran over her brought a feeling of re-
belliOn to Paul Pendlehaven. Philip
groaned and began to speak, but the
coctor waved him to silence.
Tony" he said sternly, "there's
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