Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-02-24
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

In another moment the girl had
stripped off her wet clothes, had
blown out the light and was in bed
beside her mother.
When Edith was assured the girl
slept, she crawed ont of the he'd and
lighted the lamp. She tried 10 collect
her thoughts, to lay plan for the fu-
ture for herself and husband. John
PendIehaven had been there. Pendle-
haven. the one man in the world she
dreaded the mention of And Tony
had said he would come back tomor-
rowl
She turned and looked at the sleep
ing face half-hidden in the blankets.
She had stolen this child from her
father, and now she had TO escape the
consequences of her wicked deed. She
had TO 20 away, and that quickly. If
she had dared to face her husbands
wrath, she would have, then and
there, communicated with Paul Pen
dlehaven.
She reached out and touched Tomb
bells face.
"Baby, darlin', wake upj" she said.
81 want to ask you something"
Tony opened her slumber laden eyes
and smiled.
Don't go to sleep again" exclaimed
Mrs. Devon, hoarsely. Tell me this.
DO you honest believe what you said
ohnIIf no hn or.H A hOI1t
It bein' holy"
"Yep," asserted Tony with droop-
ing eyellds.
"You don't want to hurt Uriah and
me, do you, honey?"
The girl shook her head slowly, and
a doubtful shadow settling in her eyes,
seemed to make her wider awake.
81 wouldn't hurt you, darlin'," she
replied at length, but sometimes,
when daddy's beatin' you, feel like
whackin' the life out OF him. Why,
today"
Edith stopped her by tug at her
sleeve.
IF YOU swore by that card you
brought. I mean II you took an oath,
would you keep IT." she asked hoarse-
~.
'You bet would" There was
amazement, surprise and eagerness in
the young voice.
didn't you tell me the Teller said
Jesus was holy bird?"
Tony nodded
Mrs. Devon gripped her fingers
about the girls arm.
'"Mebbe he's in the Dirty Mary here.
only you can't see him, baby dear?"
The womans voice was Slyly toned,
but she shlvered in superstition.
Hes right here" affirmed the girl.
thinking of boys earnest uplIfted
face and vibrant assurances.
'Then say after lie what I'm
thinkin Of" said Edith.
Tony lifted her eyes to her mothers,
but drew back when she discovered
how terrible she looked, white like a
dead person.
81 swear by the Twin Jesus" began
Edith. and then she paused. "Say It."
she Kissed.
81 swear by the livin' Jesus" Tony
repeated fearfully.
IT swear to my mummy never TO
say nOthin' mean against Uriah De.
Won. my daddy" went on Mrs. Devon.
Tony repeated this, too, almost
frightened into fits. She had never
seen her mother look and act SO mys-
teriousIy.
"Now say this keepin' in your mind
you'll be blasted to hell II You break
your word, i won't never tell that my
father beat my poor mummy, or that
he's thief and a liar" A thick
fearless sob burst from the wOman's
lips and brought an ejaculation fUm
the girl.
81 swear to It all, honey mummy"
she cried. "You believe me, Eide,
darlin', don't your
Eyes, believe YOU" replied Edith.
duly. "Crawl into bed, and go to
sleep, baby dear"
Shiveringly Tony Devon got back
under the blanket
Then for more than an hour there
was silence on the canal boat, silence
that was broken only by the night
noises outside.
Then, extremely weak, the woman
prepared herself to go out. II took
her a long time to write a note she
had to leave for Tony. and when tina,
was Hnishea she divided the money