Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1921-04-15
CONTINUED from last week.


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.
"What?" she demanded. rs phil
ip-"
"Now. don't get nervous, MY dear"
came in quivering interruption. but
but you were not correctly inform
ed 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.
my mother y she hreatlled, her
eyes deepening in color My dear
little mother! Oh let he 30 10 her."
"Shes in the library This Is /.
happy day for you, my dear-fol-hll
Of us You'd better dress, hadn't
yOu?"
TOnnibel hadn't even heard the last
words She fled down the stairs and
into the library, painting for breath
Her cup of happiness was full to the
brim, now that Edith4had come back
to her. She halted, closed the door
and ran into the room.
"Edie, mummy dear!" she called
softly, so overcome she could not
raise her voice.
Then Uriah Devon stepped from be-
hind the grate-screen and came to-
ward her.
Daddy" cried the girl, where's
mummy? Where's my mother?"
Uriah dropped the bag and laid the
revolver on 81 chair. He had never
seen such a vision of loneliness. The
masses of dark curls flung over the
flimsy dressing-gOWn, the small, bare
ankles peeping from the soft blue slip
pers sent an unhOly desire for pos
session over him. What fool he had
been to promise her to a fellow like
Reginald Brown
Tony" he faltered hOarsely. 1--we
been a dog to you all these years.
I've come to tell YOU l love you, kid,
moren anybody in all the world"
Tonnibel lodged his outstretched
arms and flames Of anger leapt into
her eyes at his words.
But my mother" she exclaimed,
trying not to cry out.
Never mind her. Tony, never mind
any one" commanded Uriah. '"The
fact is, amt your daddy at all. I'm
not any relation to YOU"
Then he snatched at her and as
she tried to flee from him, caught her
in his arms. One long cry left her
lips and Edith Devon heard it plainly
out there under the rose bush. How
many times she had fled to an appeal
like that from the same lips! In an
other moment she was in the room be-
fore Uriah's red mouth had touched
TOny'S face. The girl saw her and
screamed:
Mummy! Mummy darling! Moth
er dearest! Take me away"
The words were strangled in her
throat, for Devon was forcing her
head backward with his strong fin
gers
Edith's eyes caught sight of the re-
volver where her husband had placed
it. In a twinkling she had it in her
hands. Lifting it, she ran toward the
struggling pair.
Take your hands often Tonnibel,
Urah," she hissed you dirty, lying
dog. You fooled me good. you whelp!
Drop 'er, l say, Uriah Devon"
At the other end of the room a tall
boy arose out of the shadows; Tony's
screams had aroused Reginald Brown.
He stood swaying, rubbing his head,
trying TO. remember where he was.
TIN done with you, Eide" he heard
Devon utter. TIN done with you for
ever. Tonys mine. I've just told 'er
/ wasn't her daddy. I was a fool to
say Reggie Brown could have Ter. He
can't; I'll have er myself"
Put 'er down." gritted Edith I'M
der her breath.
Almost lifeless, Tony was hanging
from Uriah's arm when suddenly
through the room q pistol shot
sounded.
The moment his gun barked, Reg
inald, now sober, saw Uriah Devon
throw up his arms and crumple in
heap on the floor. He saw, too, the
girl stagger forward and sink down
He had committed murder, perhaps,
and, for an awful moment, he imagined
he was going mad A scream rose
to his lips as a pain shot through his
head, but he bit saVagely on his tongue
and held it back. If he was discOv-
cred he would be arrested. and if
Devon died He dared picture the
future no further Shudlcrinr he
skunk back, crOuched at the head Of
the divan and remained absolutely
quiet.
Tony struggled TO her feet stared in
wild amaZement ut her father, then
at her mother who was standing rig
idly speechless, the revolver hanging
from her fingers.
S--~-,-