Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-06-23
CHAPTER XVI-continued.

the kid, she could see you alone first.
Just sit here, til I come back. You
don't want to see Pendlehaven, eh?"
Edith shuddered and shrank back.
mo, l don't" she whispered. II
Just want to talk to the baby a min
ute. l want her to forgive me before
we go away. We been cussed mean
to that kid, Uriah."
Devon made a granting assent, left
Edith sitting behind the rose bush
and slipped up the steps of the
house.
A little while before, Reggie Brown,
well filed 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 a 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, "Pll know what happi-
ness means!"
$50 will l." echoed Mrs. Curtis.
ats almost time for me to go down,
isn't it? I hope that man won't dis
appoint u.s."
Don't fear about that" sneered
Katherine. "He's even more anxious
than we are. Sos Reggie, but 1 don't
envy you telling Tony her mothers
alive"
II think you might do It," com
planned Mrs. Curtis with a sniffle. "All
the anxiety and worry of this thing
has fallen on me-"
"That's because you're so clever,
Itically. "Oh. go on down and don't
act as if you were afraid of your own
shadow Say, Rege was drunk as
anything at dinner"
"Disgustingly So" sighed the moth
err as she went out. 81 hope TO the
high heavens he'll straighten 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.
"Where's Rege?" he asked eagerly.
"Upstairs, 1 think" replied Mrs.
Curtis in a low voice. "He'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
livin'?"
mo, 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. "I'li |
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 valuables 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
at 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. 1t
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 1t on the ia
BILE before she called: "Come in"
At the sight of Mrs. Curtis she rose
to her feet, startled.
"Ive good news for you, child"
choked the woman, and Tony went
forward eagerly.
"What?" she demanded. as Phil
Up"
snow. 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 Urlah told her.
my motherl" she breathed, her
eyes deepening In color. 'My dear {
little motherl oh. let me go to herl"
"She's in the library. This IL