The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-01-06
THE MARK OF CAIN
Copyright. 1911. by ). B. 1pplncott c..

| you aref What's it all aboutf
Oh, 1 beg your pardon. I'm in.
excusably butting in! Forgive
| me, do. Yes, Kane Landon had
| these rooms to himself for night
or two while was away. | be-
| ieve he's at relative s on Fifth
Avenue now. Want to see him9"
"No-thank you. Good-by."
Avice hung up the receiver,
| her brain in a whirl. Had
Eleanor, then, been telephoning
to Kane the very night of the
murder2 What had she said?
For him not to try to see her that
night For him to meet her next
day at the same time and place!
Oh, they were old friends, then.
More, they were keeping that
fact quiet, and pretending to
meet as strangers! Was there,
] could there be any connection be-
tween all this and the murder
Scarce knowing what she was
doing, Avice left the booth and
went for a long walk. But she
! could get no meaning or explain
alton of the facts she had
learned. The more she mulled
them over the more confused she
became as to their import. Her
mind turned to Hoyt. After all,
Leslie was the one to bank on.
He would help her and advise
her as he had always done. But,
that will She could ask no IA
vors or advice of Judge Hoyt
now, unless she acknowledged
herself his betrothed. And was
she prepared to do that? Well,
one thing certain, if Kane was
all mixed up with Eleanor Black,
she surely wanted no more to do
with him! And he had told her
he loved her Perhaps because
he thought she was her uncle's
heiress Of course, he did not
know then Of the clause about
her marrying the judge. Prob
ably now, Kane would have no
further interest in her. Well, he
could marry Eleanor, for all she
cared!
She went home, and paused
first for a few moments in
small reception room, to calm her
demeanor a little. But, on the
contrary, the sight of the famil-
lar walls and the realization that
she was to leave them, struck
sudden sadness to her already
surcharged heart, and she gave
way to silent weeping.
And here Hoyt, looking for
her, found her.
"What is it, dearest?" he said,
sitting beside her. II have now
| right to comfort you
"Why?" said Avice, throwing
back her head and meeting his
eyes.
Hoyt smiled tenderly at her.
because cur betrothal, long
ttacittiy agreed upon, is now rati-
fled by your uncle's wish and
decree
"Not at all. Because my uncle
wished me to marry you, is 10
reason that [ am obliged to do
So"
"Not obliged, my darling.
That is a harsh word. But you
want to, don't you, my AviceY
My beautiful grip
II don't know whether I do
or not. But I'm sure Of one
thing, | won't marry YOU simply
because Uncle Rowly wanted it!
| Much as I loved him, and much
as | revere his memory, I shall
not marry d man [ don't love
for his sake''
tBut you do love me, little
| Avice. You are so worried and
perturbed now, you can't think
| clearly. But you will find your
self soon, and realize that you
love me as I love you
Hoyt spoke very tenderly and
the girls quivering nerves were
soothed by his strong, gentle
voice, and his restrained man
ner. He didn't offer endear-
ments which she might resent.
He knew enough to bide his
time, confident that she would
burn to him of her own accord
when ready.
II don't want to think about
marrying now,' she said, weari-
~; II have SO much to think
about. /"
StNJn dnor Ion u 4b;,,l, -