The Adair County news., 1921-01-26
"Where's your mother7" came from

Tonnibel didn't answer for min
ute, then she shook her head.
"She hasn't been herei" she swal-
lowed hard and continued Twas
my father, and-and shot him"
Katherine took long breath Of ex-
element.
"Don't you know you'll be arrested,
you wicked girl?" she calculated.
"And executed" interposed Mrs.
Curtis. Katherine, call the police"
As Katherine made for the tele-
phone, motor car driving up to the
house stayed her action. Her hand
dropped from the receiver when Phil
ip MaeCauley came in. For moment
he didn't see Devon. With quick,
flashing glance, he noticed how pallid
and deathlike his Tony was.
"What have you two been saying to
herr" he demanded in deadening
tones. 81 suspected something like
this. and-and got away as soon as l
could. Darling girl, don't look
st me like that"
Mrs. Curtis was fully herself now.
''The wicked girl has shot her own
father" she told Captain MacCauley,
making an effort to keep the salts
faction out of her voice, '"There he
is, dead on the foorl"
Then Philip saw Devon. In horri-
fed amazement and disbelief his gaze
came back to Tonnibel.
Darling" he said, and he went
swiftly to her. 81 don't believe a
word Of 1t. It's all liel"
Tony flung out her hand.
'Don't touch me, please don'tT she
mumbled. 81 told her 1 did 1t, and
II-I-did"
She backed away from the out
stretched arms.
"But you couldn't have" roaned
the boy. "what happened7 Oh, God
Won't someone tell me what hap.
penedT
Mother has told you quite plainly,
Philip" gulped Katherine, noticing
with a thrill that Captain MacCauley
had not covered the few steps Tony
had retreated "She said she killed
her father, and no girl admits such 9
thing as that unless it's true. Heav'
ems, there's Cousin John and"
"Cousin Paul." fell from Mrs. Cur
it's, who looked as if she had turned tc
stone.
Not another word was uttered bI
that silent group of people until after
the two doctors entered the library.
For a moment everything was con
fusion. Doctor John forced Mrs. Cur
tbs into chair when she tried to fins
herself into his arms. With every
one but Tony talking at once, neither
he nor his brother could understand
the meaning of the seemingly dead
man on the floor.
"will you all keep still, all Of your
shouted Doctor John, in his bombasti'
voice. First, Paul, let's see abou
this fellow here"
"Tony shot him, II you want t,
know" Mrs. Curtis dared to fling out
Doctor Paul gave her such an awfu
look that she quailed beneath It.
Hes not Dead" he said after
hasty examination of Uriah. and on,
! dry, fearless sob burst from Tony De
Won.
"You might as we'll own up tn
whole thing now, MISS" cried Mrs
Curtis, after the wounded man ha,
been carried out by the doctors an,
Philip. it'll be better for you In tn
end"
Tony didn't reply, nor did she Loo
at the speaker. Her mind was follow
ing her mother along. the boulevard
yes. even down the lonely forest pat
to the Dirty Mary. Through her tar
gled thoughts went the question, 1
Uriah wasn't her father, who was
How she dreaded to face Doctor Pau
with his infinite kindness, and the az
peal she knew he would make Neve
before had he seemed so dear; neve
had Philip MacCauley been so ia
away as at this minute
At length she lifted her head an
rested her troubled eyes on Mrs. Cui
tbs.
please don't tell my father mea
Doctor Paul, about your saying m
, mother was here" she moaned.
Mrs. Curtis considered the reques
quickly.
Perhaps that would be BEST" sh'
answered. 81 really thought she was
or / wouldn't have told you so. l
might bring trouble to her, and tina
would be dreadful for an innocent per
son."
Doctor Paul went directly to Tony
when, followed by his brother AM
Philip, he came back into the room
He tried to draw her to her feet.
'Td rather stay here, please" sh
said, without looking up.
"Who was in the room when tn
man was shot?" asked Doctor Johr
staring at Mrs. Curtis and her daugf
ter.
"Just Fonnibel, as far as | can I'm
out" Sarah answered. Heaven know
that Kathie and ! don't want to o
mixed up in such thing as this. 1t
perfectly disgraceful:"
"Then go upstairs" shot back DO