The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-09-15


downstairs"
A violent emotion overlook the girl.
She knew then she had never really
believed what Uriah told her.
my motherl'' she breathed. her
eyes deepening in color. MY denr
little mother! Oh, let me go 10 her |"
"She's in the library. This is d
happy day for you, my dear-for-all
Of us. You'd better dress, hadn't
your
Tonnibel hadn't even heard the last
words. She fed down the stairs and
into the library, painting for breath.
Her cup Of happiness was full to the
brim, now that Edith had come back
to her. She halted, closed the door
and ran into the room.
"Edie, mummy dearw she called
softly. SO overcome she could not
raise her voice.
IT 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 chair. He had never
seen such q vision Of loveliness. The
masses Of dark curls flung over the
nimsy dressing-gown, the small, bare
ankles peeping from the soft blue Slip
pers sent an unholy desire for pos
session over him. What a fool he had
been to promise her to a fellow like
Reginald Browni
s"TOnv - ho foItaro1 bnorva1v
been dog to you all these years.
I've come to tell you 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. 1.-The
fact is I 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 llpsl 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 darlIngl 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
1t. In a twinkling she had 1t in her
hands. Lifting 1t, she ran toward the
struggling pair.
''Take your hands often Tonnibel,
Uriah." she hissed. You dirty, lying
dog. You fooled me good, you whelp
Drop 'er, I say. Uriah Devon"
At the other end of the room a tall
boy arose out of the shadows: Tonys
screams had aroused Reginald Brown
He stood swaying, rubbing his head
trying to remember where he was.
"Tm done with you. Ede." he heard
Devon utter. "Tm done with you for
S'SAs Aohs We just tOlu
/ wasn't. her daddy. 1 was a fool to
say Reggie Brown could have 'er. He
can't; I'll have 'er myself"
Put 'er down." gritted Edith un-
der her breath.
Almost lifeless. Tony was hanging
from Urlah's arm when suddenly
through the room pistol shot
sounded
The moment his gun barked, Reg
inald. now sober, saw Uriah Devon
throw up his arms and crumple In a
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 pain shot through his
head. but he bit savagely on his tongue
and held 1t back. II he was discov-
cred he would be arrested. and II
HEi RUnt