The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-09-15

u TdtDeT stay mere. pied~c sue
said. without looking up.
who was In the room when the
man was shot?" asked Doctor John.
staring at Mrs. Curtis and her daugb-
ter. n
"Just Tonnibel. as far as can find
out" Sarah answered. Heaven knows
that Kathie and ! don't want to be
mixed up in such thing as this. It's
perfectly disgraceful."
"Then go upstairs" shot back Doc.
tor John.
Loath not to witness the vanquish-
ing of their enemy, the two women
trailed out reluctantly.
In spite of Tony's resistance, Doc
tor Paul placed his arm about her.
Cant you tell your father about 1t,
dear?" he pleaded How did you hap
pen to have the gun in your hands.
and what did he dor
II just shot him." sighed Tony.
DULY. She was too exhausted to say
anything more. What was there to
explain. after all? The only sure way
to save Edith was to insist she, her
self, had fred the shot.
strange. strangling sound came
from Captain MacCauley. Then he
blurted out:
''Tony, darling, please don't sit there
that way. Tell us about 1t. Do. dear.
Oh, don't you know how much we all
love your"
Did she know? All, yes and more!
Her own devotion to him was almost
forcing the truth from between her.
chattering teeth. She glanced at him,
and then. Edith, pale. beseeching and
wan, came between her face and his.
There isn't anything more to tell,
Philip" she choked hopelessly. II sup
pose I'll be arrested. II he dies"
She burst into broken sobs and
crouched lower.
Hes not going to die" Paul told
her softly. 'He only has a slight scalp
wound. So put that worry out of your
head. Tony, don't you love me
any more?"
Love him! The agony in his voice
made her fling her arms around him.
and she clung to him shivering, en-
treating him to forgive her. not to
cease loving her, for she'd die If he
did.
"Child dear" he murmured, run
ming his fingers over her curls, you're
going to steady yourself now and tell
your father just what happened Now,
beginf"
He had not finished when his eyes
caught sight of the safe. He stared
at Its open door, and Doctor Johns
| gaze followed his. Then the latter
strobe across the room. and for long
moment peered into the opening.
"Irs empty! Everything's gone." he
muttered. turning slowly. and Philip
exclaimed:
That's why she shot him, Jack. He
was stealing! Tony darling" and the
speaker went down beside the girl,
''Tony, did you find your father here?"
~ didn't see him take anything,
Philip" she sobbed bitterly. Her eyes
were looking at him, but their express
sion told him they didn't see him at
all. Another problem was tormenting
her. Her misery was being added to
by the minute. So impatient was
Philip to have the matter cleared that
he spoke harshly to her.
"Tony, you know where those Jewels
are" said he. "Tell us instantly |"
Then he calculated: "That man has
them upstairs"
He was out Of the room In a fash,
and an awful silence settled over the
three until he was with them again.
He hasn't got them," he faltered.
Il searched every pocket in his
clothes. But l found this wad of
money. There must be thousands In
itm
He passed the money to Doctor
John.
"It wasn't in the safe" said the lat
ter. thoughtfully, slipping 1t into the
table drawer.
His words struck a new terror to
Tonnibel. Edith had robbed the safe,
then, Edith who never stole unless she
was forced to it. The shudders that
ran over her brought a feeling Of re-
bellion to Paul Pendlehaven. Philip
groaned and began to speak, but the
doctor waved him to silence.
''Tony," he said sternly, there's
something beneath all this, something
you must tell me. Do you know where
the things went that were in the
safe? 2"
To deny II would be the same as tell
ing that third person had been there
To ADMIT 1t would forever place her
beyond the pale of his love. Yet there
was Edith-and Uriah, whom she had
sworn to protect.
"Yes, know" she whispered. "Of
course. l know" she repeated louder.
you'll tell me-" begged Philip,
hoarsely. Great Heavens, child, can't
you see how awful it looks for your"
YES" was all she said, miserably.
Doctor John was wandering aimless-
ly about the room. The mysetry that
had hung over Tony Devon ever since
she had been with them was deeper