The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1921-02-17
my IDOL, would do ANYTHING!
And l can do it safely; I shall
L

tation is too unsullied and too
far above reproach for me even
to be suspected. l will exploit
that letter you so cleverly wrote,
and however they may doubt its
Integrity they can't prove that
Mr.. Trowbridge didr't write it. -
Kane doesn't believe Uncle
Rowly wrote it,
did he say sol"
"Not exactly; but he implied
it. -
Don't you see why, dears
Landon, being guilty himself,
knew the note was forged, and
Of course he knew only you
would do it.
ooh, l never thought of that!
Do you think it helps to prove
Kane guilty9''
"Of course, and SO do you, but
you don't want to admit it. But
you know it, Avice, in your heart
so how can you keep on loving
him 2"
81 don't know how I can"
and Avice looked awed at her
own thoughts. "But never mind
that, now, You have promised
oh, Leslie-do you think it was
that little Fibsy boys getting
that information about the
Scaphinotus and the trap bottle
from Professor Meredith that
made them arrest Kane?"
It helped nightly, Avice.
That boy came to see me, and he
told me of some clues he had
picked up in the woods. But
they sounded pretty rubbishy, 1
thought, and I paid no attention
to them. | did offer, though, to
get him a position, and [ found
one for him with a man I know
in Philadelphia. It's a good place
and he ought to do well there"
Il think you were awfully
good to him, Avice said, with
glowing eyes. II have sort
of liking for the boy, and Uncle
was really fond of him."
q gave him talking to abouA
telling stories. But he didn't
seem much impressed. I fear he
is incorrigible."
Leslie, and Avice looked
him straight in the eyes, "tell
me the truth, yourself! Why did
you do that for Fibsy? You had
some reason Of your own!"
Hoyt started. Why, Avice,
you IRE clairvoyant! Well, since
you ask, \ will tell you. The
boy is clever in detective way.
And he might stumble on some
clue that would-that would
cob, / know! That would i'm
plicate Kane!''
Eyes; and SO you see, dear, it
is better to get him out of the
way before he makes any trouble
for us. =
Were his clues, as he calls
them, Of any Importance"
Probably not; but the boy is
unusually, almost abnormally,
shrewd, and we can't afford to
take chances. | didn't care to
look at his buttons and foot
prints, for | thought it better to
remain in ignorance of their sig
nificance, if they have any
"Oh, Leslie, isn't it awfulf
I never deliberately committed
an act Of deception before
why are you so sure that
Landon is innocent?
Avice's eyes fell. Tim not, F"
she said in low tone. "But I
want him cleared, anyway
II wish you loved me like
that!'
II wish 1 did But I don't and
never shall.
"But I shall have you, darl-
ing, and I'll make you so happy
you can't help loving me. Avice,
my only excuse for taking you
this way is my positive convic-
ton that can make you hap
Ply
"But you haven t freed Kane
yet
aHe isn't indicted yet, dear.
Perhaps he never will be. Not if
| can prevent it. But his free
dom, sooner or later, will mean
our marriage, so [ shall accom-
plish it, somehow. With the boy
ont Of the way, / ought to maE-
age it. But that little chap is Sc
chra,rJ ba mi rrbf nvor COZ