The Holly chieftain., 1922-06-29

talk" INTO the swollen wnis sky-soaked
hulk of the man dying now on the
lounge.
For his state that day the man
ing himself to touch the swollen face,
shuddered at thought Of the truth un-
derlying that accusation. Benjamin
C0rvet's act--whatever 1t might be
that this man knew-undoubtedly had
destroyed not onlyshim who paid the
blackmail but him who received 1t:
the effect OF that act was still going
on. destroying. hlighting. Its threat of
shame was not only against Benjamin
COrvet; 1t threatened also all whose
names must be connected with Cor
vets. This shame threatened Alan;
1t threatened also the Sherrills. What
Sheriff. had told Alan and even Cor
vets gifts to him had not been able
to make Alan feel tnat without ques-
tion Corvet was his father, but now
shame and horror were making him
feel 1t; in horror at Corvet's act
whatever 1t might be-and In shame
at Covert's cowardice, Alan was think
Ing of Benjamin Corvet as his father.
This shame, this horror were his in
heritance.
He left Luke and went to- the win
dow to see II the doctor was coming.
He had called the doctor because in his
first sight Of Luke he had not recog-
nized that Luke was beyond the aid
Of doctors and because to summon
doctor under such circumstances was
the right thing to do; but he had
thought Of the doctor also as wit
ness to anything Luke might say. But
nOw-did he want witness? He had
no thought of conceallng anything for
his own sake or for his fathers; but
he would, at least, want the chance to
determine the circumstances under
which 1t was to be made public.
He hurried back to Luke. What
is 1t, Luke?" he cried to him. "What
can you tell7 Listen! Luke-Luke,
is 1t about the AIiwaka-the Miwaka? :?
Luke!"
Luke had sunk into a stupor; Alan
shook him and shouted In his ear
without awakening response. AS Alan
Strengthened and stood hopelessly look
ing down at him. the telephone bell
rang sharply. Constance SherrilI's
voice came to him; her first words
made 1t clear that she was at home
and had just come In.
"The servants tell me some one was
making a disturbance beside your
house while ago" she said, ''and
shouting something about Mr.. Corvet.
Is there something wrong there? Have
you discovered something's
He shook excltedly while. holding
his hand over the transmitter lest
Luke should break out again and she
should hear 1t, he wondered what he
should say to her.
please don't ask me just now. Miss
Sheriff." he managed. 'I'u tell you
what can-later"
His reply, he recognized, only made
her more certain that there was some-
thing the matter but he could not add
anything to It.. He found Luke. when
he went back to him, still In coma
the bloodshot veins stood out against
the ghastly grayness of his face, and
his stertorous breathing sounded
through the rooms.
Constance Sheriff. had come in
few moments before from an after
noon reception; the servants told her
at once that something was happening
at Mr.. Corvet's. They had heard
shouts and had seen man pounding
upon the door there. but they had not
taken 1t upon themselves to go over
there. She had told the chauffeur to
walt with the motor and had run at
once to the telephone and called Alan:
his attempt to put her Off made her
certain that what had happened was
not finished but was stu going on.