Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-06-09

AZ ~ 70 VI IN go N&AN 9CNA~N
weapons. They glittered like unscab-
barded steel. In them was a on
tanned fire that awed him.
He threw out his hand in a weak,
impotent gesture of despair. my
Cd, how did 1 ever come to get into
such a mix-up? 1t will ruin me-"
How did you come to go?' she
asked.
He wanted to see New York. 1
suppose 1 had some notion Of taking
him Summing"
Beatrice went up to him and looked
straight into his eyes. "Then testify
to that in court. 1t won't hurt you
any. Go down to the police and say
you have read in the paper that they
want you. Tell the whole truth. And
Clary-don't weaken. Stick to your
story about the shots" Her voice
shook a little. "Clay's life is at
stake. Remember that"
'Do you think it would be safe to
go to the police?" he asked doubtfully.
Whitford spoke up. That's the
only square and safe thing to do,
Bromfield. They'll find out who you
are, of course. If you go straight to
them you draw the sting from their
charge that you were an accomplice
of Clay. Don't lose your nerve You'll
go through with flying colors. When a
man has done nothing wrong he
needn't be afraid"
81 dare say you're right" agreed
Bromfield m~iserably.
The trouble was that Whitford was
arguing from false premises. He was
assuming that Clarendon was an limo
cent man, whereas the clubman knew
Just how guilty he was. Back of the
killing lay a conspiracy which might
come to light during the investigation.
He dared not face the police. His con-
science was not clean enough.
"Of course Dads right. It's the only
way to save your reputation" Bea-
trice cried. I'm o going to leave
you till you promise to go straight
down there tt headquarters. If you
don't you'll be smirehed for life-and
you'd be doing something absolutely
dishonorable."
He came to time with a heart Of
heavy dread. "All right, Bee, I'll CO."
he promised. Its an awful mess, but
I've got to go through with it, l sup
pose"
"Of course you have" she said with
complete conviction. you're not a
gutter, and you can't hide here like a
criminal"
"WeIl have to be moving, Bee"
her father reminded her. you know
we have an appointment to meet the
district attorney"
Beatrice nodded. With q queer feel
ing of repulsion she patted her fiance's
cheek with her soft hand and whis-
pered a word of comfort to him.
Buck up, old boy. 1t won't be half
as bad as you think. Nobody is going
to blame you"
They were shown out by the valet.
you don't want to be hard on Brom-
field, honey" Whitford told his daugh-
ter after they had re-entered their car.
He's a parlor man. That's the way
he's been brought up. Never did a
hard days work in his life. Everything
made easy for him If he'd ever rid
den out a blizzard like Clay or stuck
it out in a mine for a weeS without
food after a cave-in, he wouldn't balk
on the job before him. But he's soft.
And he's afraid OF his reputation.
That's natural. l suppose"
Beatrice knew he was talking to save
hnr foo1innc fsNnr don't nAn1 tn p1oL-Q
excuses for him, Dad" she answered
gently, with a wry smile. i've got to
give up. l don't think 1 can go shrough
with It,"
you mean-marry him?"
Eyes" She added, with a flare Of
passionate scorn of herself: II de-
serve what I've got. 1 knew all the
time 1 didn't love him. 1t was sheer
s%elfishness in me to accept him. 1
wanted what he had to give me-"
Her father drew a deep breath of re-
lief. I'm glad you see that, Bee. l
don't think he's good enough for you.
But 1 don't know anybody that is, come
to that"
That's just your partially. I'm a
mean little bounder or I never should
have led him on" the girl answered in
frank disgust.
Both of them felt smirched. The be-
havior of Bromield had been a reflec-
ton on them. They had picked him
for a thoroughbred, and he had failed
them at the first test.
"Well 1 haven't been proud of you
in that affair" conceded Colin. ut
didn't seem like my girl to" He
broke off in characteristic fashion to
berate her environment. Its this
crazy town. The spirit of 1t gets into
a person and he accepts its standards.
Let's get away from here for a while,
sweetheart"
after Clay is out of trouble, Dad,
I'll go with you back to Denver or to
Europe or anywhere you say"
That's a DEAL" he told her prompt
ly. "Wen stay till after the annual