The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-03-02

shoulder and sardonic curl came
to his lip.
'Who did 1t, them"
"If you will come to the house OF
the general commanding you will see"
The governor was in great guam.
dairy. He gasped. THE general com.
manding-did he kill Erris Boync
them"
Not he, yet the person that did II
is in his house. Listen. your honor.
| have borne the name of killing Erris
Boyne, and / ought 10 have killed him
for he was q traitor. had proofs OF
ii; but | did not kill him and did
not betray him, for he had alive n
wife and daughter, and something was
due to them. He was traitor and
was In league with the French II
does not matter that | tell you now
for his daughter knows the truth. !
ought to have told it long ago, and II
had should not have been i'm
prisoned."
You were brave man. biit foo
always fool" said The governu,
sharply.
"Not so great fool that can't re-
cover from it," was the calm reply
Perhaps 1t was the best thing that
ever happened to me, for now can
look the world In the face. It's made
n man of me. 1t was a woman killcil
him." was Calhoun's added comment
"Wll your honor come with me and
see herr"
The governor was thunderstruck
"Where is she?"
"As | have told youth the house
OF the general commanding"
The governor rose abashed. .Well.
can go there now. Come"
Perhaps you, would prefer ] should
not 60 with you In the street. Tile
world knows me as a ,n,utineer, thinks
Of me MS murderer Is II fair te
your honor?"
Something In Calh0un's voice reused
the rage OF Lord Mallow, but he con-
troled it. and said calmly: Don't
talk nonsense, sir; we shall walk to-
Setner,' II you VIII.
At the entrance to the house of the
general commanding, the man 10 whom
this visit meant so much stopped and
took piece of paper from his pocket.
"Your honor. here is the name OF the
slayer of Erris Boyne. give 1t TO
you now to see, so you may not be
astonlshed when you see her"
The governor stared at the paper.
"Boynes wife. eh?" he said In a
strange mood. "Boynes wife-what
is she doing here?'
Calhoun told him briefly as he took
the paper back, and added: ut was
accident that brought us all together
here, your honor, but the hand of God
is in It,"
as she very ill?"
"She will not live, | think"
"To whom did she tell her storyT'
"ro Miss Sheila Ilyn."
The governor was nettled. "Oh, to-
Miss Llyn! When did you see herr"
Just before | came to you"
"What did the woman look like
this Noreen Boyne?"
81 do not know; have not seen
her"
Then how came you by the paper
with her signature"
Miss Llyn gave 1t TO me-"
Anger filled Lord MallOw's mind.
Shcila-why now the way would be
open to Calhoun TO win-to marry her
1t angered him but he held himself
steadily.
where Is Miss Llyn?"
"She Is here think. She came
back when she left me at your door.
"Oh. she left you at my door did
she? But let me see the wom-
an that's come so far TO put the world
right"
A few moments later they stood in
the bedroom of Noreeh Boyne, they
two and Sheila Llyn, the nurse hav-
ing been sent out.
Lord Mallow looked down on the
haggard, dying woman with no emo
ton. Only sense of duty moved
him.
"NNhat is 1t you wished to say to
me?" he asked the patient.
"Who are you?" came the response
In a frayed tone.
~ am the governor of the island
Lord hIallow."
"Thcn | want to tell you that l,
killed Errls Boyne-with this hand !
killed him." She raised her skinny
hand up, and her eyes became glazed.
"He had used me vilely and struck
him down. He was bad man."
"You let an innocent man bear pun
lshmcnt. you struck at one who did
YOU no harm. and you spoiled his life
for him. You can see that, can't
your
The w0man's eyes sought the face
of Dyck Calhoun, and cs&houn said
NO, you did not spoil my life. NoreeD
BOVINE. You have made il. Not that
| should have chosen the way of max
ing it, but there 1t Is. As Gods In
heaven | forgive you.'
Noreen's face lost some of its gloom.
THAT makes 1t easier" she said brok-
emily. IT can't atone by any word or