The St. Charles herald., 1922-07-01

talk" into the swollen whisky-soaked
hulk of the man dying now on the
lounge.
For his state that day the man
blamed Benjamin Corvet. Alan, fore
ing himself to touch the swollen face,
shuddered at thought of the truth un-
derlying that accusation. Benjamin
Ccrvet's act-whateyer it might be
that this man knew-undoubtedl had
destroyed not only him who paid the
blackmail but him who received 1t;
the effect of that act was still going
on, destroying, blighting. Its threat OF
shame was not only against Benjamin
Corvet; it 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-
ton Corvet was his father, but now
shame and horror were making him
feel it; 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 If 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 a
doctor under such circumstances was
the right thing to do; but he had
thought Of the doctor also as a wit
ness to anything Luke might say. But
now-did he want a witness? He had
no thought of concealing anything for
his own sake or for his fathers; but
he would, at least, want the chance to
determine the circumstances under
which it was to be made public.
He hurried back to Luke. "What
is It, Luke?' he cried to him. "What
can you tell? Listen! Luke-Luke,
is 1t about the Miwaka-the Miwaka
Lukew
Luke had sunk into 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 Sherrill's
voice came to him: her first words
made It clear that she was at home
and had just come In.
1.-The servants tell me some one was
making q disturbance beside your
house q while ago." she said. land
shouting something about Mr.. Corvet.
Is there something wrong theref Have
you discovered sometldngT
He shook excitedly while. holding
his hand over the transmitter lest
Luke should break out again and she
should hear It, he wondered wha. he
should say to her.
"Please don't ask me Just now, Miss
Sheriff." he managed. "rn tell you
what I 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 1t. He found Luke, when
he went back to him, still In coma
the bloodshot veins stood out against
the CHASTITY grayness Of his face. and
his stertorous breathing sounded
through the rooms.
Constance Sheriff. had come In q
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 a man pounding
upon the door there. but they had moi
taken 1t upon themselves to 60 over
there. She had told the chauffeur te
wait with the motor and had run al
once to the telephone and called Alan;
his attempt to put her of made hei
certain that what had happened was
not finished but was still going on