Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-10
CHAPTER XTT-COntinued


Di shot a surprised glance at her lover
for a second, and then averted her eyes
from his steadfast gaze.
Don't ask such unkind questions,
Larry" she implored. "Do you think
that l am capable of screening a man
who would rob me while he is a guest
in my mothers house? Do be reason
able"
"Then why didn't you tell me, dear?"
Larry persisted. See what trouble and
loss you would have been spared. Be
sides, what use am II you do not let
me help you when you are in troubleF
Still DI offered no further explana-
ton, and the lawyer was more than ever
convinced that she WAS Withholding
something. That she cared nothing for
MOreIl he was certain but he hated to
think that she would show him the
least consideration. Why had she
ascribed all her anxiety during the eve
ming In Toms absence, instead Of con-
fding the real cause TO him? The moro
Larry thought of 1t the harder the prot
lem seemed TO solve. Another glance at
her made him ashamed Of his doubts.
She looked so pale and unstrung, while
she bravely kept back the tears and com
plants, he decided that whatever she
did was for the best, but he failed to con-
ceal his wounded feelings when he said:
Il won't tease you any more, dear
Some day I may earn your full conf
dence. then you will not withhold 1t. I'm
til then will be content with what you
give me"
Before he had finished speaking Di was
at his side, her arms flung around his
neck.
II told you I'm a perfect little beast"
she said and burst into a violent HOOD
OF tears.
Larry vas so startled by the vehe-
mence OF her grief for a moment he was
silent, holding her closely to him. He
waited until the spasm that seemed to
shake her body and soul and make her
deaf to his entreat!es had abated; then
he said in BUNDLED tones;
Forgive me, dear. l didn't mean 10
make you cry. I'm a brute"
Then he covered her face with kisses
and dried her eyes.
hi stood quite stlll for another minute,
her face buried on his shoulder, then
looking. up In his face she said solemnly ::
Its all my fault My wickedness has
brought about all this trouble. Let me
tell you before Tom arrives how l mis-
judged the poor boy. You will never
love me again, l know. but l would
rather have you hate me for the real
cause than have you think that l have
concealed anything to spare Morell."
She broke down again aud cried bit
terly.
flush. DI," he said firmly. Her sobs
pierced his heart, although he had
vague feeling that the tears would bring
relief. You know that l shall always
love you, whatever you have done; and
I don't believe you are q little beast, at
all. Whatever yon did was right II
Il has not turned out in our favor it is
not your fault"
You will change your opinion" she
said omlnously.
As soon as she was able to control her
voice she explained that a terrible anx-
iety had Areighed upon her heart all the
evening. and for which she now despised
herself
From the moment she had seen Mo-
relVs face at her window she had con-
nected Toms absence from home with
the design upon her treasure. She ad-
mitted that the suspicion was con-
temptible. and didn't attempt to ex-
cuse It, but she reasoned that the boys
attachment to the man had been mex
plicable from the first. She had suf-
fered tortures. believing that the arch
scoundrel had gained an accendency
over the trustTul boy, VINO OTuknaIlly
was slow to make intimate friends.
She feared that he had fallen into the
older mans hands without giving much
thought to the consequence.
Di had also heard from her brother
that several young men had lost a lot
Of money at cards with Moren, WHO 1t
appeared. was an expert player. Her
worst fears. she told Larry, were that
Tom had fallen into the mans power
through Indebtedness.
You asked me why I didn't cry for
the loss Of my jewels. I lad not been
able to cry for them, but l have cried
Outwardly and inwardly ever since
dinner when Tom didn't come home. Is
it any wonder I was ashamed to tell
you my wicked suspicious 2" she pleaded.
Larry assured her that she was in no
way to blame. He said that under the
circumstances any one was liable to
feel the same nervous alarm. Her
feelings toward her brother, he said,
was fear, not suspicion, and she should
not reprOach herself for a very natural
anxiety.
"If you told me your fears I think I
could have given you assurance at once"
Larry said confidently. Tom is the kind
of boy to admire ardently a clever man,
who IS older than himself-there's no
denying the fact that Morer is clever
and can be very agreeable-but woe be-
+Ida this same clever man If I'm tba