The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-31

like Kate to sit down and twiddle
her thumbs every night for four
hours at stretch? Out of an army
of suitors, among whom was Blake,
she chose you.
"And for that honor you neglected
her. Oh, not Intentionally. but, what
was worse, carelessly. She needed
YOU that night. If only you had had
the sense to take her in your arms!
But you let her go away"
Haggerty stepped back little so
his broad shoulders touched the wall.
1t was a great world! Somehow, he
couldn't keep his eyes off the artist.
Reluctantly he turned to watch the
elder brother. Roger slowly tore up
the paper, walked over to the CRATE
and threw the pieces into the flames.
So interested was the detective that
he did not hear the hall door open
and close.
Where is she?" asked Roger, his
voice breaking.
wait a moment. When she asked
you to share the boy so many months
in the year. what did you answer?
That she could have him two months,
provided the divorce court would
grant it, That was pretty low,
: Roger.
Yes yes, l know it. 1 lie to my
self in the morning, but it's a pretty
shabby. threadbare lie when ! go TO
bed. oh, I've wanted her from the
day she left this house. but was
too stubborn a fool to admit it.
Where is she?,
Here. Roger!'
From behind the curtains which
separated the hall from the library
came a beautiful woman with
sleepy little boy in her arms. Against
the dark wine of the curtains her
face shone like moonshine through
mist
Haggerty loved faces. He did not
care whether they were twisted gar
goyles or bland madonnas He studied
them In crowds in street ears. In
trains on ferries, wherever he was,
and at all times, and nothing in his
opinion equaled the play of human
emotions on the face.
In the faces of these three men he
saw and recognized the strongest
emotion in the world. There was no
mystery now. The abject surrender
of the husband, the designations IF
the younger brother. the foolhardv
loyalty of the artist-why, all three
of them loved this woman, as mea
love but once!
He heard the woman speaking
when I learned of Mortimer's dam
ger-he did this all for mel could
not run away. / dared not ask help
of Robert he's so reckless. And 30
I came back. My boy How ] have
hungered for the touch of his handsi
l can't give him up, l just can'tl
He's mine, l am proud woman. and
YOU have hrrt me dreadfully, Roger.
But for the fact that Mortimer was
in danger. should have sailed on the
Crete in the morning."
She set the boy down. but he clung
to her skirts. Haggerty smiled and
nodded his head. Riddles always
cling to their mothers skirts. Fathefs
are but accidents. The smile became
broad grin. for a pleasant idea had
come into his head.
Roger Van Vechten stared at his
wife hungrily He seemed to ignore
the boy
Kate" he cried, clearing his
throat with difficulty, will You for
give poor blind fool? / don't want
Roger IL I can't have you"
Yes, but I can't be left alone SO
tenderly about the little boys neck,
and he looked up and smiled sleepily.
You never shall be-" came Rogers
reply
well. Mr.. Forbes" said Haggertv
soberly. I'm sorry. but you'll have
to come along
Roger" cried the wife. nothing
must happen to Mortimer"
Sorry Mrs. Van Vechten," replied
Eagerly. but he'll have to go with
me. The law, you know. You can
go his bail and settle the thing out
of court. but tonight he's got to go
with me-"
Roger Van vechten hurriedly
opened drawer in the reading table
and took out IA check book. lie wrote
two checks. One he held out 10 the
detective. II said that If the boy was
back here within 10 days I'd give
you $4,000. Here It is"
1T looks like a bribe now, sir
But the detectives heart jumped.
This other check is signed in
blank It VIII be Forbes bail" con-
tinued the elder Van Yechten.
Well In that case"
Bob, you go along with them with
the signed blank. Wen 20 over your
affairs tomorrow. Telephone me as
soon as you can. I can't let Forbes
suffer-"
For several blocks neither Forbes,
Robert nor Haggerty spoke. Finally
the detective opened up. What were
You hiking 10 California for. Mr. Van
Eechten2'
ITO start life all over again." said
the prodigal THE bulk of my inherit
lance Is in the Oriental Shipping COM