Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-10-07
Walter jones' Story

For a few moments Sheila was
silent. The letter seemed to bring
many painful memories. When she
continued her voice was vibrant
with humiliation and heartaehe.
"Of course" the letter continued,
'I Immediately tried to see my
stepmother and my sister, but they
would have nothing to do with me.
I was denied my fathers house,
the house which now should have
been mine. l was told by a most
supercilious butler-the one that |
had known all my life had evident
ly been dismissed-that if | had
ANYTHING to say to Madame or Miss
Jones I should go to their attorneys
81 went. Only to learn that both
my stepmother or my sister insisted
that | had disgraced them by COM
ing back; that they wanted moth
ing more to do with me. was ac-
cused of being a dope fiend, and it
was delicately suggested by the
lawyer that unless l took a check
for $4,000 and departed abroad he
would have a guardian appointed
and send me to psychopathic hos
pital.
"I tore the check in two, told
him to return it to my stepmother,
by whom it was signed, and then
| sank lower and lower.
"On night when l was skulking
about the docks I saw my sister get
into a launch with a well dressed
man. l hurried forward, trying to
get to her. There was murder in
my heart, Sheila. She was happy. l
heard her laugh tinkhng on the
cool air and was shivering while
she was wrapped in sables.
Fortunately did not get to her
until she had stepped into the
launch, but the light was full on
our faces, and 1 knew she recognized
me, for she started up in such a
way that she almost fell into the
arms of the man beside her.
81 skunk away, and in doing so l
ran into dear old Tony Soper. 1 have
never been able to make out why
he was meandering around in that
place.
He called me by name, but l
was ashamed, and did not answer
him, and as he walked on I heard
a soft thud and, looking down, I
found roll of bills.
Turning, 1 called, is this money
yoursF and l held it up.
"He answered, No
IT knew he was lying, and
thanked God in my heart for the
decency and loyalty of good old
Tony.
when l went back to my squalid
room l sat down to think. | made
up my mind that I would see Su-
same. She would have to see me.
| was going up to the house the
other evening and as l passed the
theatre l saw her going
in. l followed,
Fortunately in summer time it is
not necessary for man to be in
evening clothes to gain admittance
to the roof garden, and with one
of the bills l had left from Tony
Sopers roll bought a ticket.
"As stood beside the wall man
beside me entered into conversation
with me and pointed out Susanne
and a man whom he called Philip
Spencer, and whom 1 recognized as
the man who had been with her
that night at the dock.
Strange said my gossipy
friend, how these high rollers man !
age things. There's Miss Jones sit
ing with a man who is the hus-
band of that pretty girl over at
he other table with three other
'eople. The woman is Speneer's sis
.er and no one at that table seems
20 be on speaking terms with either
spencer or Susanne Jones
4 looked across and there YOU
we're, Sbeila, with good old Tony |
'oper, What does it all mean.
'lm all mixed up. Why YOU are
married and why I should find NV |
ister with your husband is some !
hing ] cannot comprehend.
"SheiR, If I should find that
susanna Jones is again trying to
make you unhappy in serving her
.wn ends, I viii put her out OF the
way, even if she be my own sister.
that's terrible thought. Sbeila
M it is justified.
Il thought you looked unhappy.
ear. Has Fate been PLAYING ms
mother trieki I do not know. / do
ot know Whist it is all about but
do know that l am going to make
my work to oct ont of that a..