Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-18
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room. Did / not say / did not believe
you ]" A..
Her lips were still quivering, but the
smile was gone. ,,,
"No. / did not know them" she said.
"But his shame is my shame, nothing
can alter that am his daughter'
did not know 1t until after you haa
gone--and then-my father mad a-a
sudden attack-and that night ne aieo
There was only. one thing tnat )
could do. had no way OF warning
you 10 except to try to get here before
you did, or NJ least to get here before
Dago George had gone too far. There
there were things ] had to do in san
Frnncisco--and then I came as quickly
MS I could. got here tonight. found
that you were already here--just n ht-
tie ahead Of me, and that you had given
Dago George the letter. had only one
chance then---to make Dago George be-
licve that had come, since my father
was dead. TO carry on the plot against
you where my father had left OF. Dago
George had no suspicious. He knew
imc.' Her voice held a sudden merci-
less note. ~ was Capriano. He
told me that you we're upstairs here,
drugged, and he gave me the room next
to yours" -
"Drugged !" Dave Henderson passed
his hand across his eyes. That nc
counted for great deal He remem-
bered the slight headache with which
he had awakened; he was suddenly
conscious of It now. "Drugged ~ he
repeated.
"In n way." she said. ~ was too
late. But Dago George. Of course, did
not know any details. and he had not
gone any further than, that. He had
Just left you in your room when j came.
He had not, Of course, heard from my
father, since my father was dead, and
he druggcd you so that, during the
night, he could have free access to your
room and your belongings and find out
what he could about you. II thought
to turn him from that purpose by tell
ing him enough Of the truth to make
him content to wait patiently and watch
your movements until you had the
money In your possession. Do-do you
understand? He said the effects Of the
drug would wear off in few hours,
and I meant to warn you then; and
and we would both make our escape
from here. that is why l told you
there was danger. Dago George would
stop at nothing. He has band of men
here in New York that / know are as
unscrupulous as he Is; and this place
here. I am only too sure. has been the
trap for more than one of his victims. :"
sSne paused. Her voice. though
guarded. had grown excited, and a lit
tie breathless.
1t was a moment before Dave Hen.
derSon spoke.
"And you?" His voice was hoarsc.
'1f Dago George had found you out
you wouldn't have had chance for
your life And you knew that?'
Yes she said quietly. "I know
That. But that has no, place here.
! There was no other way"
And you did this for me:" His
hands reached out. and fell upan the
girls slight shoulders. and frightened
there. You did this for me-Tcrcsa ?"
81 did it because there was no other
thing to do. becausc-bccnusc'-
voice lost its steadincss-"it was nv
fathers guilt"
lie drew her closer, with strange.
gentle. remorseless strength.
And for no other reason-Tcresa? ?"
he whispered. "For only that? II II
had not been your father? If he had
lad nothing TO do with it? If it had
been only me?''
Her face was very close to his now.
80, close that the quick. sudden pant
'ng or her breath was upon his cheek.
so close that'her lips were almost warm
I upon his own.
=, She put out her hands. and pressed
them with curious gcntlcness AGAINST
ms face to ward him off.
| Dont.' Her voice was very low
Haye you forgotten that am tho
dauGhter or the man who meant-who
| meant perhaps to take your life: tLat
l am the daughter Of a criminal?''
And The had her wrists now.
ana was holding the soft. trembling
hands against his cheeksA"I am n
"Oh, don't" She was almost CRYING
now '1ou-you don't understand
ihere is more. / meant, if l could, to
take that money from you myself
IN sheer astOnishment he let her 90,
ana drew back a step. She seemed to
| WaVer unSteadily on hor feet there in
| tho darkness for an instant. and hcr
hand CROPPED out TO the platform rniIing
tor support; and then suddenly she
stood erect. her face full toward him
nor head thrown back little ON her
shoulders.
meant 70 got it, il could
! give it back to those 10 whom il no.
longs. And ] still mean to-" Her
voice was quiet now. Uuivcring little.
put bravely under control. "All nv
ire has been lie. lived lie the
hlght let you go away without q
word of protest about what Won wcro
going to do. do not mean TO throw
the blame upon my father, but with his
death all those old ties were broken,
VIII you try to understand me? l must
either now 20 on in the old way, or 20
straight with my conscience and with
God. L could not bargain with God or
my conscience. 1t was all or nothing,
l had share in enabling you to hood.
wink the pol ice. Therefore if you came
into possess ion of that money again. |
was as much thief as you we're, and
as guilty. But l owed it to you, above
! Nll other things. to Mnrn You Of ynnr