Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-12-19
CHAPTER xyI-Continued

don't gor she stammered. She
half-dragged, half-led them into the
little parlor. "All stay" she said in
dry whisper. Joe had run for glass
of water, and now beside the chair
into which George had put her, and
held 1t to her lips. Thanks, dear"
she whispered. Her eyes moved about
from face to face, and her lips moved
drily. Then suddenly she made
great struggle, as if for air.
my God, she's dying!" Mrs. Bald
win exclaimed But Ellen herself an
swered her:
mo, auntie-no, Pm all right"
And tightening one hand on Joes, and
with the other clinging to George, she
said at last: "I've found out who did
it, Georgel l know who fred that
shot !"
A silence spread like fog over
the little sitting-room They all
looked at her without speaking
"Tll tell you about it" Ellen said,
after another drink of water. ut
happened mean my learning about
it-half an hour ago But I didn't
dare do anything until George got
here" She had so far recovered her
composure that she could rise now,
and she spoke in an almost nrrmal
tone. George" she said, II want you
to sit here, and Joe and auntie. will
you go back into the back room: just
behind the curtains, so that you can
hear everything?" And, as they be-
wilderedly but eagerly obeyed her in
structions, she stepped to the hall
door, and called "Lizziei"
Immediately Lizzie came down
stairs, as white as Ellen was, with
Tommy clinging to her hand. The
little boy came running in to his
mother, and Ellen caught him in her
arms.
Here's Uncle George, deari" she
said Tommy indifferently felt him
self drawn between the mans knees.
George looked dazed at Ellen. Now,
Tom" his mother said casually, II
want you to do something for me.
And If you do 1t nicely, I'm going to
read to you for-one-w hole--hour-
tonight y
"Wil you really. moth?" Tommy
asked, his eyes dancing.
Eyes, truly WILL Tommy, want
you to tell Uncle George about that
night at Wheatley Hills, when you
came down-you know-tell him all
about itH'
Tommy was looking at her with a
guilty child's doubt of his reception.
"Grandpa told me tor he asserted,
in self-defense. II was a captain. and
he told me tor
George glanced at Ellen: they ex-
changed one look.
81 was telling Tommy a little about
the reason why we left Wheatley
Hills" Ellen explained. "And he told
me why he liked Wheatley Hills Go
on, dear"
Tommy, encircled by Georges arm
had his mouth close to the mans
ear. He spoke in half-proud, half
shamed voice.
81 said was sorry about grandpa,
because liked to play in his study !
And l said he let me fire his pistol"
And the man and woman ex-
changed look of CONSERVATION.
"Come A kid like you couldn't
fire real pistol" George said scott
ingly.
"Well, did fire ity' Tommy burst
out boastfuliy. with two fingers on
the triggerl said was a captain
and he said l oughtenter be afraid
of my gun. l fred it two times. He
told me or Tommy illustrated with
a dramatic gesture.
Ellen saw George swallow, with
dry throat She heard him whisper
my God!"
"But, Tom-how's that? You mean
to tell me you fired the revolver like
that about the room?" he asked the
child.
"Well-a," Tommy stammered, at
never went off those first two times;
1t didn't make any noise. And he
said Good boy. old TOMMY"
Ellen caught quick breath. She
had heard him call the child that a
hundred times.
"He said Good boyl'" George re-
peated, "and then you pointed at him?'
mo, then he told me about spies.
He told me all about them. And then
! said, If you were spy, grandpa.
I'd fix your And he said, AN right.
I'm spy. I surrender And he said
TO me | must say, Have yon anything
to say for-that-," Tommy stumbled.
"Why he shouldn't be shot, you know"
he explained.
Il see" George said, glancing at
Ellen.
$50 I said that. and he said no, he
didn't have, and took the pistol
again and shot at him. But that
time" Tommy went ON serenely. 1T
did go off l thought 1t had burst
And some smoke came out. And
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