The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-07-17

haven't you seen the Ell Rio enough
10 last you for whilew
bess hesitated. 'I want tn see II
captain Bunker can tell us ANYTHING
ABOUT father" she said, uncertainty.
Welf'-Mrs. Archman considered
well go as soon as all this excitement
is over"
Harry Archman, like his mother md
sister, was uneasy and apparently be
wlldered. Whether this was because
ne had taken his fathers warning to
heart or because of some other cause
did not appear.
Certainly all three were gloomy
enough-so gloomy that Bess was
moved to protest. "Gracious!" she
cried. Cheer up. The worst Is vet
TO come! We aren't all dead yet.
Cheer up, or I'll begin to cry, too
Cheer up!" She looked at her mother.
Mrs. Archman dabbed at her eyes.
II ca-can't!" she burst out. and
rushed from the room.
Bess looked after her with sigh.
Then she looked at Harry. Poor num-
sy!' she murmured. ats tough. She
can't get into society. Lord George
won't visit us now Dad and Nellie
have gone away, nobody knows where.
And you-say, young man, you'd bet
ter own up. l know you've done some
thing awful. Mother said SSH when
l asked her what it is. What is it?
'Fess up"
Harry glared at her. Don't be rot
ten, Bessr' he begged. I'm in a hole. +"
Bess softened instantly. She was
very fond of Harry. "What's the mat
ter, old boy?" she asked. whats
wrong? Tell Little Sunshine"
"Everything's wrong-awfully wrong.
And the worst of it is l don't know
just what is wrong. l know some of
it, of course, but"
"Well?"
you know Edith Grant?"
Edith Grant! OF course 1 know
her. I've not been deprived of my ears
during the last few days, have L? OF
course I know her. But don't
KNOW her"
well, / dol I've known her six
months. And I'm going to marry her."
Bess' eyes widened. But Harry"
she began.
"Yes; 1 know" the boy broke in.
"For goodness sake, don't start to
preaching. I've heard all the preach
ing 1 can stand, from father and from
mother. Edith is just as good as gold,
and I am going to marry her, don't
care what anybody says"
"Good gracious! First Nellie, and
now you"
Harry did not notice the reference
to his sister. Eyes, I'm going to marry
her." he reiterated. 'Tve been en-
gagged to her for a month. I've been
trying to break the news to father
and mother, but I haven't dared. and
that sneak Akin has been spying and
telling tales, and, oh, it's rotten!"
'But, Harry! You must tell mother
at once"
"How the dickens can II" demanded
the boy. 81 might have told father
when he brought up the subject the
other night, but he wouldn't listen,
and then that man Morbach had to get
murdered and to die at Edith's house,
and father lit out and-ohl It's the
devil and all !"
Bess nodded. at sure is,' she
agreed.
at was mere chance that Morbach
was taken to Edith's house. You
know that. He had been shot long
before and the accident with the ma
chine took place just in front of her
door. and of course she had them
bring him in. And when dad found
out that she was the girl he had Just
been reading the riot act to me about,
he made up his mind that she was
part of the conspiracy to steal the pa
ners. And l can't get him now to try
to set things right"
But why don't you tell motherF
The boy groaned. II don't dare.
Mother is good, but she's crazy about
getting into society and she wants me
To marry into it, and now Akin mas
pOiSOned her nina, loo' anu anu
oh 1T wouldn't be any use. or
course, 1 want Edith to marry me
right away, but father threatens to
take my job away If 1 do and II ne
does that we wouldn't have anything
to live on. If father and mother could
meet Edith, they'd like her ana every
thing would be all right"
Bess nodded. Maybe 1t would
che acceded. Something's got to be
done, of course. I'll try to think up
something"
"All right" Harry jumped up
.you're the best sister that ever was
and I'm sure you'll find way to heip
US. Hello, mother"
Mrs. Archman had come into the
room. Her eyes were bright and her
cheeks flushed.
Good heavens" she exclaimed. see
what have found in my mail. 1t was
typewritten and I thought at hrst IL
was bill or something. But 1t isn't
r