The Washington times., 1924-03-20

o'clock-in two hours that man
with the red. heavy face would
come for her: take her back to
the valley - force her again
through all the tragic scenes.
Make her tell about the baby:
how it grew so cold: how. it stiff.
fened in her arms. Oh--tell to
all that whispering town the
thing that she had done-the
things that had been done to her.
They said she must. She must
do this-but it would be a, dead
thing that spoke-not her
Now, there was q stirring in
that room of theirs. Now Jona-
than was soothing: Mother,
don't! Hush, mother. That's no
way" Crying-Jennie cried all
night. Too late now
Then Jonathan was coming
down the hall. She heard his
weighty steps. Coming to her,
coming to say those kindly things
-ah, but she would see the pale
ness Of his lips, see his face all
crossed with pain. Leave her
alone-step over quietly and lock
her doOf- ~.
Suddenly there was a ringing at
the bell: suddenly voices-a man
who said: You might as well,
Mr.. Bryce. Give her side of it.
It's out, already"
Jonathan answering, suppressed,
bewildered. Then rumbling in a
low fury: "By God, you don't!
BY God, I'll kill your
A door slammed; a lurching,
giant body pitching from wall to
wall.
Chickie's hands flew to her
throat. She reached her fathers
side. He pushed her: plowed like
tortured animal down the pas.
sage-into the kitchen. He had
the morning paper in his hand.
He said: go away-Chickie-g
away"
She held to his arm-tried to
speak. Her breath whirled dizzily
in a sickness. "Let me see"
He shook his head. She begged,
half fainting: ''Oh. yes-I will
/ will" and snatched the paper
from his lifeless hand.
Only a line Of that she saw:
Probe" Only that. The blood
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blindness in her eyes. She fought
it back.
She turned from him with that
gone and broken look in the
rugged face. She said in a quiet:
Doesn't matter" Then read it,
word for word
Summoned to attend a coro-
ner's inquest called at Moppet to
inquire into the death Of her, in
FAINT daughter two months ago,
under circumstance declared mys-
ferrous, Mrs. John Clayton, Fair
Oaks street, was served with
subpoena by Deputy Sheriff Bert
Kicks of Stanislaus county last
night. She will accompany him to
Moppet today.
According to Kicks, a quiet in
vestigation Of the case has bee
under way by the authorities for
several weeks. The child, born on
the ranch Of Mrs. Agnes Robbins,
north of Moppet, is declared to
have been in good health when
secretly taken away by the
mother four days after birth.
''It is alleged to have died the
same evening in the sanitarium Of
DIR. Robert Emerson, who attend
ed the mother at the birth. Mrs.
Clayton, Kicks said, then hurried.
~ left for her home in San Fran
cisco, leaving funeral arrange
mentS with DIR. Emerson. He q
said to have signed the death
certificate. The physician has
also been summoned to appear
before the coroner's jury.
added mystery. Kicks declares,
Is the fact that Mrs. Clayton was
known as Miss Helena Bryce in
Stockton, where she stopped at a
fashionable hotel for several days
at a time prior to the birth of the
infant. Search for John Clayton
has been fruitless.
mo enc by the name Of Mrs.
John Clayton is know at the resi-
dence in Fair Oaks street, where
Jonathan Bryce, well-known paint
er and long a resident Of the
Mission district, has his home.
Bryce refused to discuss the con-
nection of his daughter, Miss
Helena Bryce, with the case"
She read it again. Madness-sil-
ence-Jonathan, upright, great
arms lifting her: Brave, Chickie
girl-brave-"
Then she was lying on a bed
and shades were drawn-lying
quietly as one in coffin. Soon
they would come and pull the
cover-oh the peace of that-how
she would smile-rest then i"
She stared at the curtains-the
new pongee curtains Jennie had
made, being so glad to have her
home again; wanting to surprise
her
Then Jennie came in with q
tray-like all those festive Sun
day mornings. But Jennie didn't
look at her. She said gently:
"Chickie dear-drink this-you
must be strong"
Chickie said: "Oh mother-tho
look Of your face-oh mother"
mo dear-why, I'm all right
drink it-you must leave
Chickie turned her face against
the pillow. Jennie insisted:
Drink it, dear"
"Oh-if 1 could die-and will
mother will"
"No--here-"
!".You'd be glad--oh, If you
knew" She pushed the cup
away-she closed her hands on
her face
And there were voices again
3. the house was filled with voices.
Jennie came back to the room
"Get ready, dear" Like a sem
tence of doom-as though Chickie
were in the death chamber and
1t was her mother--no other than
her mother. who came and drew
the black cap down She stood,
holding to the bureau-trying to
Straighten her hair-trying to
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