Evening star., 1925-02-07
The Ark of the Covenant
A Story of Mystery and Adventure
BY VICTOR MCCLURE.


tension Of the moment, might not
have noticed the slip. but the girl
grew pale as death.
She half rose from her chair.
What name did you give this man.
uncln?" she whispered.
1t was then that the little chief
rose to face her
Your mothers brother used the
name I once bore, child" he said with
that little air of gravity that sat on
him so we'll. He used it-as he
used 1t before you were born-to the
man who was his sisters husband
to the man who is your father"
My father
"Yes-daughter"
on the face of the earth-robber and
pirate-a slayer Of men! You my
father!-the father 1 have revered all
these years as good and great man
lost before his time! Oh, cruel! Oh,
horriblei"
MY child" the chief said gently,
Il would have spared you the burden
OF this knowledge Indeed 1 would
If in time you had come to under
stand the purpose that has put your
fathers hand apparently against all
men, that has laid on him the sorrow
of men killed and maimed-if in time
you had come to understand the
Justice that has slain a few SO that
all might have freedom-then, and
then only, might it have been made
known to you that he who stands
1t remains now to show cause why
the hard names you put upon me.
upon the true men who have sup
ported me, are undeserved. You
shall Judge, child, with the full
knowledge OF what lies behind the
League of the Covenant. Come with
me- will try to heal the hurt in your
heart, child. Gentlemen, you must
pardon me for a space"
"oh.: what can you say to Justify
the terrible Staying of men-the rob-
berry of banks? Oh, what can you
saye Can evil ever be done that good
may come? oh, uncle, uncle! Why
have you hid this thing from me-?
And you, Jumbo!" She turned to
Seton. You that I believed SO honest
and true! Jimmy! And you, Dan!
Give me comfort. one of you! You,
Jimmy-you said before you went
away-
She held out her hands to me
mine.
-."Kfrsteen," I said as gently and as
distinctly as could. for she was wile
with Observation-Disclosures, I went in
search of a pirate and a robber, as
thought-and I found a man whose
purpose I instinctively trusted, a man
of deep and courageous thought, Of
clear and kindly aims. Trust US all.
Kristen, for none of US has fallen
from honor-neither Seton, nor Dan
Lamont, nor myself-least of all,
your father! Trust him most, Kir-
steen! Say something for the chief,
Dan!"-
Dan put his hand on top Of ours.
"Kirsteen," he said gravely, way
back there IN March. when I first met
you, told you how I reverenced, how
all men Of my calling must reverence,
the name of David Terrence. I can
tell you now, right out of my heart,
that nothing your father has done
has robbed him of his right to that
reverence. Rather, when the whole
account-is summed up, the world
and you--will find that he Is worthy
of the deepest love that can be given
him!'
Kristen" came the deep voice of
big Seton, and his great paw fell
on top of Dams and ours, take COM
fort. Go with your father. He can
make everything clear"
"Kirsteen," said the President, and
his hand. too. came on the bunch,
I'VE have been wrong. Your father
has been in the right Go with him,
my dear" - y
Kirsteen lifted her proud little
head and her blue eyes were brim-
ming.
You all trust him so?" she whis-
pered-'you men whom 1 trust most
In the world? Then, I will trust him.
I am ready-father!
They passed out Of the room, hand
in hand, almost like trusting children.
When the door closed behind them,
each man Of the four of US found
something Of interest on separate
walls.
An hour passed and another before
they returned. There was that IL
Eliminating the gray eyes of Kirsteen
which spite-eftAe-soAg-- -at-Hy
heart, made me understand that my