The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-10-29

lAce 10 sanity.
He scrambled TO his fee. and took
her hand. Jude he said choking.
~. you're a peach. can't
Never mind" said Judith. "Cone
and walk with me-
When they were passing the Tav-
ern, Eric spoke. Lets GO in and
/ have some coffee. We both need
! L." She nodded.
i Meeting each others somber eyes
over 4 little table, they both laughed
| but there was note Of hysteria in
the laughter
Well" sighed Judith, "all is los.
save honor"
Eric did not smile. Honor itself
seems TO be ,otterng. At !eas.
mine is. ! stand convicted in every
body's eyes as murderer, or some
thing Of the sort He lifted his
head ard looked at Judith. The salt
cellar which he had been .twirling
| spun away TO a s;andsti!l.
He spoke with quiet desperation.
Honest. Judith, l had nothing to
do with those deaths. Black and
Miss Mcpherson were in our party
last night, But I don't know where
they 60, their liquor. Everybody
had a little. you know. But each
brought his own. Myra was with
W. She'll tell you had nothing to
do with it,"
Judith scanned his face. "As for
| Myra--it's small thanks TO you she's
not in the morgue with the other
| two. She was horribly sick last
! night"
Eric sat up straight. "Myra
But told her not to take that stuff.
l didn't know she did. My God
! how'd she &c, home?"
THE young men who gave her the
| corn whisky were al least decen,
| enough TO bring her home. nursed
| her all night"
Eric looked conscience stricken
| 81 shouldn'. have let ner 90 IN that
other car he said. but she had
devilcd me all evening. Finally she
/ threw little tantrum and lodged
! out my car and wouldn't speak to me
again. II didn't occur to me tina,
!! the boys wouldn't take her home
safely. felt pretty sick, myself
and drove while in the country
finally going TO sleep in the car
! Judith shrugged her shoulders
After all. she is a young girl. and
she was in your care"
He nodded wretchedly. ut wa.
rotten Of me. Did it poison her:
Ny God, she might have died."
judith smiled at him without
speaking.
He fumbled for words. "She's q
nice kid-and I've known her all my
life"
/ "Oh.' said Judith. dryly. $50
that's the sum Of it,"
Eric picked up his glass of water
, and drank it dry. "Look. here,
don't wan. TO talk about Myra.
want to talk about you. You were
simply magnificent this afternoon.
hope it wont injure Jour standing
with the dean permanently. II I'D
stopped TO think, ! wouldn't have
put you in that painful position be.
fore the faculty.
But. at the moment. 1t JUS,
/. seemed that had 10 find somebody
got me very low, Jude. | don't see
self. wish I'd kept clear Of the
drink. But when il comes to selling
i it-well. that's a bit unsavory."
! "Yes," said Judith, graycly, "it is.'
i They finished the meal in silence
| and the waiter brought the check
A gray envelope fluttered out Of
Eric's pocket as he reached for his
! bill fold.
| "Gad!" he cried. There's my
mothers letter. It came this after.
noon, just before I heard the news
about the deaths. I haven't roo1 II
yet. DO you mind IL ! do now"
] "Of course not" said Judith. He
was already tearing open the en-.
velope. His face fell.
i What's the matter?'' asked Ju
dith. "Bad news"
1.-THE worst. Mother comes through
Pendleton tonight, and wants to stay
over day. She. on her way IA
New York, to sail for Europe.
/ thought she wasn't leaving for 1
| week yet. I'm sunk II she hears the
talk about me-"
!, 1T il pretty bad" snid Judith
you'll just have TO keep her Occu.
| pied every minute Of the time and
speed her on her way tomorrow
| night"
Eric frowned hopelessly. mo
She says she wants to give . dinner
party for me tomorrow evening y,
the hotel. Says for me to 90 ahead
and invite seven or eight friends"
"Csn't you persuade her you'l
rather have = quiet evening with hei
alone = asked Judith.
Eric shook his head. "You dom
know my mother"
"Well," said Judith. ''then you'll
have to choose her table companions
very carefully. Even 80, the talk II
| almost certain to get around to yo0i
/ newest scrape."
i Eric was thinking. Listen; Jude
Will you come and at on one side Of
her y table, while ! keep guard On
The other? OF course | want you "a
1 come, anyway. but you con Aeip m
! Bot . lot by doing thst."