The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-25
SAINTa79
SINNER
eiAA Austin

In spite Of the fact that she was
hcctcally busy at least fourteen
hours of the twenty four, Faith Lane
felt. those last few days before the
trial, that she was living in one
Of those terrible nightmares in which
the dreamer is straining every nerve
and tendon to accomplish something
which is never done. Housework kept
her busy for several hours day,
for Aunt Hattie had been called
home to attend Grandma Lane, who
had been stricken with influenza and
pleurisy. There were her father,
Junior and Joy to cook and sew for.
To show them smiling, serene
face, was, of course, hardest of
all, for jim Lanes weak backbone
had buckled under the double trag-
edy Of his wife's death and his daugh-
ter's arrest on the charge Of murder.
All ambition he had ever had had de-
serted him. He crcpt, pale, haggard-
faced, duil-eyed, from the Myrtle
street house at seven o'clock in the
evening to go to his new job as night
Waterman for the Lincoln Pruitt
Wholesale Grocery.
While her father slept uncasily, be-
cause he was not used to sleeping
during the daytime, Faith whirled
through dishwashing, bedmakng,
getting Joy off to school, marketing
for dinner, and the necessary mend,
ing and sewing. Afternoons she gave
over to designing dresses, coats and
lingerie for Madame Denise, the
modistr who had made Cherry's
trOusseau. For Madame Denise had
been as good as her word. Although
she could not let it be known that
she was employing the sister of an
alleged murderess, Madame Denise
established profitable connection
with Faith, meeting her surrepti-
tiously to receive the des igns which
the harassed girl found time to Gre
ate for the modistc's fashionable eli
ents.
Christmas came and went, marked
by two important events only. The
first was a family reunion in the re-
ccption room Of the Jail, Joy being
allowed to see her sister, Cherry, for
the first time since the day of her
mothers funeral. Cherry was white
and silent. and her childish mouth
quivcrcd whenever she spoke. When
small band of Salvation Army
workers passed through the CORR
doris singing Christmas anthems.
Cherry broke down for the first time,
flingng herself .tothe floor at Faiths
feet and screaming. out her fear and
terror Of the ordeal that was looming
ahead Of her. No it was not a cheer
full Christmas, and Faith was almost
Historically glad when Mrs. Webb.
the jail matron, told the white faced,
budding group of Lanes that the
visiting hour was over.
The second event of that other
wise distressing day promised well.
but proved to be u sickening disap.
pontment. Faith and Bob were driv-
ing alone through the swirling gusts
of a snowstorm that had blown up
during the afternoon. when Rob
stopped the car near the curb of
downtown street corner to buy a
newspaper.
BEYOND the whitening sidewalk lay
q scrap Of city park, dreary now with
iron benches on which no one sat. lit
tered with scraps Of windblown news
papers and fruit Feelings. The dry
yellow stubble of the grass was ran
idly being frosted over with great.
soft, wet snowflakes. The few gaunt
trees waved their leaflcss branches
in angry defiance of the wintry
blasts that assailed their dignity.
When the old man in charge Of the
little flimsy wooden structure that
housed the newsstand did not an
swcr the honk of his horn, Bob
sprang from the car ann stxrre.i i.
run across the wide sidewalk, head
bent to protect his eyes from the
singing assault Of wind and snow.
Faith, watching him idly, saw him
stop short. then bend to stare at
something on the pavement.
What is it. Bob" she called out,
an unreasonIng excitement thrilling
along her overwrought nerves.
Come here, dcar!" he straighten-
ed and shouted to her. Footprints!
A cripple's footprints!"
TOMORROW: Phil, the crippled
beggar.