Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-14
CHAPTER Kill

He realized that neither Of the girls
was at ease. O~utwardly, yes; actu-
ally, there was no mistaking theil
emotional unrest.
Lois Borden herel Certainly not
accidentally. Bob's teeth caught mis-
lower lip and pressed until he ex'
perienced an actual twinge of pain
That seemed to help. Once again hC
was struggling against forces strong
er than himself. He kept silent, anc
focused his eyes upon his plate
waiting for the others to speak.
1t was Kathleen who first brckC
the silence. He saw her open the
hand bag and take from it the brown
parcel which contained 100000 worth
Of bonds. Quite calmly, she handeC
these TO Lois Borden.
There, Miss Borden" she sale
quietly, "are the bonds!"
Lois eyes opened wide. She caught
the package TO her and sat staring
Bob blinked. Kathleen did not sur
prise him to the extent that Lois did
He would have thought But no
Lois was unquestionably startled.
"You will find them all there, Miss
Borden. You viii give them to your
father nc once.
Lois found difficulty in speaking
Her eyes clung gratefully to Kath'
leen's face.
"You did this"
81? No, indeed" Kathleen was
speaking softly, but every word beat
on Bob Terry's eardrums. Bob did
/ was certain he would. You see
Miss Borden, Bob isn't a thief. He
hasn't it in him to be one. He hated
your father-or thought he did
He built his whole life on the
single thought of squaring accounts
And when he was told Of this chance
lit rather swept him away. Do you
understand"
Eyes" The golden head was in
clined slightly.
But he has been miserable ever
since. Not frightened, mind you.
but"
Il was frightened" interrupted
Bob. Scared to death. And let me
make one more thing clear, Lois;
this was not my idea. 1t was Katk-
I leen's. I never would have lone it,
lie stared belligerently. Kathleen
questioned him.
Are you glad ! have done this
Bob?"
He hesitated, then nodded. 81 be.
lieve / am. I'm not sure-it isn't
all quite clear to me. But ! think ]
am glad"
Kathleen turned back to Lois. at
clears things up for him. He's had
his chance at your father, and he's
finished with III. That feud is ended,
isn't it, Bob?"
Eyes"
"You see, Miss Borden, he was
unhappy because he Is naturally de-
cent, naturally straight. This IL
going to give him a pretty firm ba-
sis on which to build. He didn't
have that before. He would have
gone through life with an unfinished
chapter always TO worry him. I'm
sure you'll see"
II understand, Miss Shannon.
understand that you have been won.
derfll. I'm too choked up 10 talk"
Bob could not look at either. H.
felt the dynamic force Of their per.
sonalities, but his own brain was not
idle, and his instinct was at work.
He felt that Kathleen was right
He had been piloted through treach.
| erous shoal waters and brought once
again 70 n deep and placid stream
His bitterness against Peter Border
had been vanquished by this brief
taste Of power over the older man
He had been snatched from the fire
through no volition of his own, but
he felt that his feet were on firmel
ground for the experience. He knew
instinctively that his future would
be builded solidly, that the falseness
Of the past few years, and particu-
larly of the months since he had
been freed. was gone.
He wanted TO put il all into words.
and knew that he couldn't. The new
sense of freedom made him inarticu-
late. He heard Kathleen speaking.
II think that just about completes
things, Miss Borden-so far as the
bonds are concerned"
Eyes. / won't try to thank you
Don't. Please. | knew that Bob
would be grateful" She hesitated
for a moment, then went on ner-
v~ously, II have one thing more 70
say before / 90. It is delicate-and
personal-and | deliberately selected
this public place TO say it. You see.
we are cleaning the slate, and | feel
il had better be done we'll" She
hesitated for a moment, and then:
you know, Miss Borden, that Bob
and | were engaged"
Were" Bob voiced the query.
Eyes, Bob-were.'
He felt his muscles grow tense,
what do you mean, Kathleen"
She paid no heed TO him. Instead,
her attention was directed toward
Lois.
There is very little ! can say,
Miss Borden. Words are pretty
cheap at times" She did not evade.
81 love Bob. / think l always will.
But ! love him too we'll to make him
unhappy" She paused. The restau-
rant noises seemed very far away.
Just these three in a little world Of
their own. "I-I'm trying TO be en-
sible-not dramatic. | don't want to
interfere. Please don't interrupt.
Hear me through.
Bob has it in him to be a big
man. He's been through fire. II
scorched him, perhaps, but | know
what he can and will do. And he
isn't the man for me, Miss Borden.
You see'-softly-"he doesn't love
me-"
The eyes Of the two ONE met
anu held. Kathleen spoke in a whis-
per.
you love him, Lois. He'll bt
happy with you. He loves YOU
She rose swiftly, and smiled brave
ly.
you two You're meant for eacf
other. And please-pless--be hap
py. Please"
She turned and was gone. As
through a mist, Bob saw her pass
out Of the door. He closed his
eyes. He was beginning to under,
stand.
The restaurant was crowded. There
was a steady hum Of conversation
punetuated now and then by a burst
Of laughter or q stentorian call fol
"a ~uoifar Ahova III. human N,o;ros