Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-02

CHAPTER XLVIII.
"fll have a talk with your wife. F"
Father PAT told the married martyr
to circumstantial evidence" And he
did-quite some time later.
Peter Justin lifted a crcdulous and
sympathetic ear to his son-in-law's
grievances, after hearing the corr
plete story Of the mysterious cor
spiracy. III he drew any private con-
illusions Of his own-and it isn't
written that he didn't-he, too, kept
them well TO himself.
"I1l see Jill and endeavor TO make
her see tn light" he told Jack. And
he debut. that's another story.
Nita Rayelle, seated in Jacks pri-
vate office, heard his report on che
outcome OF his attmept 70 put his
story across without duplicating her.
AT its conclusion she sadly shook
her pretty head and sighed dcepiy.
" am already the social ~outcast,"
she told him in mournful numbers.
II am the victim Of malicious SLAM
der and the butt Of gossip's cruel
tongue. When ! accidentally met
Mike Sweeney in the Central and
spoke to her as usual, she cut me
cold. Half a dozen women saw Il ard
giggled almost in my face. I left
the store as quickly as possible, my
heart nearly broken. To think that
Nike would b. the n TO cast the
first stone!"
Its a rotten shamei" exclaimed
Jack, with angry vehemencc, and he
actually believed, himself. his sym
pathies for the prosecuted" Nita
being greatly exaggerated by rca-
son Of the part he. himself. hal
played in making her the subject of
gossip. Although knowing himself
to be blameless, so far as intent, yet
he kept telling himself 1T was his
fault"
~PIl have to leave Eliiston, I SUP
pose" sighed the "broken-heArtcd"
Nita, a sob almost breaking IN her
throat. Il could never endure the
torture OF eneers and ~innuendoiv
well, by tn gods, you're not goin'
to- eitherl" said Jack, letting has
sympathies run away with his COM
mon sense and better judgment, "ntt
IL | can help it, and / think | carlf
But what, she asked him. could ne
do? Even her fertile Imagination
could not have grasped the crazy
purpose he had in mind. His reply
struck her dumb with ~astonishment
for a moment. Would he have the
nerve to do such a thing. she asked
herself, wonderingly. On the result
she was exceedingly skeptical. She
knew her fellow woman's makeup
too we'll TO believe for q moment that
jill Stuart would ever agree TO re-
ceive her, Nita Ravelle, the woman
who had caused all her trouble. In
her home for the purpose of giving
that woman a clean bill Of respecta-
bility. Jack didn't know women very
well. she feared.
But that was not only what Jack
Stuart was foolish enough to be con-
templating, but it was just what he
was insare enough 20 do. Even he
realized the absurdity OF his pre-
posal, or inquest, when it was too
lateI
Jill looked az him In blank aston
ishment, ~incredulity and amazement
"W-why-Jack St-tuarti" she
gaspcd, sutteringly, when she had
caught her breath. you c-cert'nly
must be c-crazy. Mono man in the
world" She stopped short for q
moment, ard then went on with Z
passionate calmness that concealed
the tempest that was brewing within
her heart and brain. mo sane mar
would have the horrible nerve
that's just what IN i~s-shorrible
nerve-to ask his wife TO receive
hat woman in her home so that her
recognition may remcve the stigma
He has put upon the woman's name.
II that isn't horrible nerve ii isn't
anything"
slut. Jill. you don't understand
he persisted with q coEged deter
mination worthy OF a better cause.
don't you see il was because she had
asked TO ride home with me-was
with me-
"Ahl" The interruption cut
through the air with "a sibilancy that
vas startling. $50 you DO admit at
last that she was with you that
night? And now you want me to
give her countenance!"
Had Jack Stuart been wise and
diplomatic, he would have said in a
manner regretful: II am sorry,
JILL" or something Of q similar ma
ture- But Jack was not wise; neither