The Daily Alaska empire., 1928-12-23

fully. so that he should not spill I his food. He seldom looked, for 1 he was deaf, and so the eonyersa- ton went on without him.
 "Yes," said Aunt Margaret, T suppose Grandfather Garnet has outlived all his friends, now that old Mir. Brownings gone"
 Marian began to listen.
 Well, it was about time the old boy was moving on" Cousin Frank took great gulf of bread. He got to be mighty big care on them"
 For pity's sake. Frank" said Aunt Margaret, If you don't think father is care, too, I'd like to tell you different"
 The old man looked up, and for a moment it seemed to Mar ian that he had heard every word.
 T don't mean that, Aunt Mar garet. q mean they had to sup port him for so long. He went broke at sixty-five, and the chil- dren have taken care of him ever since. There wasn't even any in- surance, for Austin Browning paid all the funeral expenses.
 Marian clutched her fork, afraid to speak and afraid not to. "Yeu mean Austin's grand father?" she asked. But, didn't he leave a will?"
 ''If he did, it wouldn't matter. All he had in this world was a :, few old books he had saved"
 Strange that the conversation should go oni Strange that she could go on eating, when every bite seemed ready to choke her! At last she found a chance to slip away and seek relief in tears.
 It seemed hours before Austin came that evening, and yet, when he did come she had not decided what to say.
 She opened the door for him without a word, without even a smile. But Austin did not notice He kissed her ardently, and chat ted as he took off his oyercoat
 "I met Jimmy Titon and his mother on my way here. They say the Wheelers have a new baby - born on Christmas eve Jim thought 1t was girl, bu he wasn't sure. Say. what's th' matter?"
 "I - I've just been thinking . Austin" MariaR was not sur , what to say; 1t seemed she hat been thinking terrible things About that will of your grand fathers"
 @Well?" Austin leaned bacl carelessly, but Marion had no !, ticed a sudden flicker of his eye lids.
 v "I heard this afternoon that that he couldn't have left yo f five hundred dollars because h n didn't leave even enough to pa
 for the funeral" 70 Who told you that?" ,, My cousin Frank said so a dinner ''
 70 "1 suppose you told him abou Q the will, and he jumped at
 chance to make trouble" .d Austin! How dare you!
 didn't say a word to him abou ,t it."
 ~ Marian wondered whether h was her imagination, or if Au II tin really was relieved.
 "All right" he said. "B,
 even so, you prefer his word miner"
 l "Oh, Austin, don't talk thi ] way"
 ' "Then you do trust me?" : 'I want to, Austin, but yo
 aren't telling me the truth, al
 I cant telp wondering what it
 you are trying to conceal.
 What do you suppose I'm tr
 ing to conceal, as you put it?'
 Austin" There was a cat,
 in her voice. She looked
 him pleadingly. Was that Til
 stolen?"
 His face blanehed as at
 blow. "You-you believe that
 "I don't know what to I = lieve." she answered miserably. l If I swear to you, Maria
 that I have stolen nothing. a he that that ring was. my own pro ees erty when I gave 1t to you, " vas you believe mel" sin You do swear it?" nd On my honor, dear" m. Then where did you get .ir. Why did you tell me your grar ler father left you that money?" the "Please don't ask me to lpa plain. It was wrong to decei re- you. I admit. but I said the fl