Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-07
CHAPTER XXXVT

Yes"
"He told me he was tired and in
tended to remain at home. But he
lied"
Are you sureF
Certainly. When we got home,
he was out. That meant nothing; he
has always come and gone as he
pleased. But this morning he took
pains to explain to me that he hadn't
been out all night. He didn't know
that / saw him come in; that ] was
worried and sat at my door until ]
saw him go into his own room at
about one O'Clock this morning.
That's how / know he stole those
bonds, Dad"
Peter Borden shook his head. 81
~misjudged him once, Lois. I'll never
do it again"
What are you going TO do?"
Borden raised his pain-filled face.
"The only honorable thing: call a
meeting of the directors and report
the loss"
What will happen? ?"
Il don't know You see, dear,
these bonds should have been put in
the vault Saturday. But / was busy.
The raising of the security gave me
the opportunity which was vital to
the plant. Instead of going to the
bank ! stayed with my figures until
the bank had closed. Even then j
didn't worry. / brought the bonds
home; I've done things like that be-
Fore. But, dear, now that those
bonds have disappeared, what did
amounts to criminal negligence"
CT - - J.. 80 af1fLA.~
won't blame you-not that way"
Perhaps not. They have known
me all their lives. Ii seems impos-
sible that they will think ] have
stolen. Even Jonas Merriwether
wouldn't think that-and 100000 of
that money was his. He is bitter
what will he do?"
81 don't know. | don't seem able
to think this morning. 1t is all too
sudden and too CHASTITY. ] only know
that it is my duty to call the di-
r~ectors together Immediately. When
| hear what they have TO say-Tll
know more"
He rose slowly. All his >tality
was gone. The hour had broken
MIN. Even yet he did not entirely
grasp the enormity Of the situation.
There was no way Of making resti-
tuition. Aside from his home. he
owned nothing in the world save
his interest in the plant. And the
plant was not solvent; it couldn't be
for another two years of successful
operation. The directors were losing
faith in il. They had seen it pledged
to its last dollar, and twice they had
advanced money from their personal
fortunes 10 tide over the periods Of
stress.
They had reached the point where
they had made their last loan. Bor-
den himself had invested every avail
able dollar in the plant. There were
others in the same position. And
Merriwether, the only man Of them
who could actually afford the loss.
was the r who accepted no loss
lightly.
Borden knew that he had been
criminally careless. And with that
hurt wa the acknowledgement Of re-
sponsibility for whatever Bob Terry
might have done.
Lois watched him walk from the
house. Usually he radiated the zest
Of living. Today he was an old man,
weak Of step, uncertain Of move
ment.
Lois heart was tori with doubt
and fear-and love. But her fight
ing spirit had never famed brighter.
She went TO the telephone and called
Carmody's office, asking that Bob
Terry he summoned to the phone.
"Yes?"
She fancied that his voice was un-
certain.
This Is Lois. Bob. / wish to see
you Immediately"
She caught the tremble in his an
swer. "I'm busy"
Right away, Bob. shall wait at
home for you"
The receiver clicked. Then, tense
and starry-eyed, she waited. Instinct
told her that Bob would ome
At the same moment another tele-
phone rang in another part Of the
city. Jonas Merriwether's secretary
answered and pressed the buzzer
which summoned her irascible en-
ployer to the telephone. He rasped
into the transmitter:
Hello. What do you want?"
Something important. Mr.. Merri-
wether-very important" Each word
was clear. Two hundred thousand
dollars worth Of negotiable bonds,
partly your property. have been
stolen from Peter Borden's home.
They were stolen by that young man
Terry"
They faced each other in the big
living room, Lois taunt and firm
Tipped. Bob Terry i'll at ease. She
regarded him with eyes which sought
70 probe al his soul. And her first
words startled him.
you're not a criminal, Bob. You
never will be-"
He opened his lips, then closed
them. He d%issembled pallidly.
what are you talking about,
Lois ?"
Those bonds you took from the
safe last night"
1t was a statement rather than an
accusation. Bob was nonplussea.
Bitterness he had prepared for-bit-
t~erness and re%crimination. Anything
but this.
What bonds?" he questioned
weakly.
eve won't discuss that. Bob. Let's
not have lies between US. / want
TO be your friend. I want to help
you. If there was anv good reason
Why you should do this. then per-
hrs you can make me understand.
Her ewes were twin pools OF azure.
He could not meet them and lie.
you know why / did it, Lois"
"No-o. I'm afraid I don't. II