New Britain herald., 1929-12-21
Chapter 50
A CLOUD LIFTS

The tall form Of the SheIlii was standing on the vcranda when Peg sy answered the knock.
 Hello. Come in and sit down. Peggy piloted the sheriff 10 the most comfortable chair in the room and placed before him her Uncle's choicest cigars. She sat down close al hand.
 How come you are alone?" Beach asked. Its getting kind ot late. most six. Aren't you uneasy. staying by yourselt?'
 Julia went for the maii.' Peggy paused and looked around; where was Julia? She should have re- turned at least 8 half hour before 'It is not so lonesome as you think. she added; "Mr. Evans comes over often, and Jim," her pause was in- tentional-"his son.
 Beach looked puzzled for an in stant.
 His son." he repeated; then, with dawning intelligence: "Oh, you mean Obadiah's stepson. Jim Sinclair
 Peggy sat very still. Her heart was pounding against her ribs and she felt half suffocated. So that was if. Behind her quiet eyes regarding the sheriff so steadily, her thoughts were in a turmoil
 So Jim was, in reality. the man she had come to regard with such bitterness. The cad. 10 deceive her l,IaHl he i the boiling stage, she was far enough to admit that perhaps IL was case of self deception; she had ac- cepted Jim as Obadiah's son and no one had corrected that impression. But was it honorable not to have told her? Perhaps Jim kept quiet to save her embarrassment. Mrs. Sinclair was from around these parts,' went on Sheriff Beach reminiscently. And when she was left a widow with two small Chil- dren, she came back to the old farm Obadiah and she had been boy and girl sweethearts till she went off tC live with some rich relations down to New York.
 By and by she married Obadiah but only lived bout five years Obadiah wanted to adopt both chil, drcn, but the New York cousins took the little girl"
 Beach wagged his head refleCtive- ly.
 "Obadiah gave Jim a wonderful schooling; he sacrificed most every thing for that boy
 As he rambled on, Peggy strug gled 10 readjust her viewpoint. Jiu was Jim to her. his percentage of nc moment. If the wealth which she hac hoped to share with him was to hav' been his by the provision in he uncles will in case she did not full fill the stipulations therein, why sh' was the more deeply glad. Generous to 7 fault, Peggy's heart rcjoiced-
 About that gum
 Beach spoke more briSllly as h. reached the object of his call.
 Here 'tis. 1 removed the cart ridges for safe handling and hand ed an automatic pistol to Peggy.
 Peggy missed the sheriffs llindl, meant if tactless, sarcasm and tn faint twinkle in his eyes, her atten tion being entirely centered on tn weapon in her had. It was iden tically like her unclSs, but tn wording on it read, Model 19l1- |. s. navy"
 She caught her breath, the smiled; Of course, it would hay "U. s. navy" stamped upon it-di 1t not belong to Jim and he was i the navy; at least. she found tn gun she had used that fatefuI nigh in Um's poCket-prcsum he ha picked it up by mistake for his. Sh must tell the sheriff the comedy c errors and give him the weapon wit which she shot Edgar stanton.
 This is 30 calibcr pistol" sh said, noting the further wording o the automatic. and she put ont he hand 10 open the table drawe where she had put her unclc's pistol "whie-''
 Sure" broke in Sheriff Bcacl mistaking the pause of her hosi tancy. And the bullet found i Stantou,s heart was Of .35 caiber."
 His eyes trayrled upward to th top or the stairs and down 10 tn spot where Stanton'- body had lair
 You are darn good shot, Nils Prescott"
 Peggy heard not a word that Il said after his first scntvrcc. He extended hand dropped 10 her sid, Twice she stroyc to speak Dofor she found her voice.
 You say the bullet that killc