Evening star., 1934-11-04
E3;;: e.: e: MariianGo
by JEANNE ROWyl.iN


Of her now beloved mountain.
She sat on the bench in the little
house. elbow on tfe sill, and looked
up. Peace, with her husband wander
ing in this perfumed garden, Silver
at his side? 1t was futile.
Tears gathered in her eyes, coursed
down her cheeks. She crossed her
arms on the sill, lay her head on them
and cried softly, the strain OF weeks
taking its toll.
Gradually she quieted, still sitting
there, the voices Of the night beating
their slow way into her consciousness,
the whir Of crickets, soft moving OF
branches. and then voices coming
nearer.
She sat up, dried her eyes. Perhaps
this was Silver and Lon coming .
but no. A voice which seemed intent
upon delivering a message was that
of a man, and 1t was not Ions voice.
Whoever 1t was, he was coming to-
ward the Summer house. Marian
shrank back into the shadows
there was a built-in table, benches on
either side. II she lay on a bench
perhaps they wouldn't see her until
she could bathe her eyes in cold water.
This place is empty" said Nc
SWANS voice. I'VE can sit on the
steps here and talk, but keep your
voice down. Oriental servants may
not talk, but they're not deaf and it
doesn't pay to let them know too
much"
"Yes, sir, but I tell you. you don't
realize the seriousness Of this; you've
never been put on the spot like have"
Within the Summer house Marian
listened That voice was familiar.
You've never. yet, faced a future
in the pen. Oh, all right. III pipe
down" The voice was lowered, but
now Marian had recognized 1t as be-
longing to William Brown, the William
Brown who had been tried and found
not guilty Of accepting a bribe from
the Maddern Construction Co., TO the
general manager of which he was now
talking.
II tell you, sir" he went on, you've
got to get rid Of that foreman. He's
going to play safe You may think
you have him bought. but I know you
haven't. He said to Morton. Listen.
McSwain's payin' me twice what I'm
worth an he amt doin' it because he
loves me, no sir ;"
His voice dropped and Marian caught
only the subdued murmur of Browns
voice, interrupted now and again by
McSwain's.
We'll" McSwain had arisen, forget
it. I'll shoot him down to the islands.
I've got job on down there for Blaine
Kelly; this fellow can handle 1t as well
as any one. I've a man in mind for
his place, just the fellow. Don't know
any one who would fit better, so don't
worry. just keep on saving wood and
saying nothing"
You're sure they won't bring in any
State inspectors? Gosh. McSwain,
this is school, you know"
That's all right. I'm making 1t safe.
Besides, you haven't got any kids going
there, have you?"
NO"
Then trot along: I'm staying out
here to finish this cigar"
Marian sat still until the footsteps
on the gravel path had faded into the
distance Hot indignation was stain
ing her cheeks and bare shoulders with
a rush of blood. McSwain was going
on with his plans to save his financial
hide" at the expense Of hundreds OF
children, and she held their fate in
her hands.
She had a vision of her brother in
his R. o. T. C. uniform. staggering
down the street with his Hi, you. fell
low" or her sister Lucy in sports frock,
books under her arm. Boys and girls
one of the small earth quiverS that
came stealing on unaware, crumbling
walls. shattered windows, crashing
roof-and they lying crushed beneath
the debris.
How dared a man defy the Being
who gave him the talent to build, how
dared he go on in the face of Browns
trial? Well, he wouldn't &. not while
she had breath left in her body.
Lon, Silver, every one forgotten. she
stepped out Of the Summer house,
slim, lace-clad figure, rigid with wrath.
"McSwain," she said, II overheard
your conversation with William Brown.
You are not going on with your plans.
You are going to build that school
house according to specifications. or
you are going to the penitentiary!"
McSwain spun around in the path
as though whirled on pivot. "Eh?"
he barked.
Il said I overheard your converse
ton with William Brown" repeated
Marian.
You what?" demanded McSwain,
now in control of his reason after the
shock of finding some one in the Sum-
mer house when he had thought he
spoke in privacy.
You understood me-" retorted Ma
rian. "You heard every word I said,
but if you want me to repeat. will"
Repeat" he grunted, young lady
you're daft. You didn't hear any -.
what name did you say? :. talking
here"
"Oh, yes, I did I sat in Superior
Court for eight days, much of that
time listening to William Browns
voice 1t isn't pleasing voice"
"Of course, that explains this. You
didn't see the man to whom was
talking"
Marian makes q sporting offer to
McSwain, tomorrow.
-e--