The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-04-19
CHAPTER XI-Continued

as the grandchildren of a murderer"
"DawnI Dawn, girl, don't think thatl
Why, its"
But it's so, Able! don't wa-want
to talk about it. All l can do for Ben
now Is to let him know how weak |
was to doubt him and to use any in
fluence 1 may have to protect him from
this terrible danger. J. will do that;
l must do that because 1t is duty. But
it must stop there. It can't go on, you
see. Not while l have nothing more
than just my faith in my fathers good
name"
Able, the wise man that he was, did
not force the argument. He brought
his team to a halt before the Hoot
Owl office, gave the reins to Dawn and
stepped out.
Martin, the bookkeeper, was the only
occupant of the place.
"Where's Ben?' he asked.
The bearded man looked over his
shoulder. recognized Able and then his
gaze went past the man to the waiting
cutter where Dawn sat.
"He's :" 1t seemed as though
Martins voice failed after that word
He half started from his chair and the
pen, dropped from fiexed fingers, rolled
across the ledger sheet. He made
faint sound and in his eyes appeared
an expression that startled Able.
"What's wrong, Martini" he asked
In alarm, stepping quickly into the
room. "Sick?"
"No all right, now" the other
said, as if with great effort. "Ben? In
the mill, / think"
He picked up his pen, then, and bent
over his work.
Able crossed the mill-yard looking for
Ben and as he went Martin rose eau
tiously from his chair, moved quietly
to be in line with the window and
stared for long interval at the girl
huddled in the robes. His hands
worked and his breath was uneven.
Dawn is here to see you," Able said
simply as he encountered Ben. "She
had me bring her out so she could talk
to you. She's waiting over by the
Office"
Elliott stood hesitant for an instant;
then turned and walked swiftly along
the pond. Able watched him go but
did not follow. What was to be said
by the girl was not for his ears, he
knew,
Ben gave no sign Of recognition as
he approached the cutter; made no
salutation as he came near the girl who
sat watching him so steadily. He only
spoke her name, when he was at her
side. She gave him a small, gloved
hand and smiled wanly.
81 have come to say many things,
Ben" she began in strange. strained
voice. "To beg forgiveness, to beg
other things /. .. perhaps to explain
a little.
"a week ago Notwithstanding,
now, to hold her voice steady-"I ran
out Of the dance hall and on home,
thinking that that woman was honest.
The time since then, until noon today.
has been nightmare.
Lydia came to my house at noon.
She explained everything. Aunt EN-
brought her. Aunt En- went to her
house and convinced her that she had
done terrible thing to you and that
an explanation to me was the only way
to right the wrong. Lydia told me
everything. 1t was Mr.. Brandon
who thought out the plan and forced
her to do it under threats of some
sort. She didn't tell us what the
threats were but left our house for the
train and is gone from lineup for
ever. And I've come to tell you
how miserable l feel to think that /
was weak enough to act as Mr.. Bran
don seemed to be sure would act. -"
Relief was singing through Elliott;
relief and great Joy. lifting him above
rage for Brandon.
"Oh, I'm glad!" he said earnestly.
tive :. Why, it completely knocked
me off my pins Dawn, it's been ter
rible for you but &. but this makes
me so happy"
I'm happy because you are happy"
she said, but something in her tone and
expression dampened his enthusiasm,
checked his soaring spirits. She was so
calm, so steady, so restrained; her mood
was not at all that of one who comes
joyously to wipe out heartbreaking mis-
understanding. "And I'll never forgive
myself for for falling into the
trap that was set for me, Eeni"
''Why shouldn't you? Any girl would
have felt as you did. But it's ex-
planned, now. Let's forget it and be-
gin where we left off and find peace
and"
The sharp shake of her head and the
quick withdrawal of her hand cut him
off.
"There are sterner things to think
of, first; quite different things, Ben.
That is why came out here, to talk
TO you about Bart Delaney. Able has
told me what happened yesterday.
You don't take it seriously enough.
Keep safe until you're certain that the
danger is past"
Hide and skulk while other men
protect me? A man can't do that,