Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1936-01-03
More Than Love:
i by LEWIS ALLEN BROWNE
CHIT 1881 BY KING FEATURES sYNVcATE. INC.

brother said.
with no witnesses? And with his
relatives all to testify that 1 hac
threatened to kill him? They hated
me; they would have perjured them.
selves to send me to the chair"
eyes, that's right" Leland agreed
and again he knew that there was yet
no way for him to go to jeanette OF
explain.
"Vance saw the revolver and made
leap for me. He grabbed it and
in the struggle 1 knew he would kill
me, but the revolver was discharged
and then I tainted from fright. !
must have come out of it speedily.
Vance was on the floor, dead, but
still warm-then 1 grabbed baby and
came to you-and that is all, Leland
all, but enough to ruin my life and
yours"
He quieted her after a while and
they tried never to mention it after
this.
Back in New York, after the first
lot of copy came to Mr.. Maxim, mailed
from Portland, Oregon, and signed by
Paul Justin, jeanette, notified by Mr..
Maxim, took a trip out there. For
three long weeks she searched every
where and even secured detective
but there was no trace of any Paul
Justin or Leland Forbes.
Naturally there wouldn't be, since
Lawyer Adams of New York sent this
copy to a brother lawyer, in Portland
to renal to the publishing house of
Maxim & Company.
Mr.. Maxim, himself, even joined
jeanette out there in the search but
it was all fruitless.
Heartbroken, discouraged, but still
with an abiding faith in Leland, Jean
cite came back east.
The Winter was not very cold down
there in the Grayson Hills. An enor-
nous stove and fireplace kept the
little house warm. When Spring came
with it's flowers and myriad birds,
Leland was buster than ever.
Baby Leland was then able to walk
and to talk a little. Leland built a
sunny enclosure outside where he
could play.
Now and then some native would
ride past on horseback and paused to
say, "howdy", but none ever called
except Harvey Orson with mail and
foodstuffs.
They knew that Forbes was "hid-
in out" not an uncommon thing to
them. 1t was none of their business.
If Forbes wanted them to know, he
would tell them. There was no dan
ger of their ever telling about it out
side.
jeanette went down to Wytheville,
Old black Nose and Vilet greeted
her kindly.
"Naw, somebody sends US money to
git erlong, but we amt never seed
him since he lef' with yo,' they told
her and she knew they were truthful.
jeanette did not wear the beautiful
engagement ring. That is, not on
her finger, but she wore it on fine
chain, inside her clothes.
Seldom did she discuss it with her
sympathetic married sister, Mrs. KEEL
logg.
81 still have faith in him." jeanette
declared, "and until such time as I
know there is anything wrong, shall
simply regard it as a mystery"
While her sister was sympathetic,
she secretly believed that Leland For
bes had backed out at the last moment
for some reason that had to do with
his past-and with woman.
However, she wouldn't tell jeanette
this.
Down in the Grayson Hills Leland
worked harder than ever. Lola had
become rugged and strong and about
as happy as she ever expected to be.
After a. few years, Leland planned,
they would go to South America, sail
from some port there, and live in Italy
or southern France under assumed
names so that the youngster could be
properly educated.
All of these discussions were Or
deals to Lola, because she realized
that she had just about ruined her be-
loved brothers career.
If she had known of his planned
marriage there is no telling what she
would have done and Leland knew that
he must never tell her.
One day "furriner" came. Now q
"furriner" is anyone who doesn't
live in those parts. He rode hand.