The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-08-14

harm In letting Davis learn he's not
a financler? All that can happen is
he'll lose"
"Yes," said Agnes; and she thought
that was all that could happen.
Davis Is out, you see," added Bee,
ITO make few millions for meas
though / hadn't any trouble that an
other baby or million dollars couldn't
cure"
With this, Bee dismissed the matter;
so Agnes was not obliged to disclose
the source of her concern over Col
lit. But when she made inquiry Of
Jeb that evening, he extracted 1t from
| her.
| "Collltt" said Jeb. "He's been In
jams, hear; but nothing that he did
has ever come to court. He's a trad
er--one of the cleverest traders In
town; and straight enough now"
'But what is against him?"
Nothing I know, except that he
hasn't always been -well-solid. But
Davis Is solid; he's that sort"
"Yes," said Agnes.
$50 together, they ought to be all
right Then they'll be helped by the
natural assumption that your father'd
see Dave through-if he needed more
capital. Also" continued Jeb after a
moment, ut doesn't exactly hurt Col
| lit, Ayreforth and Remble that every
body knows we're marrying, and so I'd
see him through, IL 1t came to q
pinch"
| "Jeb, we're not marrying"
| "You just think SO! Client oh,
God, Glen, you drive me crazyl d
Kiss mel MOI AS II you meant
1t! And mean 1t! oh, damn us,
Glen, what's the matter? What got
you bothered about Collitt todayT
Agnes told him 1t was O'Mara, and
Jeb held her tighter.
| "Was he here again"
"NO. 1t was over the phone"
"What was he calling you aboutr
| "He didn't call me, Jeb; called
him." And she told him about Myr-
| ties letter. $50 I called Mr.. O'Mara
to find out If 1 should go to the jail
to see her."
"what did he tell your"
'"That 1 shouldn't" I
"That's right, but why didn't you
call me? I'd have told you. =,
What else did that shyster say to-
your"
"He mentioned Mr.. Collltt, and asked
how well Davis had known him."
'Tell that Irishman to mind his own
business. I'll watch Davis partners
for you. They've backing now; they'll
be all right. Glen, why do You
let O'Mara play your"
"Play me?'
"For a mark. Do you mean to be
her and his - witness at the trial1
You've got to realize what you're do
ing. Her trial isn't going to turn ON
her; it's going to turn on you. He
knows 1t. You're just Gods gift to
the defense attorney, IL you let him
make a mark of you. They're play
ing you for quite a stake, between
them. They're not only after you to
get her of, but also they're after a
hundred and fifty thousand dollars In
life-insurance alone which the COM
panies will have to pay her, IL she's
acquitted. Half Of that goes to him.
| you may be sure. Remember that,
when he talks to you. For Gods sake,
Glen, come to!"
Agnes lay awake long that night,
with one wonder, one bother, one
doubt and perplexity following anoth-
err through her thoughts and feelings.
She had never felt so confused.
What did love-or desire, II you call
1t that2-do to you in these daysP
For a while, 1t might make you
happy, as 1t had made Mother and
Father happy together for many years,
and as 1t had made Bee happy for a
while, at least, before she found out
that she was-what2 Bored? Was
it mere boredom that Bee would es-
cape. for a while longer, by having
another baby? Was it that which
neither the baby nor million dollars
could cure?
After you married, and no matter
whom you married, you went on liv-
ing; you and your husband, both Of
you. You did not cease to be human
beings; you became more human, hav-
ing babies. Love, whatever that might
be, could not possibly be a panacea
against all ills and troubles.
Yet you wanted to believe 1t to be.
Jeb did not even pretend that he
though 1t was. Jeb was utterly hon.
est and practical, for all his impetuous
and violent feelings. He offered You
in marriage all the excitement and
sensation that a man and a girl could
give each other. With him, you'd tip
up the cup and empty it to the last
drop. You'd have a lot of love with
him. He'd hold you against all the
world, his strong arms about you. You
liked his strength; you liked more.
But 1t would not endure. He did
not even try to tell you it surely
would endure. For he didn't believe
in love everlasting-"tepid, tasteless
STUFF you can bear to sip and never