The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-06-11

home and find out the exact truth
about that woman"
That's more like it! All / ask of
you is ordinary precaution, and from
those men the same"
do you know Madame Malden?"
Il have met her, but it was some
time ago. She was sane them think
she is sane now, except on the one
subject of her son. It is not unheard
OF for an old woman like that to
ldolize an only child, and to read in
to the simplest conditions an inten-
ton to injure or kill him. She hilds
that, as you were alone with him
when he died, you were necessarily
the cause of his death. Mrs. Maiden,
you can't altogether deny that APP
pearance of evil"
Don't you suppose I know it?
Don't you suppose that's what's driv-
ing me mad! I know it better-far
better than anyone else. Nor do I
blame the old lady for believing it,
if we grant she is little demented.
But sane, she couldn't act like that"
'Now, that's the real point. Can
you honestly subscribe to that? For
there are sane people ready to be-
lieve that your exclusive opportun-
ity,' as it is called, brings about SUI
spicion of you. Remember, the peo-
pie in Richmond do not know you
as we do, do not love you as we do
they only know that Corey married
you-and Corey died"
Perilla raised piteous face to look
into Fields eyes.
II can't help feeling" she said,
'that I have enough to bear in the
loss of my husband, without the ter
ror of this monstrous accusation But
since it is in the air, it must be reck-
oned with. I thank you for telling
me frankly, as you have done, the
danger am in, and I hope it may be
averted. But I fear that cannot be,
so long as Madame Maiden is free to
pursue her wicked ways. She has,
too, an able assistant in that lawyer
of hers, Mr.. Farman, who is ready to
swear black is white if she says sc"
eyes, / know. Now here's what
want to tell you. Don't take this
thing lying down. Buck up, and fight
fire with fire. You have able lawyers
Garth and Gaskell are wizards.
And then you have the famous Mr..
Stone; surely he will find out any,
thing that seems to us mysterious.
From what Hilda tells me of your
father, I gather he's fine hacker,
and if you hold your head high and
show no fear of anybody, I'm sure
all will be we'll"
"You're awfully kind, Mr.. Field,
and I do appreciate it. And truly,
I've been keeping up a bold front,
but in the last day or two I've felt
disheartened. Now, your good advice
will help me, I've felt hisheartened
Now, your good advice will help me-
I'm sure, and I shall do my best to
follow it. l thought this trip would
be good thing for me, and taf1e my
mind off my troubles. But almost
wish I'd stayed at home"
"Now, now, don't feel like that
And don't call me Mr.. Field. Why
my sister-in-law was your brides
maid-that makes us related"
$50 it does-Hay." And Perills
gave him one of her old time smiles
"Now, let's go back to the crowd"
''Well, for the love of little pan
cakes cried Bob, who seemed to be
patrolling the corridor, IT thought
you'd never come out of conference. .
Gall over, Boldly, come along, this
is our dance and Perilla, tucking
her hand through his arm, led him
to the lounge wheer some dancing
was going on.
Garth is hunting for you," he
whispered as they danced, 'but you
can't 60 till this dance is over; you
said it was mine, and it is"
j Gall right, but don't hold me SC
closely. cam breathe"