The Coolidge examiner., 1937-07-01
CHAPTER XIV-Continued


Jim knew that Mr.. Vaughn nei-
ther expected nor wanted reply.
He sat in the willow chair. silent
for the most part. now that he had
concluded his story. listening. wait
ing for Cecily to return. He felt a
bond Of sympathy with Mr.. Vaughn.
They both loved Cecily and wanted
to help her. There was nothing that
they could do.
When she returned TO the ve
randa. Mr.. Vaughn stopped pacing.
Jim sprang up from his chair. For
an instant a strained hushed silence
filed the atmosphere.
Cecily broke the silence.
Jerry is in his room," she said
quietly. You can talk to him now.
Father-if you think you must. if
there's anything left to be said"
Has be confessed?" Mr.. Vaughn
asked sharply.
''Oh. don't use dramatic words"
Cecily was weary and white but re-
assuringly composed. Jerry has
told me everything-if that's what
you mean"
''Sit down. Cecily." Jim said gen.
tly. You're terribly tired"
She lay in the long chair. her
fingers loosely linked against the
dull green Of her frock. Il want
you to know this, Jim," she said
looking up at him steadily. Moth
ing that happened was premeditat-
ed. When Jerry called you that
night. he had no other motive than
to get help for Dolly at once. The
thought Of letting you take the
blame came later when he realized
that you did not recognize his voice.
that you had no idea who had
knocked at the door"
81 was fairly certain of that"
Jim said. IF / hadn't been half
asleep"
She nodded Her eyes turned
from Jim TO her father. Jerry
isn't Vicious" she said. Hes
merely weak. How do you know.
Jim, what you would have done if
you'd been in danger of losing ev-
erything that you thought was i'm
portant and you'd seen chance to
prevent it? How do you know"
II don't know" Jim said.
There is such a thing as integ
rity." Mr.. Vaughn said soberly.
"The quality inside oneself that
makes one do the decent thing what
ever the circumstances"
Cecily sighed. Jerry hasn't
that" she said slowly. II think
I've always known that something
was lacking. except just at first. II
he hadn't run away. it would have
been different. / could have forgiv-
en- him for taking the car. for con-
soling himself with the Quinn girl
But to hide, to leave her hurt and
alone in the road, to let Jim take
the blame" A tremor ran through
her. shaking her composure.
viii you tell me-" Mr.. Vaughn
asked grimly. ''how he thought he
could get away with it? Does he
think you-an of us-are morons?"
81 don't know Yes. do" Geo.
ily's face. white against the dark
upholstery of the chair. was reso-
lutte and controlled. II can't evade
any Of this" she said. I've got
to make myself see it clearly.
must not keep a shred of any ro-
mantle Illusion" She drew a long
breath and went on. Jerry
thought if Dolly should die, the truth
might never be known. There was
nothing against Jim stronger than
circumstantial evidence. He told
me he knew you could get Jim
cleared, Father. If Dolly died
Well. she had gone with him will
ingly and anyone might have an
accident. Telling the truth wouldn'
bring Dolly back His reasoning
was all wrong. of course. But ]
can see his side Of it. too"
WAS he running away" Mr..
Vaughn asked. When you went up
stairs?"
NO" she replied. He was on
the point of confessing. His first
impulse was to run away but he
knew he couldn't, in broad daylight
with all Of us here. You see he
bad called the hospital He knew
that Dolly had regained conscious.
ness, that the hospital authorities
thought she was almost certain to
recover"
when did you suspect jeremy"
Jim asked. Why did you think
of him, Cecily?"
II think 1 suspected him little
right from the first" she replied
He knew the Quinn girl and he
was awfully angry that night"
But 1 knew Dolly. too" jim
said. You'd seen me with her al
Dutch's. Why were you willing tc
believe that l was telling the
truth"