The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-09-30
CHAPTER XIV

As she went to bed that night Pat
prepared herself for the next morn
ing. It would be the most important
one In her life. There had been
struggles in the McGraw household,
ones that she sometimes could not
foresee coming through. Burdens,
debts, responsibilities - but they
faded into insignificance in the
shadow Of this.
She hoped she could sleep and
in sleep forget for little while.
She brushed the soft dark hair
from her face and looked at the
shadows under her eyes. How was
one to know which code to fol-
low?
Love was supposed to surmount
all obstacles. She knew what
Larry would feel after her atti-
tude was made obvious. But her
love for him was dead. How would
Tom feel when he realized that
she was turning on the man she
had planned, to marry? Would q
doubt remain in his own heart as
to the quality Of her love? If she
could turn on one man could she
turn on another? Would there be
doubt in his own mind after thisp
And yet she would be doing the
only Just and honest thing there
was to do.
She would betray trust, give
Larry's secret away, but she
would stand by her own sense Of
right regardless OF what some
might think. Some would praise
her, others would lift puzzled
brows. Still nothing mattered now.
She had made up her mind, and
she would do as her conscience dc
tated.
! At court she watched for Larry.
He was there early, sitting be-
side Church and smiling with q
confident air.
Big Jimmy Burke waited for
court to begin, hitched his gun
holster UP around his waist and
sat down In the witness chair near
Pat "Well, the young man looks
happy" he said. And It's too bad
for Tom. Something about this
case doesn't smell good. I've a
bunch the boys guilty, but he's
built up fine case"
The girl nodded waiting for q
chsnce to signal Larry. She finally
caught his glance, nodded TO the
corridor and went out. He fol-
lowed her.
Larry - this has gone too far,
we made up my mind TO take
no stand II you insist. I don't
ant to, and I'm giving you time
% make other plans"
He interrupted with his old ia
iliar cool, unruffled smile. II
mt have to make other plans,
pit The case Is In the bag I'm
good as free now"
mo. Larry. You'll never be
free. That's what you must see.
What II you did win this case2
You'd always know In your heart
that you were guilty. And I have
something more TO say. Either
you 60 back In there and tell
Church you are going TO change
your plea to guilty, or I'll tell the
truth"
Her eyes were looking into his,
her voice was as calm as his own.
A faint flicker Of expression
passed over his face, then he
smiled confidently again. "Still
trying 10 dramatic the situation
aren't your"
mo I'm telling you the truth.
I'm not going to let an injustice
be done here, Larry. You've
killed the love ! had for you. It's
all gone, but you're not going. To
kill my code OF morals. That's
something I have to live with oil
the rest Of my life. I'm going 10
tell the truth unless you go In
there now and enter plea OF
guilty. I've given you every
chance could. I begged you 10
tell the Judge the facts, rely on the
mercy Of the court. You could
3 have explained that you were
completely upset and didn't know
what you were doing when you
ran away. But instead you plan
on climaxing this case by taking
the stand and committing perjury
n necessary to free yourself
That's why I'm stepping In now"
'You wouldn't dare" His voice
nov held q note OF unbelief'
"You couldn't"
me didn't answer, but met his
aane as coldly as though he were d
Stranger. -.
aYou'll make o fool Of yourself
you've sat In there during this
wlanle thing taken down testi-
mony and kept quiet. You can't
ID anything now. What q spot
you would be In, and what a spec
facle you'd make OF yourself" He
lauehed. "The reporters wouldn't
even bother with me after that,
You'd be o much better story
Your picture would look so much
better In the papers than mine.
+ suppose, though, that you've
thought Of oil that
She hadn't Those possibilities
had never entered her mind. Now
they slapped her In the face and
made her reel with the frightful-
ness Of II oil. OF course, she would
be made to look ridiculous. Hav-
ing sat there all during the pro-
ceedings silent, SNUG, holding
back evidence, with no excuse for
her Ignorance.
Back in the court were the men
who were her friends, men who
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