The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-10-27
CHAPTER xvI-Continued

pleadingly.
"Rab?" Miss Moss echoed. "You
mean Asa?"
LISA Strengthened, quick hope in
her eyes. mo, no." she protested.
''Rab is minel Is he all right?"
Miss Moss tried to collect her
wits. "Rab is hurt, but he will get
WE'LL" she said then, and she felt
new life flow into this girl. but
Asa is dead"
"Oh, I'm glad! I'm glad!" LISA
cried; and she demanded to know
what had happened. Miss Moss told
her swiftly as much as she knew;
and having done so, she ventured a
question in her turn. So LISA, cling
ing close to the older woman,
poured out all her story.
"Rab and were married over a
year ago." she confessed. "Father
and Mother knew; but we didn't tell
anyone else, because Rab's people
would disown him.
81 knew Asa too, and he used to
make love to me. So finally, to
make him stop, told him Rab and
I were married. But it didn't do
any good. He kept after me just
the same, and when threatened to
tell Rab, he said if did, he'd tell
old Mrs. Bowdon we were married.
So I didn't tell Rab; but last night
Asa kissed me, and Rab saw him,
and was furious with me, so had
to tell him. Then he was wild at
Asa"
She broke off, for they were come
suddenly to the top of Kenesaw Hill,
to the Tame house. Inspector Tope
hurried across the lawn.
Miss Moss saw how tired he was,
and held him hard for moment.
-'There," she whispered, "dear
mani" And she asked: Where is
Clint? Where is June?"
He pointed to the Bowdon house
little way off, where there was
lighted window on the second floor.
They're asleep up there. Miss
Leaford is in bed with blanket over
her; Clint in chair beside her, hold
ing her hand"
There was a deep exhilaration in
her; then turning to Tope she said:
$50 it was Asa? You know, picked
Rab, all the time"
Tope shook his head. ''He was in
Providence last night, when the fire
started" he reminded her.
81 thought he might have gone
down there and registered, and then
come back to set the fire, raced
back to Providence again. There
was time"
mo, he'd put his car up for the
night" Tope insisted. "He was
there, all right" He added awk-
wardly: 81 didn't tell you, but he
had a girl with him. They regis
tered as man and WIFE"
She remembered, suddenly, Lis
sa Thayer, and turned back to the
car.
LISA and her father were no long,
er there; so Tope and Miss Moss
went toward the house. They met
Doctor Cabler with Mrs. Taine in
the hall. Doctor Cabler explained:
"I'm sending Mrs. Tairie to bed.
She must rest"
Mrs. Taine protested YEARLY:
4'Rab needs me-"
"He's all right" the Doctor as
sured her. Ellis wife is with him. !"
And he and Mrs. Taine went on
upstairs.
Ellis wife?" Tope echoed incredu-
lousy.
ssOf course-Lissa. She was the
one with him in Providence" she
whispered.
Tope and Miss Moss withdrew un-
noticed. They went out on the front
porch together, and Tope sat down.
He shook his head helplessly. "Well,
that's one on me-" he confessed. ST
guess I'm getting old. l was sure
she was. married to Asa"
$50 was l." she admitted, eager
to comfort him now. "Till she told
me the truth, on the way up here
-. Now tell me about tonight"
And she listened while he recited
Che tale. II blame myself" he de-
clared at last, for holding off, wait
ing to be sure" And he said in a
somber tone: "Asa was mad, drunk
with killing. He had ladder ready
over there. He must have meant
to come back tonight, climb to
June's room, kill her and old Mr..
FIurder too" And he explained:
''Mrs. Taine gave June milk tonight.
] think Asa had drugged that; but
spilled it, like clumsy fool"
'Cabler says Rab can talk now, !"
Heale told them little later.
Rab had a twisted frown between
his eyes. LISA bent over him, and
Miss Moss saw his fingers tighten
ON her hand.
Where's Mother? I don't want her
20 hear"
asleep" Doctor cabler assured
him.
The hurt man nodded. Where's
Asa?" he asked then. No one an
swered him, but he seemed not to
notice this neglect. sit was about
Lissa," he repeated. "You see, she
and were married. We kept it Sc
cret, because Asa and June and !
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