The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-05-13
e {i'S' j "a OH90l ]cfB
" by Mary Inlay Taylor nSNT

est fancy, but it kindled the
spark.
"Why ,Archie!'' Mrs. Lynn's
startled exclamation broke the
spell; she stopped with her hand
on the telephone receiver and
gazed at the young man in open
amazement. All her rules were
being broken. When had he
come? Why had no one an
nounced him?
Landon did not notice her ex-
preston. He had made up his
mind to burn his bridges. He
walked into the room and stood
in front of Mark.
"You've no right to stay in this
house, he said in a choked
voice; "the sooner you go the
better-unless you want me to
tell them the truth about you"
Mark looked at him and through
him. "My business here isn't
with you, but with Mr.. Burle-
son." he answered crisply; latter
that-perhaps!"
your business is with me"
Landon painted, "for l brought
you here. L" he swung around,
facing Mrs. Lynn's frozen look,
Burleson's streaked face and
PANS indignant eyes. Il owe
you all an apology! I brought
this fellow here by mistake; I
didn't know the truth. He's an
ex-convict."
Mrs. Lynn hung up the receiv-
err hastily and stood quite still.
No one else moved; the color
deepened in PANS face but her
hand still rested on Burleson's
shoulder.
1--WE already told Miss Rodney
that" said Mark, coolly; you're
a trifle late, Landon!"
mo, I'm not!' Landon retort-
ed with a sudden wicked intui-
ton; "you didn't tell the truth.
Mr.. Burleson, this man murder
ed his uncle for his money. Ask
Fosdick-he knows"
A strange little sound like a
moan came from the young girl;
she crumpled to her knees beside
her guardians chair Mark, dis
regarding them all, looked only
at her. She had hidden her face
in her hands and his heart turn
ed cold; he had been right in his
fears; she would not stand for
this final awful charge; what
woman would?
It seemed to freeze his emo
tons, even his anger, his con-
tempt for Landon grew cold. He
put up his hand with a futile ges-
ture, brushing back the hair on
his forehead. He felt himself
suddenly convict, he might have
been marching with his mates to
the Jail; the rest of it was a
dream. Then he heard Landon's
voice, shrill and womanish in it's
denunciation, and he longed to
seize him-this puny product of
society-and fling him out. He
turned and looked at him with
the contempt he felt, he was so
big himself, he was so much of a
pagan, as far as the world went,
that it would have been nothing
to pick the fellow up like a pup
Ply by the neck. His hands clench-
ed at his sides, his breast heaved;
he had taken a step forward when
Burleson's voice arrested him.
You'd better co. the million
aire said slowly, coughing a lit
tie, the red streak still flaring be-
tween his eyes, '"There's nothing
to say-here!"
Mark met his eyes; he hated
the man for his injustice. He
knew that Burleson could have
helped him. He remembered his
testimony against him, and he
had the jade god all the time!
No one had thought of that.
Landon, shaken by what he
saw in Mrs. Lynn's stiffening
face. in PANS bowed head, pur-
sued his point.
He was up for murder-fif-
teen years." he said, ''he's just
out"
Mark turned on him then, and
something in his look made the
other man give way. Uncon-
sciously, Landon stepped back
and Mark passed him, taking his
stand near the door before he
turned to face them.
Hes told the truth; I'm an
ex-convict and I was accused of
killing my uncle" he said in a
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