The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-06-03
he j "a QX9Ul E15B
" by Mary lmloy 1aylorA&nSMT

about it; a deathbed confession,
suppose; something dramatic! OFT
and on I've asked about you In
prison; I was playing for time;
for years I haven't been we'll
man, and now the doctors give me
two years at most. I'm going to
die that's certain. I thought you
could wait, but-Tve heard some
thing about that" He shifted his
position slightly, frowning, think
ing of PANS bowed head; it was
true that she touched the only
soft spot in his heart. Il see how
you feel" he went on, "but I'm
giving you your revenge. AS for
myself, I suppose if man does
the square thing in the end, it's
something. I've got Fosdick here
to take charge of it. He can go
ahead"
It'll be ruin, Burleson! My God,
why didn't you speak then - or
not at all?" Fosdick cried.
Burleson, handing him a paper,
looked at him oddly.
"They can't send me to the
chair?"
"They won't; it's second de-
gree" said Fosdick dryly. Its up
to. me to get it light for you-but
this silence-the other fellow suf-
fering!"
Insane temper, temporary aber-
ration no end of money for
alienists; Fosdick saw a hundred
lawyers ways of fighting it for
months - he mustn't die in .prls-
on! "Tll make a big fight, but"
he stared at Burleson bleakly -
IMAM, it's a disgrace-it'l ruin
you all! The country'll ring with
it; you're known everywhere"
Burleson's gray face twisted; he
turned and glanced at Mark.
''This young man here would
say it was fair and that had my
SHARE" he remarked dryly, mot
that I've escaped-Ive had a liv-
ing hell of it for years"
Mark said nothing. He turned
suddenly and walked to the win
dow, staring out with unseeing
eyes. The thought of those fifteen
bitter years. of the convict's lot,
of his lost youth, and this man
safe and sleek in high place. Then
he heard Fosdick's voice - the
rasp in it weakened into a husky
growl.
1.-TWO years? Good heavens;
you might as we'll have waited.
Then it would be only a nine
days wonder; one to be punished.
Now-they'll send you to PRISON."
There was silence, then Burle-
sons voice. my wife's dead; the
boys, too; that's all there is to it.
Of course the others"
eyes, the othersn' barked Fos-
dick, staring hard at Marks back;
of course it was a vindication, but
this man-had stood so high!
Burleson touched the paper on
his desk. you'll put it through,
Fosdick. I'm tired of it; I'll take
it when it comes. Now" He
turned, too, and glanced at the
young man at the window you
can both leave; I've done my
share"
Fosdick rose; he was white and
his eyes starred, but he took the
paper. It'll mean a trial." he
said harshly; 'Pll have to drag
you into court"
Burleson, who had sunk lower
in his chair, nodded. MAKE it as
clear as you can-if I'm to go to
jail" he laughed discordantly,
turning to Mark. young man.,
you're avenged; it's harder for me
to go to Jail for two years now
and to die there than it was for
you. You've got your life before
you-Tm done!'
He doesn't count that" said
Fosdick dryly; Its revenge that's
sweet. Burleson."
He was tucking the confession
into his breast pocket, but the mo-
tionless figure in the window
rasped on him.
You'll be needed, too, Grant"
he said sharply; "Tll have to ask
your pardon for my treatment of
you; they'll make everything
right in court noW-and you can
have it put in the papers,"
Suddenly Burleson groaned.
The hideous publicity of it made
him vince. He seemed to hear al
ready the strident calls of the
newsboys-''Extry!"
Mark turned. There was light
in his face; he held his head high.
wait" he said to Fosdick; zone
moment! Keep that paper. I've
had fifteen years-I can afford to