The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-03-12
CHAPTER XVIII

ACAEs SlC4OLAES LlAS N01A ~AA~ A---Nf
drew Cherry into the drawing room
You're hots" he said anxiously.
Feel all right? You haven't caught
cold9"
No, I've been near FIRE Kelly,
what's happened"
His hair was unused: his eyes
were dark with fatigue. He put MS
arms about her. and their cheeks
touched.
What a comfortable person you
are, Cherry." he said. But your
face feels hot, sweetheart. !"
HAS it been horrible, Kelly?"
ssWell, bad. Yes" ne admitted.
s'But they don't believe her. KEEL
ly?"
ssThey didn't for a while. l don't
know what they believe now"
''You told them she was lying?"
ST told them the truth. feel
sorry for her, but I wish ! knew
what she's after"
They'll not believe her" the girl
said confidently.
''They didn't to begin with. But
after several hours = You know,
Cherry" Kelly said interrupting
himself, ''it occurred to me for the
first time today what a conviction
means to an innocent man. 1t hap
pens. It's even happened when it
was carried as far as execution. /"
s'Oh, hushl" she said impatiently.
'sYes, / know. But I'm not talk
ing about myself. I'm just saying
that there have been cases of inno-
cent men being convicted. It's the
damnedest feeling. Evidence piling
up. and men whose mentality isn't
of the first order weighing it and
misconstruing it and coming to their
own conclusions. Hours going by
and smoke thick in the air, and
woman as white as sheet answer
ing and sitting still and answering
again. Mr.. Coates and I had often
said we wished my husband was
out of the way Mr.. Coates had
told me of poisons, without ever
mentioning that he thought we
would ever use them.'
''She didn't say that!"
.sOver and over. She had them
guessing, all right"
'sBut what did you say?"
"That I had never had the slight
est animosity toward the judge, that
/ couldn't understand Mrs. Marsh
banks statements only
stopped in to see you minute, dear.
I'm on my way home; III be back
tomorrow.
s'Kelly!" Instinctively she chung to
him, her eyes frightened. Don't 60
away! If could only go with you!
If we could only be alone over there,
out of all this, where it's cool and
quiet, just by ourselves! If we could
have a fire, talk and forget it ALL"
1--WE will, Cherry. This won't last
long. Before you know it we'll be
heading for San Rafael, Wen get
that license, and have lunch, and
then go back to Topcote, and fuss
around getting it ready /. -
st sounds like heavenl" she
stammered, laughing through tears.
Then she raised her face for his
last kiss.
May stopped Cherry as she was
slowly and thoughtfully mounting
the stairs.
would you 60 in to see Mrs.
Jud, please?" the maid said.
Cherry's voice was all reluctance
and distaste. 'sDid she ask to see
mel"
''She did before ever Mr.. Coates
left. She was so upset we tele-
phoned the DOCTOR"
Cherry" Fran said, in tragic,
quiet voice. ''Sit down, won't you?
Has Kelly been talking to your"
Eyes, we were talking" Cherry
said coldly. And then suddenly
breaking, and sinking on her knees
before the bed, Fran, how could
you! You know you had nothing to
do with this all, and you know Kelly
didn't"
II think I'm going crazy" Fran
whispered, her eyes closed, her fe-
verish hand tight on Cherry's. Il
suddenly suddenly wanted it all to