The evening world. Newspaper, June 8, 1916, Page 14

Pom Story No. 6 SOWING THE WIND The sixth of a series of separate stories Gealing with the commission of crimes inviting judgment upon both actual guilt and real responsibility. Copmght, 1 by Mrs, Wilson Woodrow, E were two pictures on Marjorie Turnbull's dressing table, But in her heart there was only one, On the table, nestling t graphs of Henry Scott and of his handsomer and younger brother, gajary, as I happen to in big ailver frames, were the photo- TLL LTT LIC ORL At CNet Rt aatee neta rae epee THE EVENING WORLD, THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 1916, | D POTSODSDPOI1 O08: ” opened ft, In the main compartment was & pi in such weird disarray as to bring @ pang of dis- gust to hie orderly aout. Patiently he sought to put them to rights, at the same time searching for “the bond envelope, As his hunt went on and he afd not find It, he worked with more feverish rapidity. Every compartment in the safe was ran- wacked and then every drawer in every desk and table of the outer of- fice, The envelope wan not there, His brow clouding, Henry went back to the private office, “The Hopkins bonds,” he said hesl- tatingly, “are missing.” “Missing?” roared Turnbull, leap- ing to his feet, ising? Seventy- #ix thousand dolldrs’ worth of nego- tiable securities missing? And Hugh Scott is ‘missing’ at the same time! ol" denied Henry, — flercely. “You're wrong, sir. My brother’ —— “Your brother is lazy, pleasure-lov- ing, extravagant. He lives above his Bagh. heart the image Scott reigned alone, he ts in debt. His creditors are or be pie ering him. And this morning I a, oe is a OY eee threatened to discharge him He And he had taken both of them tato bis fast-growing brokerage firm. was in @ tight corner, And he van- vanished, after the old broker's own type—honest, clever, ished. The Hopkins bonds time these qualities made him manager of the too. What is the answer?” “I don't betieve it,” declared Henry. on. “1 won't believe it.” Hugh frenkty bated work. As @ result he had more of it to do than fee your brains, man” urged had his more ambitious brother. For, when Henry rose to the position Turnbull. “I gave you those bonds where brains work barder than body, "Hugh still slaved away at manual @n hour ago. You gave them to your iter office, brother, to transcribe the numbers. Yabor as a bookkeeper in the outer , Not another soul has been in the Being only mortal, he naturally laid his miechance at the door of hard outer office since then. He haa di luck and would have sworn that his brother owed hiv rise to fortune, plus appeared favor. Moreover, he loafed eullenly over his own daily tasks. it in ‘There was one glint of ligh Hugh's dreary, gray routine, and that was hie 1s only daughter, iy in love with Marjorie. He was crazily he jarjorie and that Cyrus ‘Turnbull fa- Wass the lattere suit and frowned on bis own added to Hugh's fervor. And ardor was for once rewarded. For Marjorie was quite swept off her feet by Hugh Scott's whirlwind courtship. His good looks, his gay impetuosity, her father’s disapproval of such @ match—all these were pow- erful allies of the young man. Youth seeks youth, And youth is romantic enough to prefer @ course of true love that does not run too smoothly. Wherefore Marjorie’s !m- pulsive heart welcomed Hugh and beat but coldly to his more worthy elder brother Henry. Knowing Cyrus Turnbull's desire to have her marry Henry and his sifong contempt for Hugh, the two young people kept their engagement a secret, which added to its zest for them both. Their stolen meetings were a do- light. Marjorie took to coming to her father’s office at odd times during the day on various pretexté that gave her @ chance for a minute or #0 with Hugh. J One noon she went downtown in her little runabout to take her father home to lunch. When she arrived ‘Turnbull ané@ Henry were closeted together, discussing « bit of impor- tant business in the former's private room, Hugh was alone in the outer office, correcting a balance sheet. Marjorie lingered there, instead of going into the next room to announce her presence to her father. The two lovers—making certain the office hoy was not in sight—em- braced rapturously. “Oh, sweetheart!” said Hugh. “It's like a check an a letter to see you! ‘This has been such a rotten morning. Just one of those days nobody wants. Hverything’s gone cross-wise. Your revered father ‘has been calling me down and"— “What a shame!” flashed the girl. “1 wish I" “Oh,” interposed Hugh with forced lightness, “I'm getting used to it, It happens about five times a day. This morning it was because I happened to be thinking about you when | was adding up @ cusiomer’s account, I credited him with something like $4,000; when, as a matter of fact, his balance is down to about $9. “And father objected? Why didn't you tell him you were thinking of me?” F “Because I didn't hate him enough to give him a fit of apoplexy. He told me I was a dead loss; that 1 was the most careless employ and that if I didn’t take a brace he'd fire me. “How beastly poor, poor bo: she consoled, “You I do wish I could help! I know how it feals to have people spoil one's day, Mra, Hardy spoils mine nearly always.” “Mrs, Hardy?” repeated Hugh, sur- prised. “But how?" “Oh, ever since she came to us as housekeeper she's been setting her cap to marry father, She thinks {f 1 were safely married and out of the way he'd he so lonely he'd marry her, And she's forever nagging at me to marry Henry and hinting to father that” “The old cat!" “Yes,” warmly agreed Marjorie, “Ien't she? This morning, as 1 was coming into the breakfast room I heard her saying to father: ‘If you don't look out she will be marrying Mr, Hugh Scott instead of his broth. “She sald that?” exclaimed Hugh. “What did your father?" “Father had no chance to answer her at all. I walked right in on them, and I said to her: ‘I am going to marry whom I choose, But | don't think you can.'" "Good for youk applauded Hugh. "Clever girl!” “She was mad as wrath and eo was father, Oh, I hate it at home!” “Lagten, darling!" suid Hush, draws A in the office f {ng her close to him. “I have an idea —an idea that's eo crazy it’s inapired, What Mrs. Hardy said proves our secret isn't @ secret any more. (Lov- ers’ secrets seldom are, I find). And now that she's put your father on his guard he'll try to keap us from seoing each other at all. Here's my tdea— let's get married; now, to-day, this noon!” “What?” ‘T mean tt. We can go out now. The nearest justice of the peace can marry us, And we can come back here as if nothing had happened. ‘Then, if your father says: ‘Keep away from Hugh Scott!’ you can tell him: ‘Hugh Scott is my husband!’ " “But—but,” she hesitated, the reck- less idiocy of the idea firing her girl- ish blood. “Is {t quite fair to dad, to"— “Is It quite fair to you?” he retorted, “to have Mra. Hardy influencing him against you? Oh, sweetheart, I love you so! And I'm so miserable with- out you!’ Make me happy! Marry me to-day!" Again he caught her tn his arts, holding her close to him, his lips to hers. Aroused by his enthusiasm and wholly carried away by his plea for happiness, she crie “Yes! Y dear! It 1s the only way we can keep from being parted I'll do tt.” Hand tn hand, laughing like two children, {hey ran to the door, At the threshold Hugh paused. “Walt a second,” he said. against the rules to leave valuable papers lying loose on the desks, And hereafter I'm going to obey rules and settle down to my office work as a married man should, I'll begin by putting’ this stuff in the safe.” As he spoke he turned toward the wall desk at which he had been ait- ting. It was littered with papers of various sorts, including an envelope “It's So have the bonds. It's a clear case. He wheeled about and caught up the telephone, Before Henry Scott could stop him Turnbull had called up Police Headquarters and was telling his story to the desk lieuten- ant. Henry took an eager step for- ward to check him in the midst of his recital, but Turnbull angrily waved him aside and went on with is report to the police. There,” said the older man, at last, as he set down the instrument. Now I embezsled is far more than this $76, 000. “You would do this? sputtered would blackmail me Turnbull, “You into promising mercy to @ thief? “Tt the thief chances to be my own brother, yes.” “But I have trusted you. I am as fond of you as if you were my own #on—as I hope one day you may be, You would shake my firm's credit by saying”— = give me your word not to pronecute,” persisted Henry, “Not only for your own sake, but for the @ake of our father, who was your friend Turabull threw up both bands in wulky surrender. “Have it your own way!” he snap- ped. “I promise. But you'll let me scare him @ Ifttie first for his own good. I'll make the Police find him and bring him baok, I'll lot him think I'm going to aed the charge. Do you that?” Honry, regretfully, after &@ lesson, The fear of him and bring him here. bim believe you will send to Then set him free and give im another chance.” “Another chance? echoed Turnbull, Do you mean another chance in my office? Another chance to rob me?” “He ts not a thief at heart. He was tempted beyond his strength. The les- son of filght and capture will give him a horror of theft and of the lazi- ness and dissipation that lead to theft. You will have no better or more honest employee than Hugh when your discipline has done its work.” “Tll—T'll think it over,” sald Turn- bull, grudgingly. “One thing more,” persisted Henry. “From the time I came here fifteen years ago you've advised mo in the investment of my salary and my in- heritance; and this advice has en- An inte Ploture Bein eyes, hie deadly pale and sweating face, his trembling hands. It all o ned confirmation of Henry’s Tellessly logical accusation, “The police have already spread the net for him,” finished Henry. “And the moment he ateps into the street be will be caught, He"—— Hugh saw that neither his bride nor his brother believed him. He turned and ran to the window And looked down o the street, Directly below him, on the sidewalk, stood a police- mun, an officer Who was on peg-post in front of the building and who ha come on uty but @ minute befo: Hugh had often noddea to the man on his way to and from work. The bluecoat chanced to be looking upward. His gaze lighted with quick and cager recognition as it fell on Hugh, Breaking into @ run, he dashed Into the butlding, This completed Hugh's growing Panic. Hie nerve and his powar to think, both all at onoe deserted him. He was now obsessed by an insane impulse to flee, for he believed this to bo the only thing left him to do, At @ stride he was beside the hor- Tified Marjorie, He caught her in his arms, kissed her, and then ran head- tong from the room. + Before either his bride or Henry @ould stop him, Hugh had bolted down the corridor at top speed. Through the blindness of terror he had just sense enourh to realize that he must inevitably be caught should he de- ecend by the elevator to the main en- trance. And he remembered that a line of fire escapes was attached to the rear windows of the old-fashioned office building. An unoccupied office door stood open. Hugh sped Into the room and to the window. In another second he was dashing down the fire-escape. Marjorie hag made as though to follow the fi ve into the corridor, But Henry barred her way. “No,” he said, imperatively. “It is tis only chance. If he is taught the fear of the law and the fate that pur- sues criminals it will be a lesson he will never forget, The police will find “YOU ‘FRAMED’ ME SO YOU COULD MARRY THE WOMAN | LOVE!” “That's settled, ‘Tho police are going that contained $70,000 worth of bonds te wond out a general alarm at once eiint ahaile to all the precinets and Just @ long and labelled manila Qascription of Hugh to other cities. Wrapper whose contents represented Wo'}! have him by the heels soon ore actual cash than the yearly sal- enough! oh al y of the President of the United | “Mr. Turnbull!” broke in Henry, pds 3 his face white, his Jaws set. "I be- With one careless sweep of his hands Hugh jumbled the mass of pa- pers together so that he could tumble them into the safe, The gesture set the documents against one another, The bond envelope was at the rear of the desk, where Hugh bad tossed it, after jotiing down the numbers, It lay with its edge Just above a nar- TOW open space between the desk back and the wall And now the sudden jostling of the other papers against it sent the envelope toppling, unnoticed, down this space, like # letter dropped into wostbox. Down it went, sliding to floor and hidden from sight: by k-board of the desk did not notice its fall 4 man js about to run away to be ried bis mind is seldom on petty etails, He gathered up all the pa pers he saw, crammed them into the safe and twirled the metal knob, ‘Then, hurrying to the doorway, where Mar- jorie wal he put his arm around her and thes wh the hall- way toward th As they went he sald in “Let's ma secrecy When the old chap's solemn face when he bears I've won his girl.” “But why hurt his feelings?" she objected, “He is so good and he is eally fond of me." He's got to know some time, hasi Hueh argued And he'll he UN Square ourselves with your father when the explosion comes. He has all sorts of influence with My, ‘Turn Ml--Down he added, shouting levator, in Turnbull's private of- Scott and his employer 1a decision on the bust on they we discussing If it comes to @ question of further collateral in the Bogardus loan," Henry said, as he was leaving the room, “Hopkins says we ean put up that block of bonds he deposited with us, The face value $s $76,000; and they mature—they mature In—I for- get the date. But Hugh will know, I left them with him an hour ago." pped to or of the outer dugh isn't he must be out at lunch, But, fo! he's put all his papers back in the safe. He" ‘If he has, Turnbull, “it's ¢ the first tine on record, He must be 1, Just take a look through the will you, and find the date when those Hopkiy® bonds mature?" disyry crogegd io tho gate apd to jostling roughly lieve you are doing iny brother a te: rible injustice, 1 grant you that he weak and foolish and rash, but he has never been dishonest.” “Never that we know of,” coun- tered Turnbull, “And there must be time to everything, even to © is no proof’—— “The police seem to think there ts enough. “They don't know Hugh—as I do “Phey will get to know bim better “Hugh has not done this thing.” “seott,” reproved Turnbull, “it is your heart talking, not your judg- ment, Your brain has already proved to you that your brother stole those bonds. [can see it in your eyes. It's your soft heart that denies it.” has always been ‘little to me," said Henry, wretch- “ever since mother left him in care when she died, He was a baby then, and 1 wags @ schoolboy. ined that time I've tried to up to him for the loss of our I've parents, But lately, perhaps, neglected hun for my work, Tm as much to blame as he, 1 shou! have ched him more closely, 1" Nonsense!" returned ‘urnbull. “You've stood between him and trou- ble 9 million times; but this Ume you can't “Perhaps [ can,’ was the steady answer, as an odd Mght came into the brother's sorrowful eyes. “You can’t!” contradicted ‘Turnbull You are mistaken," sald) Henry ix one tuing Lean do, And if I shall do dt. You handed nds to me, t handed them At least, T just sald 1 did comes to worst, I'l tell the not Hugh, but I, who n. F insane!" sald ‘Turnbull, aghast. “perhaps, But that is what 1 shall do. Unless you give ine your solema promis not to prosecute Hugh.” y~my promise not to prose- cute fumed Turabull, “I am going to” “You are going to refuse. to prose- cute,” said Henry, with a quiet assur- anes that startled Turnbull, "You are going to promise me that. If you don't promise it 1 shall confess to the theft myself." one would ¢ story!" My experience 1s that every one belleves @ man who confesses to . any case, the evi. much agatnet believe euch an me as 1. He will deny, I shall 4 we'll both be believed. Nor will it be a light matter for you, because people will Wink the amount abled me to turn my. money over faster than most men of my age. So I can make so0d to you on my broth- er's defalcation—on every cent of it” “Wait till he is caught before we discuss that. Perhaps the police can bring him back before he has time to convert the bonds into cash, Hugh left no note of goodby, I suppose? A sentimental youn; fool like that would be apt to.” “t think I'd have seen it if he had. I looked pretty thoroughly through everything. I'll look again.” Henry left tho inner office, closing the door behind him, and crossed to the safe, As he was bending over to open it, he heard a voice in the cor- ridor that brought him to his feet, staring in dull amazement, Into the outer office, arm in arm, came Hugh and Marjorie, Their ‘faces were alight with happiness, “Hugh!” oried Henry, dumfound: as he stood gaping dully at his jue bilant brother, “Listen, old chaj glad triumph. “I've got a whale of a secret to tell you, We're marrie Marjorie and I!" Henry staggered back a step as though he had been struck across the face, He went deadly pale and his strong body shook in every nerve, Forcing the words from his tips, he demanded: “Where are the bonds?) What have you done with them?” “The bonds?” repeated Hugh, in a bewilderment that his brother's di ordered senses twisted into an aspect of guilt, “What bonds?” “The police are after you,” waid Henry, stung to anger by what he re- garded as Hugh's attempt to deny his guilt, "Dey are searching the city for you at this minute, The"—— “The " poli qua Hugh, nging color, “For me? 11 don't rstand," police?” echoed Marjorie ry turned oa her in & sudden cried Hugh in our dear husband," he said houy, “has stolen a packet of bonds, whose Value is $76,000, ‘The proof against him ts complete. Mr. Turn- bull hay notifed the police. They are king for him, It is @ iiracle they didn't nab him when you and he came in. Probably they Were not expecting him to return here, They"—— “It is not true!" flashed Marjorie, ay wrathful as Henry, “There {8 not one word of truth in it! Hugh!" she cried, turning to her bridegroom, “Tel him it ts not true” “It is true,” reiterated Henry, And briefly he set forth the evi- dence against his brother, As the chain of circumstances was completed Marjorie shrank back with a wasp of CRIED HUGH TO HIS BROTHER. him quickly enough and bring him baci “But I—out 1"——— “Don't ery, my dear,” he satd sooth- ingly, “and keep your head, Your futher is not going to prosecute him, He has promised me that. But we both agree that the fright will save him and make an honest man of him again, He is in no danger, Oh, how did you ever come to do so mad a thing to.zparey seckelly ? h “He the girl, me so! Every him. Henry, he can’t be guilty! “I would give my life to believe that,” groaned Henry, “And I tried to believe it-—-even against over- whelming evidence—till | saw his face Just now when I accused him, You saw— "Yes," she shuddered, “I saw, And Vil reniember it as long as Tive, Oh, it was horrible! Horrible! And the evidence 18 60 mercilessly convincing, Hesides, flight is confession, they say, What am I to do?” y nothing about your marriage, until “But it’s too late! On the way from the office of the justice of the peace I scrbbled a note, telling father, 1 left It at the house to be delivered to him as soon as he got home, 1 didn't want to tell him face to face, for fear he-—" “Good Lord!” then! Can What did you you remember? ve Just been married Forgive me,” It “I wrote: Ih to the man J love, was a ailly little scrap of a note, But~” “You didn't say it was Hugh you had married?” No, There was no need, Father Hardy sald to him It's all up, y in the note? only this mornin, They were interrupted by the vio- lent opening of the door leading from rridor. Across the thre i ) the outer office, hurried a tall, » aged woman of strikingly handsome appearan: In one hand she clutched an open lotte “Where is'Mr, Turnbull manded loudly. “What do you want of him, Mrs. Hardy?” evaded Scott, glancing at the letter she held so tightly, she de- “Private business!" snapped the housekeeper, “I must see him right away.” ‘im afrald you can't, Scott. ‘He is busy." And: ‘The door of the private office was opened and Turnbull came out. “1 heard some one asking for me,” he began, “What—Oh, {t's you, Mrs, Hardy? What is the matter Matter enough!" she — shrilled. his note was left at the housa I objected recognized Miss Turnbull's handwrit- dismay, ‘The confusion of innocence tng on the envelope; and I thought is much the same us the confusion of perhaps !t was some message [ could Built to the onlooker, And Hugh, is- tell you over the telephone. So I toning to the recital, Was dumbfound- opened it.” ed, In vain he protested hig innos Marjorie made a futile and belated cance, resting Series of Pathe Photopla Presented at the Leading Motion heatres In Greater New York, ys ODOPDDODODODODDOANT: it was already in her fath hands, Turnbull read it with unbelief and dismay stamped deep on his wrinkled “I told you it was Hugh Scott she cared for!" Mrs, Hardy exlaimed. “You see"—— Turnbull checked her with @ sharp gesture; then turned with a glance of cold fury upon Marjorie. The girl, pale but unflinching, drew herself up to meet his gaze. “You have disgraced yourself and me!" thundered Turnbull, “by marry- ing @ thief! He is a fugitive from Justice. Go and join him. “I'm done with you!” ‘ather!"” "Go!" he commanded. “Go to the thief you've married. You took him ‘for better or for worse.’ It is worse. Clear out!" “Pardon me, Mr. Turnbull,” inter- vened Henry, starting forward, and tting one arm about the hulf-faint- @irl as be faced her father. “This “Thie te no affair of yours!" raged Turnbull. ‘Keep out of it! “No affair of mine?” said Heary, quissically. “No affair of mine when you threaten to turn my wife out of your house? Where Marjorie a geen, 3 go. I had hoped you would ” news of our marriage lese angrily.’ Turnbull's jaw dropped in amaze- ment. He tried to speak. But words would not come, Mrs, Hardy gaped at Scott. Marjorie started violently and would have cried out a wild de- nial, But Henry placed his hand gently across her lips and said: “No, dear. Let me do the talking. Mr, Turnbull, your daughter is my wife, We married without letting you know because we knew that you were terribly overworked and over- worried here at the office just now, and we wanted to spare you the trouble and the time that would have been needed for wedding preparations, Since you disapprove of the match, all We can do Is to take ourselves off.” His arm still about Marjorie, he turned to leave the room, As he led the bewildered girl with him, he whispered quickly: “It 1s the only possible way to save you. Keep up the pretense, You can divorce me in another State later on I'll never force my love upon you.” Before they could reach the door, Turnbull had rallied from his trance of bewilderment. With a Joyous cry, he fairly flung ‘himself upon them, shaking Henry's hand with effusi delight; Kissing Marjorie again and again; vowing that this was the hap- plest day in all his whole long life. He overwhelmed the wretched|y un. happy couple with congratulations; at one breath playfully rebuking Henry @ for deceiving him, at the next, plead- ing Marjorie’s forgiveness for having dared to suppose ahe would be such @ little {diot as to marry Hugh. “And now,” interrupted Henry, when he-could make himself heard, “I am going to Syracuse on that Sanders loan. I got a telegram about it ten minutes “60. I'll be back as soon as can, leave Marjori care, sir.” ee cee “Going to leave your wife on—on your wedding day!” st astonished old man, eee “Business can't wa! said Henry briefly. “Happiness n. Goodby. T've just time to catoh my train.” if i Was out of the office Turnbull could find his voice, eT? “Well!” snorted the old man, star- ing after Henry, “Bridegrooms aren't what they were in my day, I can tell you, Marjorie, Business is business, of course, But to run away from his bride on their wedding da “i'm going home, ed Marjorie, “Goodby.” She could endure no more just now, Little by lite she was beginning to realize what Henry Scott had just sacrificed for her in taking the onus of marriage on himself, And she wanted to be alone—to think; and to reconstruct her ideas as to the worth of the two brothers who loved her. Next day, on the bank of the river, some tiles away, a rural constable found Hugh Scott's hat, In it was a note that read: “I am innocent, my innocence. everything,” From the spot where the hat was found footsteps led down into the water, Marjorie read the news of the sul- elde and was surprised to find her- self more concerned as to Henrys grief than her own, Henry Scott read it, and he bowed his head and wept the agonizing tears of mortal grief that come perhaps once into the life of a strong man, Cyrus Turnbull read it, And he Was sincerely sorry for his harshness toward the misguided lad, interrupt- But I cannot prove So I am going to end Three months later an ill-dressed figure crept through the twilight streets, sticking close to the walls and in the shadows, At a turn in the by- y he was treading he came face to with a policeman. A distant street lamp's glow fell on both their 8, ‘Tiugh Scott!" gasped the police- scizing him, yell," sighed Hugh, helplessly. “You've got me, Take me along. I'm sick of ‘hiding out.’ I couldn't keep aWay any longer. Arrest me, if you like, T won't resist.” “Arrest you?” echoed the policeman, with « big laugh. “That I'd ‘a done, Sladly enough, the day I looked up and saw you in the window of Turn- bull's office, But it's all off. D'ye Mean to say you haven't heard?” “Heard?” muttered Hugh. ‘Heard what? I don't understand,” “You're stringin’ me," sald the po- man, doubtfully; adding, with an access of the odd excitement that had marked his first glimpse of Hugh to-night. “But I keep forgettin’, You're dead. Leastwise, we" —— “That's what I wanted the police to think," replied Hugh. “It put them off my ‘track, I left a suicide note and waded into the river. I waded out again, half a mile beyond. Sinee then I've been tramping But was it you asked me if I'd hear: “About bonds, of course, Your boss Was havin’ some of the old fur- niture ripped out of his office last week. They pulled a desk away from the wall, And there was the package of bonds on the floor behind it, ‘Turn- bull notified the chief and"-—— Hugh Scott did not wait to hear any more, With the Joyous yell of a sclloolboy newly let out from study, he bolted down the street at a dead run He was safe! He was exonarated! He was free to take up his old place in Hfe! Above all, he was free to return to the wife he adored, the wife whose charm had dragged lin at the risk of back to tg home going to Qi! Marjorie bolted bia dilated effort to euatch the luckless note, Bug Later there would be plenty of time " Novelization By Mrs. Wilson Woodrow J POEDDNDODDOCODSTDOIGHDEDOONS: POO. * Hugh stepped out from behind the portiere. His face was greenish-white, his eyes were blazing like a maniac’s. His right hand gripped a pistol. As her glance fell on him Marjorie shrieked. Hugh moved toward his brother, snarling. for resentment at the injustice which had for three months made him a fugitive outcast. Later, too, there would be time to curse the weak cow- ardice that had made him fice like a felon, instead of standing his ground and declaring his innoce! But, for the present, there was no room jn his heart for any other emo rious happ! ness. drew near the Turnbull House. “Marjorie!” he chanted to himself as he ran. ‘Marjorie! Marjorie te wait- ing for mel” A prim and white-capped maid swered his summons at the door, At sight of the eupposedly dead Hugh, she screamed in terror and tried to slam the door in his face. But he pushed his eager way past her, into the house, crying: “Marjorie! Marjorie!” Mrs. Hardy, bearing the maid's shriek of terror, had conf out Into the ball, In biank fear she gazed on the returned wanderer, But she was a woman of chilled-steel nerves. And, on the instant, sbe realized what had occurred. “Where's Marjorie?” demanded Hugh, breathless. ‘Where's my wife?” “I don’t know where your wife ts,” returned Mrs. Hardy, puzzled at tho query, “I didn’t even know you had one, But Marjorie t living here any more. She's at — “Not living here?” he exclaimed. “Why not? Where ts she? If’-—— “She is at her husband's house, of course,” said Mra, Hardy. “Where else would she be? Though, for that matter, she might as well have stayed here, for all the home life she has. He and she have suites “Married to whom? “Why, to Henry, Three months ago. Ob, I forgot. It was after you'd gone. The same day, but"—— She paused, stricken into momen- tary silence by the awful look that orted Hugh Scott's features. Mur- der—stark murder—glared from his bloodshot eyes. He tried to speak; choked, and, wheeling, staggered out of the house, holding his hands in front of him as though he had been smitten with blindness. Mrs.,Hardy for once lost her cold poise. “Trembling, she ran to Cyrus ‘Turnbull's study and burst tn upon the dozing old man. “Mr. Turnbull!” she called, shaking her employer roughly by the shouldes! “Wake up! Sometuing terrible baa happened. Hugh Scott ts alive, And he's started for his brother's house to kill bim and Marjorie! Come, let us hurry and go to them! Red rage in his heart, Hugh Soott reeled oUt into tho street. One great purpose obsessed his soul—revenge on the man who had stolen his wife. To his fury-distorted mind, the whole mystery was clear. Henry, he told himself, had trumped up this bond-theft charge to get him out of the Way and to discredit him in Mar- jorie’s eyes, so as to leave for himself @ clear fleld to win the girl. True, such a course was wholly un- like anything Hugh had known Henry to pursue. And the hate-crazed man th unwillingly found himself remember- ing a thousand kKindnesses the older brother had showered upon him, Momentary contrition gripped him, at memory of Henry's tender affec- tion toward him in other days. His heart almost softened at the thought. But he drove the gentler impulee fiercely from his mind and forced himself to think only of the unforgiv- able wrong done him, “If Marjorie really caradfor him,” he muttered, with a half-sob, “T would not interfere, I love her enough to sacrifice myself for her happiness. I would give my life to make her happy. But she doesn’t care for him, She can't, He has tricked her into this—as he has tricked me, And he must pay! He shall pay! I've always sworn I'd some day make up to him for the million good turns he has done me, But now there's nothing to reward him for ut this one crowning injury! Yes, he shall pay!" In Henry Scott's new home an hour betore Henry himself had sat writing at his library table. In ealier days he had pictured a home like this and Just such peacefully busy evenings, But in those visions Marjorte had always been sitting beside him with her book or her needlework ready to smile back at him whenever his eyes should stray from his task to her dear face, In tuality the strangely mated husband and wife were even further apart than they had been in the days of Henry's futile courtship, Henry had kept his pledge not to force his Jove upon the girl he had clalmed as his wife, Marjorie had her own suite rooms and he his, as Mrs, Hardy said, And they seldom met except at meal times, Patiently and tenderly Henry had tried to soothe Marjorie's grief and to make her Ife happter, Never since the day of Hugh's 4 appearance had he spoken a word of love to her nor in any other way sought to draw her a ation to him- self, At every turn she was met b; proofs of his considerate care for her wellbeing; but he himself stood aloof from her life, To-night, as he tolled over somo dull office business Henry felt a great Joneliness that he could not wholly drown in his work, All his friends regarded hin as the happiest of men, He alone knew he was the most heart-broken, As he sat there, bent ever his desk, oiseless steps entered the brary nd him, of had A little pair of soft, were eyes. cool hands all at once latd over Henry's Their touch sent a wondrour THE SEVENTH EPISODE IN THE SERIAL “WHO’S GUILTY” Will Be Published THURSDAY, June 15 hri through the man’s whole body. “Marjorie!” he cried, incredulous; and ho sprang to his feet and stood at her. ‘ve brought my courage to the eticking point at last, Henry,” Mar- pragd faltered, her averted face flam~- 6 With blushes. “I'vo-I've come tn here to—to propose to you. it's leap year, you know,” she finished, in a oor little attempt at jest to hide her (00: lon, “Mar jorie!* qatenevine ; he wald again, stupidiy, “I love you, Henry,” she w: And then with & great cry of rap- gure he caught her in his arms, hea on bis breast she sobbed out her BWeet Confession, “I think 1 began to love you the very day you came to my rescue #0 splendidly tn dad's office,” she told him brokenly, “And ever sinco my Jove has been growing stronger and stronger as I've watched the self- sacrificing way you have tried to make me happy and to make up to me for—for Hugh. I hoped, for a while, that you'd tell me you loved me. But I saw you weren't going to, Th i to do It” eir lips met in a long, long kiss <their first. Then Henry, his sad face transforined, commanded gontly: “Get your things on, darling, as quickly as you can. We're going to the rectory, you and I—to be mar- riedi* While Marjorie was making read: ho drew from a table drawer the wed. ding certificate she hed given into his care. Dipping a fingertip into the ink, he smudged the name “Hugh” so that only tte first letter was legible. Then, pocketing the certificate, he telephoned the rector of their church “I bave @ queer request to make of you, Dr. Brous! t gyman. “W married, th of the peace performed Now, we both have deciloc to be married over again b ister of the gospel. It will seom more sacred to us, more worthy our creat love for each other. We want you to marry us. We will be at the reo- tory in ten minutes.” A half hour la from the rectory At last the w eremony want they re to t tohed relations was ended. actually husband and Into the library they ca outer hall: henceforth for words. + arms he gathered his iD his breast. And ag ‘The heavy portier hay window tw from behind its folds Soott. His face was greeni his eyes were blazing like a His right hand gripped a pistol As her glance fell on hi shrieked. Henry felt bis reel. Before elther ot move or speak Hugh moved towe his brother, snarling from betwecn writhing lips: “You ‘framed’ me, #0 yo ould steal the woman I loved! a only one fit penalty for a Judas like wat." His finger tightened on the pistol- trigger as he spat the words. Henry, shaking off the bewllderment that had held him, read the murderous in- tent in Hugh's eyes. ‘With a leap Henry cleared the space between the madman and himself’, seizing Hugh's pistol-hand and at the same time catching him by the throat. To the floor crashed the brothors tn thetr death-grapple. Over and over they rolled, fighting like rabid beasts. Chairs and tables were overturned. Twice the pistol cracked, but both times the bullet struck enly the wail of the room, Presently the meagre and unwhole- = life of the past four montha be- in to tell upon Hugh. Struggle as he might, ho cowld not hold his own against his stronger foo. Inch by inch Henry worked the pistol out of Hugh's weakening grasp. Securing it at last, he sprang to bis feet and stood over the conquered madman, Voices—the votces of Turnbull and Mrs, Hardy—sounded in the hallway outside, ‘The two newcomers were running toward the library, Henry turned toward the door, As he did so Hugh, with a last rally of strength, leaped up and flung himself him ‘The impact caused Henry's finger to pross upon the trigger. There was a report and the bullet tore through @ panel of the closed door, The door swung open—and Cyrus Turnbull's body was propelled tnto thd room sprawling heavily upon the floor at Henry's feet. ‘Tho bullet bad struck him as he opened the door. Close upon the heels of Mrs, Hardy followed a policeman y 4 Turnbull had called on journey to the house. dead man with Henry or him, pistol in hand, t ny Th upon » officer rushed d the supposed murderer “Wait! ordered Hugh nity re turning to him as suddenly as it had deserted hi I shot Mr. Turnbul ficer, [shot him, do you | And my brother snatched the pi om me, to take the blame Hughi" “—~ “Be still!” snapped F then, turning again to the polic cried an “My brother has paid my debts ofiar er than I had any right to ex; But this time L pay my own debt and perhaps pay back a little of I owe him, along with it. Be he loves him, Her eyes say so known that—! Officer, 1 shot My Turnbull, I did tt because ho falsely accused me of theft. Arrest m: (To Be Continued.) ”