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Show Jclll &D1C McCutcheon Copyright. 1906. by Hodd, Mtad &. Company ' of GrauaUrV Etc Q I CHAPTER XVII. 'riWO days passed beforo Da- tSfffi v' Cal,le wus ponnlttcd fri(YL to seo his wife. During ' P those trying hours ho lived l WC I nn ago of agony In suspense, sus-pense, she had been removed to her homo late on the night of the "holdup," "hold-up," as the newspapers felt justified In calling It. He did not go to liis.ofllco the next day nor the nest, but haunted haunt-ed her door, sleepless, nervous, held close by dread. A. dozen times at least ho sought admittance to her room, but was always turned away, cursing tho doctor and tlio" nurses for their Interference. Inter-ference. Ills worst fear, however, was that his wife would not forgive hlra. Not the dread of exposuro nor his own shame or remorse, not even tho punishment pun-ishment that the law might lntllct, could be compared to the fear of what might be her lifelong hatred. He grow to feel that the doctor, tho nurses, the servants, looked upon him with strange, unfriendly though respectful re-spectful eyes. In his heart he believed that his wife had 'cursed him in their presence, laying bare bis part in the unhappy transaction. At last the suspense became unbearable. unbear-able. He bad noticed a slight cbango In Jane's manner and nt once attributed attrib-uted It to something his wife had said, for Jane had been allowed In the sick room. The discovery that she was not his child had not as yet struck deep, Into his understanding. In a vague sort of way be realized that she was different, now that he knew, but it was impossible for htm to consider her In any other light than that of the years gone by. The time would come when tho full realization would cut into his heart more deeply than now, but at present a calamity of his own making was forcing all other troubles Into the background. Bis greatest do- sire was to reach his wife's side, to know the worst that could come of his suit for forgiveness. The evening of the second day he -swore that be would see her and alone. They admitted hlra, and be entered trembling in every nerve. Sbo was lying, white and haggard, in ber bed, her back toward him. He paused for an instant ana was certain tnat ne saw her shudder violently. It was significant She feared and loathed him. "Is it you, David?" he heard "her ask weakly. "At last! Ob, I was afraid that something bad happened to youl That" Ho threw himself on bis knees be-aide be-aide tho bed and wept with all the pent up bitterness and misery that was In him apd still ho was afraid to speak to her. Not a woa left his lips until be felt ber hand in bis hair a tender, timid hand. It was then that ho began pouring forth his cry for forgiveness. for-giveness. With a groan be checked her own appeal for mercy. "Wo can talk about Jane another time, not now," he cried. "I must 1J.V He threw lUmiclf on lis hnccs beside the bed. A, know that you forglvo me. 1 don't jr'k caro for anythlng-nothlug clso in the i"W world." When tho nurso camo in a fow minutes min-utes later ho was sitting upon tho edge of tho bed holding her hands In his. Their faces wero radiant "Pleaso stay out," ho said, almost gruffly. "For Just n llttlo while," his wife added gently. Tho nurso hesitated a moment and then left tho room. Frances Cablo told him Jano's history his-tory so far as it was known to her. IXo listened 'dully. "Sho will never know hor truo parents," par-ents," said sho luVtho end. "No, I supposo not," Bald ho, looking out of tho window. "You understand, don't you, David, dear?" sho said feoblv. "How I dread- I ed to liavo you learn tho truth after all these years, and, above nil. how I hoped that Jane might never know! I tried every means In my power to buy James Itansemcr's Bllence." Shi" burled her head shamefully In her arms. After a moment she went on: "He professes to love bis son, but his Is tho lovo nn nnlranl gives tho offspring off-spring it would destroy. And yet Grnydon worships him." "Aro you quite sure that Orajdou Is as unsuspecting ns you think?" "In regard to his father?" "In regard to Jnne." "Oh, I'm suro of It Ho is not a party to his father's schemes If James Dansemcr has not already told Graydon, ho never will. It Is not his plan to do so. Ills only object has been to browbeat mo into submission. David, it will nil come out right In the end, won't It? You'll forglvu me?" "Yes, dear, but this man," unit David Cable shook with emotion as ho spoke, "will have to answer to1ue. There will bo no moro to fear," U6 said reassuringly. reas-suringly. "I'll crush him as 1 would a snake." "David, you must not" "Don't worry," ho broke In. "I'll attend at-tend to him and seo that no harm comes to any one else. That man baa no business among honest people." "But, David, 1 was not honest with you," she confessed. "That was a long time ago, and she's as much mine as she la yours. So, what's the odds now? It's a facer, I'll admit, bat It can't be helped." It was thus that the man whose anger only a few hours before bad led him almost to crime now readily absolved ber of any blame. "Poor child, poor child!" ahe moaued. "It will break ber heart She is so proud and so happy." "Yes, she's proud. There M good blood in bet I don't wonder now that I used to think she was such n marvel. She's she's not just the same sort of stock that we are, take it us you will." "Sho never mu3t know I lie truth, David." "She's bound to And it out. dear. We'd better tell ber. It will be easier for her. Hausemer's fangs mutt be mado harmless forever. He shan't bother ber. Sbo'd better bear the story from us 'and not from him." "But Graydon? She'll I6se him. David." Da-vid." "I'm not so sure of it She's worthy of any man's love, and we must know that Graydon loves ber. I'll trust to that But, first of all, we must put It beyond the power of James Bansctner to injure her In any shape or form. Then, when I go after him Grnydon or no Graydon he'll know that thero is such a place as hell." "Be rational, David. Let us take our timo and think well, dear. 1 can't bear the thought of the story that will go out concerning me how I deceived you about Jane for years and years. What will people think of me? What will they say?" sbo almost walled. "Frances," said be, bis voice tenso and earnest, "that Is between you nnd mo. I Intend to say to the world, if occasion demands, that I have known from the first that Jane waa not our child. That will be" "Ob, David, you can't sai th.iV sho cried joyously. '.'I shall say It, dear old partner. 1 shall say that you took hsr from tbe asylum with my constat Tfctrti is only Jamea Bansemer to call me a liar, and bo will not dare!" "That old man Droom, David bis clerk. Tbe man who saved me he knows." "He Is In tbe boat with his master. He did save you, though. I'll spare him much for that. And I havo more to fear from him than you "think. Frances, I am suro he saw me night beforo last down thero at tho sea wall. Ho knows, I am morally certain, cer-tain, that you wero not attacked by n robber." "But, David, 1 was robbed. My rings and my pendant wero taken by somo one. If Droom was tho first jnan nt my side after you then ho must havo taken them." "I can't charge him with tho theft," groaned Cablo. "Ho saved your llfo and ho might ruin mlno. 1 would give anything I havo to know Just how much ho saw of tho affair. I can't account ac-count for his presence there, It seems llko fate." "It is Impossible for him to uccuso you,' David." "It is not Impossible, I'm afraid. Ho may havo seen mo plainly." "But I havo described my assailant to tho police. You do not answer tho description in any particular." In tho nest ten minutes the nurso came In twice to caution him against overtaxing her nerves, politely hlntlug that ho should depart nt once. Thero was no medicine, no nursing, no caro that could havo dono her so much good a's this hour with her husband. "It hurt mo moro than I can tell you, David, when I saw that you wero Jealous of him, I could seo It growing in you day after day, and yet I could not find tho courage to mako everything every-thing clear to you. Ob, how could you havo suspected mo of that?" "Becauso I am a man and because 1 lovo you enough to care what becomes or you. t wns wrong, 1 am happy to confess. Forglvo me, dear. I can't tell you how terrlblo tho last month has .been to me. I can't tdll you of tho bitter bit-ter thoughts I havo had nor tho vicious vi-cious deeds I havo planned. I was almost al-most insane. I was not accountable. I havo much to pay to you in tho rest of tho years that I live; I havo much to pay to my own conscience, and I also owo something to James Bansctner. Bansc-tner. I shall try to pay all theso different dif-ferent debts In the coin that they call for." "Wo owe something, you nnd I, to Jane," said sho as ho aroso to leave the room. "A confession and more lovo than ever, Frances. I lovo her with all my heart. When you are stronger wo will tell her that bIio Is not our child. We havo loved her so long and so well that sho can't ask for better proof of our devotion. That tcnlblo thing at tho sea wall must remain our secret, dear. Tomorrow I shall begin pulling James Banscmer's fangs." He found Graydon downstairs with Jane. A sharp look Into the young man's eyes convinced him that his questions concerning Mrs. Cablo and tbe latest news concerning tho efforts to take tbe bandit were sincere. Cablo held his hand for a long time; the firm, warm grasp was that of an honest hon-est man. As ho stepped out Into tbe night for a short walk over town be wondered, with a great pain in his heart If Graydon Bansemer would turn from Jane when be beard tbe truth concerning ber. ra4a CHAPTER XVIII. "r J T'S Harbert," said Ellas Pj Droom. H "Why didn't you say H to blm that I am busy? I J I don't want to see- him," unlu ills employer In a sharp undertone. Droom's long finger was on his lips, enjoining silence. "He said that you wouldn't want to Bee him, but that It didn't mako any difference. He'll wait, he says." They were In tbe private office, with the door closed. Banscmer's face was whiter and more firmly set than ever. Tho ugly fighting light was In his eyes again. "If he has como hero to threaten me, I'll kill blm." he Bald savagely. "Youll do nothing or tho kind," said tho clerk, with what was meaut to be a conciliatory sntile. "Meet blm squarely square-ly and bear wbat bo has to say." "Do you suppose sho has told Cable? Ca-ble? Ho may have sent Harbert here." "Cable's hands are tied. I know too much. If I were to tell tbe police wbat I know bo'd have a devil of n time getting tbe presidency of bis road. Besides, they both owo mo a vote of thanks'. Didn't I havo sense enough to mako it look like robbery?" "Yes, but curse your stupidity, they may charge you with tho Job. Nobody Would belicvo that Cablo would attempt at-tempt to rob bis own wife." "But they would In any event deuldo that ho had taken the rings to make It appear like robbery." Thero was a hard rap on the glass panel. "lie's bound to seo you, sir." "Well, then, show hlra in!" snarled Bansemer. "Mr. Bansemer will seo you, Blr," eald Droom suavely, opening tho door suddenly. "Thanks," said Harbert shortly, nc entered tho prlvato office and faced tho lawyer, who was standing near his desk. "I'vo taken advantage of your Invitation to drop In and seo you." "This Is ono of my busy days, Mr. Harbert," Bald Bansemer, determined to como to tho point at ouco. "However, "How-ever, I hardly expected a social call from you, so It must bo of a business nature. What is it?" "It concerns your sou, Mr. Bansemer. I'm hero in tho capacity of a physician. physi-cian. You must go away for his health." Harbert smiled as though ho thought It a good Joke. Bansemer turned red and then white. "I don't qulto appreciate' your wit, sir." "My humor, I'd suggest as a substitute. sub-stitute. Well, to bo perfectly plain, sir, your eon does not know tho truo naturo of tho malady. Ho" "Do I understand you to say that he really has nn atlmont?" exclaimed Bansemer seriously. "It isn't hopeless, my dear sir. My only deslro is to keep him from over finding out that ho has a malady, no Is suro to learn the truth If you remain bora " TO BE CONTINUED. |