Part 45 (2/2)

”What is it, Horace--that squatter again? Has he made a move against us?”

Horace bent over and took her hands in his.

”He has not only made a move against us, as far as the children are concerned, but he has used an instrument you would never have dreamed of.” Seeing his sister did not reply, he went on, ”Just what legal procedure they will undertake I don't know; but that will come out in time. Cronk went to Everett Brimbecomb with the case, and I was notified this morning by Everett to give up the children.”

”Everett!” breathed Ann, disbelieving. ”My Everett?”

”Yes, your Everett, Ann. Don't, child, please don't! Ann, Ann, listen to me!... Yes, sit down.... Now wait!”

He held her closely in his arms until the storm of sobs had pa.s.sed, and then placed a pillow under her head and went on gravely:

”Ann, I have come to this conclusion: you love Everett dearly, and I cannot understand his actions; but I'm not going to intrude upon your affection for him, nor his for you. I'm going to ask you not to take sides with either of us. I'm a lawyer, and so is he. Do you understand, Ann?”

Fearfully she clutched his fingers.

”But Fledra and Floyd--I can't let them go back, I can't! I can't!”

”They're not going back,” said Horace firmly. ”Mind you, Ann, even to renew my friends.h.i.+p with Brimbecomb, I shouldn't give them up.”

”Renew your friends.h.i.+p!” gasped Ann. ”Oh, have you quarreled with him, Horace?”

”Yes, and told him to leave my office.”

Ann sobbed again.

”What a fearful tragedy is hanging over us!” she cried.

”It is worse than I imagined it could be,” Horace declared; ”much worse, for I never thought that the squatter could get a reputable firm to represent him. And as for Everett--well, he never entered my mind. I told him that he could not take those children, and that he might--”

He remembered plainly what he had said, but did not communicate it to his sister. She was so frail, so gently modest, that an angry man's language would hurt her.

”I told him,” ended Horace, ”to do whatever he thought best, and that, if Cronk came here again, I should shoot him down like a dog. I think we ought to tell Fledra, and then, too, I desire to speak to her of something else. Can you bring her to me, Ann, without frightening Floyd?”

It did not need Ann's quiet plucking at her sleeve to tell Fledra that the blow had fallen. She had expected it day after day; until now, when she faced Horace and looked into his tense face, she felt that her whole hope had gone.

Ann tiptoed out before her brother opened his lips.

For a moment the hara.s.sed man knew not what to say to the silent, trembling girl.

”Fledra,” he began, ”the first move has been made in your case by your father.”

”Must we go?” burst from the quivering lips.

”No, no: not if you have told me the truth about your past life--I mean about your father being cruel to you.”

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