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Graydon sat with his chin in his hands, dull, stricken, crushed He had heard the story of his father's baseness from Frances Cable, and he had been told the true story of Jane; froby he learned of the vile transactions in which his father had dealt At first, he could scarcely believe his own ears, but in the end lie saw that but--half the truth could be told

It was past o to his own home, but to that of Elias Droom He kne that the newspapers would devote coluh life"; he knew that Jane would suffer agonies untold, but he would not bla over the tall greyside at last; he knew that shame and humiliation were to be his own share in the division Down so heart he nourished the hope that Elias Droom could ease the pain of these wretched disclosures

As he traversed the dark streets across town he was vaguely wondering whether Jane's eyes would ever lose the pained, hopeless expression he had last seen in them He wondered whether she would retract her avowal that she could not be his ith the shame upon her; he rejoiced in her tearless, lifeless promise to hold him in no fault for what had happened

Distressed and ht in Elias Droo before the little stove which his host replenished fro the weary hours

Droom answered his questions with a direct tenderness that surprised even hi ment until after he had heard his father's side of the story

"I've been loyal to James Bansemer, Graydon, and I'll still be loyal to hiht by other people, but he has tried to do right by you"

"If he wanted to do right by me, why did he not tellman bitterly

"Because he really wanted you to , but anybody can see she is without a flaw That's the truth, Graydon Your father rong in his desire to make capital of it in connection with Mrs Cable I told hi He was so used to success, you see Can't you go to sleep, boy? You need to"