"You're--you're sure of
that?" he finally got out.
"Yes." She went on and told of how her suspicion had been aroused, of
her interview with Joe Ellison which had transmuted suspicion into
certainty, of her theory of the motives which had actuated Jimmie
Carlisle in so perverting the directions of the man who had held
Jimmie as his most trusted friend.
Larry was fairly stunned by this recital of what had been done. And he
was further stunned as he realized the fullness of what now seemed to
be the circumstances.
"God, think of it!" he breathed. "Maggie trying to be a great
adventuress because she was brought up that way, because she thinks
her father wants her to be that--and having never a guess of the
truth! And Joe Ellison believing that his daughter is a nice, simple
girl, happily ignorant of the life he tried to shield her from--and
having never a guess of the truth! What a situation! And if they
should ever find out--"
He broke off, appalled by the power and magnitude of what he vaguely
saw. Presently he said in a numbed, awed voice:
"They should know the truth. But how are they to find out?"
"I'm leaving all that to you, Larry. Maggie and Joe Ellison are your
affair. It's up to you to decide what you think best to do."
Larry was silent for several moments.
Pages:
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319