Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/174

 questioning stare. John took the opportunity to frown at Mrs. John and shake his head.

But Edward, looking up suddenly, saw not only the questioning stare but the frown and the shaken head. It was just as if they had confessed everything to him. . . So that was it. . . He remembered what' the boys had said about James and the Jackson girl.

To leave behind them Mrs. John and her mother and the baby who so resembled James was a great relief to both John and Edward. As their train neared Bartow, Edward, who had been worrying, said, "Where shall we say we've been?"

"If we don't say anything," said John, "mother will think that you've been on the Aurora with me. But I think I'll have to tell father about my marriage. If anything happened to me, my wife would have to come to him for help, and it would be better if he were prepared."

"Nothing's going to happen to you."

"I don't want to tell father—if that's what you mean, Eddie."

"If you are going to tell him, I think you ought to tell him everything. I think you ought to tell him why you married her." Edward was pain fully embarrassed. "I think," he went on, "that I