His wrists were circled with handcuffs. The President looked over his spectacles at the irons and spoke sharply: "Take those things off him" The guard hesitated, and the high pitched voice rang with angry authority: "Take off those handcuffs, I tell you. His mother'll be here in a minute-take 'em off!" The guard quickly removed the manacles and the President turned to him and his attendants: "Clear out now. Ned bowed: "Thank you, sir." I'll call you when I want you." "I hope I can do more than that for you, my boy. It all depends on you 99 The mother's cry of joy stopped him short as she walked into the door. With a bound she reached Ned's side, clasped him in her arms and kissed him again and again with the low caressing words that only a mother's lips can breathe. He loosened her hands tenderly: "I'm glad you came, dear. It's all right. You mustn't worry. This is war, you know." "But we're going to save you, my darling. The President's going to pardon you. I feel it-I know it. That's why he sent for you. prayer." God has heard my "I'm afraid you don't understand these things, dear," Ned replied tenderly. "The President can't pardon me no one understands that better than I do" "But he will, darling! He will—” Ned soothed her and turned to Betty. "Just a moment, Mother, I wish to speak to Miss Betty." He took her hand and looked into her face with wistful intensity. We "One long look at the girl of my dreams and I'll wait for you on the other side! This is not the way I told you I would return, is it? But it's war. must take it as it comes-good-bye-dearest—” "O Ned, Boy, the President will pardon you if you'll be reasonable. You must, for her sake, if not because I ask it.” "It's sweet of you to try this, dearest, but of course, it's useless. The President must be just." The tall figure rose and Ned turned to face his desk. "Young man," he began gently, "you're a soldier of exceptional training and intelligence. You knew the danger and the importance of your mission. You have failed and your life is forfeited to the Nation, but for your mother's sake, because of her love and her anguish and her loyalty, I have decided to trust you and send you home on parole in her custody if you take the oath of allegiance The mother gave a sob of joy. "I thank you, Mr. President," was the firm reply, "for your generous offer for my mother's sake, but I cannot take your oath. I have sworn allegiance to another Government in the righteousness and justice of whose cause I live and am ready to die "Ned-Ned!" the mother moaned. "I must, Mother, dear," he firmly went on. "Life is sweet when it's worth living. But man can not live by bread alone. They have only the power to kill my body. You ask me to murder my soul." He paused and turned to the President, whose eyes were shining with admiration. "I believe, sir, that I am right and you are wrong. This is war. We must fight it out. I'm a soldier and a soldier's business is to die." The tall figure suddenly crossed the space that separated them and grasped his hand: "You're a brave man, Ned Vaughan, the kind of man that saves this world from hell-the kind that makes this Nation great and worth saving whole! I wish I could keep you here-but I can't. You know that-good-bye" "Good-bye, sir," was the firm answer. The mother began to sob piteously until Betty spoke something softly in her ear. Ned turned, pressed her to his heart, and held her in silence. He took Betty's hand and bent to kiss it. "You shall not die," she whispered tensely. "I'm going to save you." She felt the answering pressure and knew that he understood. Betty held the mother at the door a moment and spoke in low tones: "I can get permission from the President to delay the execution until his sister may arrive and say goodbye to him in prison the night before the execution. Wait and I'll get it now." The mother stood and gazed in a stupor of dull despair while Betty pressed to his desk and begged the last favor. It was granted without hesitation. The President wrote the order delaying the death for three days and handed her his card on which was written: |