THE SEMLWEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRA8KA.
ine Hollow
of Her Hand
&
3b " ' " fcJU3S
CHAPTER XVII. Continued.
Ho did not onco Interrupt her. All
tho tlmo she was speaking ho was
studying tho profllo of her faco as If
fascinated by Its strango Immobility.
For tho matter of a full half-hour ho
at on tho rail, hie back against a post,
his arms folded across tho breast of
tho thick ulster ho wore, staring at
lior, drinking In ovory word of tho
story sho told. A look of surprlso
crept Into his faco whon sho camo to
the point whero tho thought of marry
ing Hotty to tho brother of her victim
first began to manifest Itself In her
designs. For a tlmo tho look of In
credulity remained, to bo succcoded
by utter scorn as she wont on with
tho recital. Her reasons, her excuses,
bor explanations for this mastor Btroko
In tho way of compensation for all
that she had endured at tho hand of
tho scornful Wrandalls, all of whom
wore hateful to her without exception,
BUrrcd him deeply. He began to un
derstand tho forces that compelled her
to resort to this Machiavellian plan
for rovengo on thorn. 8ho admitted
ovorythlng. her readiness to blight
Hetty's llfo forovor; her uttor callous
ness In laying down theso ugly plans;
her surpassing vlndlctlTeneBs; her ro
llectlons on tho triumph nho wbb to
tinjoy whon her alms wero fully at
tained. Sho confessed to n genuine
Olty for Hotty CaBtloton from tho bo
ginning, but it was outweighed by that
thing shu could only descrlbo as an
obsession! . . . How sho hatod tho
Wrandalls! . . . Then camo tho
real awakening: whon tho truth camo
to hor as a rovelatlon from God, Hetty
dad not been to blame. Tho girl was
Innocent of tho ono sin that culled
for vengeanco so far as sho was con-
corned. Tho slaying? of ChalllB Wran
dnll was Justified! All theso months
she had been harboring a woman sho
believed to have beon his mistress an
well as , his murderess. It was not so
much tho murderess that sho would
havo foMed upon tho Wrandalls as a
daughtor, but tho mistress I . . .
Hbo loved tho girl, sho hnd loved her
trom that llrst night. Hack of it all,
Oereforo, lay tho stern, unsuspected
foruth: from tho very beginning Bho In
Btlncttvely had known this girl to bo
Innocent of gulo. . w . Her houso
at cards foil down. Thoro was noth
ing loft of tho plans on which it hnd
been constructed. It had all bocn
awopt away, ovon as eho strove to
protect it against destruction, and tho
ground was strewn with tho ashes of
Hires burnt out. . . . Sho was
allocked to find that sho had oven
built upon the evil spot! ... Al
most word for word sho repented Het
ty's own story of her mooting with
Ohallls Wrandall, and how sho wont,
etop by stop and blindly, to tho last
ocono in tho tragedy, whon his vilo
clean, his truo nature was revealed to
tier. The girl had told her ovorythlng.
Sho had thought horaelt to bo In lovo
with Wrandall. Sho was carried away
by his protestations. Sho was lnfatu1
mted. (Sara smiled to horsalf no sho
spoko of this. Sho know Challls Wran
flail's charm 1) Tho girl bellovod in
him Implicitly. Whon ho took hor to
Hurton's inn it was to mnko hor his
wife, as sho supposed. Ho had ar
ranged everything. Then camo tho
truth. Sho dofonded herself. . . .
"J camo upon hor in tho road on
thai -wild night, Drandon, at tho place
E .pointed out. Can you picture her as
1 have described hor? Can you pic
turo hor despair, hor hopolessness, hor
misery? I havo told you ovorythlng,
from beginning to end. You know how
alio camo to me, how I propnrod her
jfor tho Bacrlllco, how sho loft mo. I
ftnvo not wrltton to her. I cannot. Sho
Qiust hnto mo with nil her soul, just ns
1 havo hated tho Wrandalls, but with
sroatcr reason, I confess. She would
navo given herself up to tho law long
ago, If it had not been for exposing
tno to tho world ns hor defender, hor
protector. She knew sho was not mor
ally guilty of tho crimo of murder. In
lho beginning Bho was afraid. Sho
did not know our land, our lnws. In
ihno sho camo to understand that sho
ivaB in no roal peril, but then It was
ko lato. A confession would hnvo
placed mo in nn Impossible position.
Vou see, sho thought of mo all this
llmo. Sho loved mo as no woman over
loved anothor, Woo not I tho wife
r tho man sho hnd killed, and was
not I tho noblest of all women In her
eyea? God! And to think of what I
had planned for hor!"
This wnu the end of tho story.
Tho words died nwuy In a sort of
whimpering wall, falling in with tho
wind to bo loBt to his straining ears.
tier head drooped, her arms hung
limply at hor side.
For u long tlmo ho sat thoro In si
tenco, looking out over tho darkening
water, unwilling, unnblo lndood, to
speak. His heart was full of compas
sion for her, mingling strangely with
what was loft of scorn and horror.
What could ho say to hor?
At laBt Bho turned to him. "Now
you know nil that I can tell you of
Hetty Caetloton of Hotty Glynn. You
rould not havo forced this from mo,
Brandon, Sho would not toll you. It
was left for mo to do in my own good
tlmo. Woll, I havo spokeu. What
sutve you to say?"
"J can only say, Sara, that I thank
Sod for overylhlng," ho said slowly.
"For every thins?"
capy7Gttr. s2 ay
"I thank God for you, for her and
for everything. I thank God that sho
found him out In tlmo, that sho killed
him, that you shielded hor, that yod
failed to carry out your devilish
schomo, and that your heart Is very
soro today."
"You do not deaplso mo?"
"No. I am horry for you."
Her eyes narrowed. "1 don't want
you to foel fcorry for me."
"You don't understand. I am sorry
for you because you have found your
self out and must bo dosplslng your
self." - "You havo guessed tho truth. I de
spise myself. Dut what could ..bo ex
pected of mo?" sho asked Ironically.
"Ab tho Wrandalls would eay, 'blood
will toll.'"
"Nonsenso! Don't talk liko that!
It is quite unworthy of you. In splto
of ovorythlng, Sara, you are wonder
ful. Tho very thing you tried to do,
tho way you went about it, tho way
you surrender, makes for greatness in
you. If you had gono on with it nnd
succeeded, that fact nlono would have
put you In tho class with tho groat,
strong, vlrllo women of history. It "
"With tho iMedlds, tho Dorglas
and " sho began bitterly.
"Yea, with them. Dut thoy wero
great women, Just tho same. You aro
greater, for you havo moro than thoy
poasossod: n conscience I wish I
could tell you just what I feol. I
haven't tho words. I "
"I only want you to toll mo tho
truth. Do you despise me?"
"Again I Bay that I do not. I can
only say that I regard you with yes,
with awo."
"As ono might think of a daadly
serpent."
"Hardly that," ho said, emillng for
the' first time. Ho crossod over and
laid his hand on hor shoulder. "Don't
think too meanly of yourself. I under
stand It all. You lived for months
without a heart, that's all."
"You put it very gently."
"I think I am right. Now, you've
got it back, and It's hungry for tho
sweat, good things of llfo. You want
to bo happy. You want to lovo again
nnd to be loved. You don't want to
pitied. I understand. It's tho return
of n heart that went nway long months
ago and loft an empty placo that you
filled with gall. Tho bitterness 1b
gono. Thero is something sweet in
its placo. Am I not right?"
She hesitated. "It you mean that
I want to bo loved by my enemies,
Drnndon, you aro wrong," she said
clearly, "I havo not boon chastened
In that particular."
"You moan tho Wrandalls?"
"It is not In my nnturo to lovo my
oncmlos. Wo stand on tho snmo foot
ing as before, and alwnys shall. They
uudorstand mo, I understand them. I
am glad that my project failed, not tor
their sake, but for my own."
Ho wns silent. This woman was be
yond him. Ho could not understand a
nature like this.
"You say nothing. Woll, I can't ask
you to undorstnnd. Wo will not dis
cuss my onomlee, but my friends.
What do you intend to do In respect
to Hotty?"
"I am going to mako hor my wife,"
ho said fovolly.
Sho turned away. It was now quite
dark. Ho could not soo tho expres
sion on hor face.
"What you havo hoard does not
weaken your lovo for hor?'
"No. It strengthens It."
"You know what sho has done. Sho
This Woman Was Beyond Him.
has taken n, llfo with hor own hands.
Can you tako her to your bosom, can
you make hor tho mothor of your own
children? Ilemombor, thoro Is blood
on hor hands,"
"Ah, but hor heart Is clean!"
"Truo," sho said moodily, "hor heart
Is clean."
"No cleaner than yours Is now,
Sarn."
Sho uttered a short, mocking laugh.
"It Isn't noccBsnry to say a thing
like that to mo."
"I beg your pardon."
Her mannor changed nbruptly. Sho
turned to him, intonsq and serious.
"Sho Is so far nway, Drandon. On
tho other sldo of tho world, and oho
Is full of loathing for mo. How am I
to regain what I hnvo lost? How um
I to make her understand? Sho went
sii? c
in j
Georgre Barr McCutcheon
GSOcEaAnn MsarcWr: coPvmffZM2 Y0OD,Af&!DZCOiPAtY
away with that last ugly thought of
mo, with the thought of mo as I ap
peared to her on that last, enlighten
ing day. All theso months It has been
growing moro horrible to her. It has
been beside her all tho time. All
theso months sho has known that I
pretended to lovo her ns "
"I don't believe you know Hetty bb
well as you think you do," ho broko
In. "You forgot that she loved you
with all her soul. You can't kill lovo
so easily ns nil that. It will bo all
right, Sara. You must wrlto and ask
her to como back. It "
"Ah, but you don't know!" Then
sho related the story of tho liberated
canary bird. "Hotty understands. Tho
cago door Is open. Sho may return
when sho chooses, but don't you seo?
she must como of her own free
will."
"You will not nsk hor to como?"
"No. It Is tho test. Sho will know
that I have told you everything. You
will go to her. Then sho mny under
stand. If sho forgives sho will como
back. Thero is nothing olso to say,
nothing else to consider."
"I shall go to her at once," ho said
resolutely.
Sho gavo him a quick, searching
glanco.
"Sho may refuso to marry you, oven
now, Drandon."
"She can't!" ho cried. An Instant
later his face fell. "Dy Jove, I I sup
poso the law will have to be consid
ered now. She will at least havo to
go through tho form of a trial."
Sho whirled on him angrily. "Tho
law? What has the law to do with
It? Don't bo a fool!"
"Sho ought to be legally exoner
ated," ho said.
Hor fingers gripped his arm fiercely.
"I want you to understand ono thing,
Drandon. Tho story I havo told you
was for your oars alono. Tho secret
lives with us and dies with us."
Ho looked hie relief. "Right! It
must go no farther. It Is not a mat
ter for tho law to docldo. You may
trust mo."
"I am cold," she said. Ho heard
hor teeth chatter distinctly ns sho
pulled her thick mantle closer nbout
hor throat and shoulders. "It is very
raw and wet down here. Como!"
As sho started off along tho long,
narrow pier, ho sprang after hor,
grasping hor arm. She leaned rather
heavily against him for a few step?
and then drew herself up. Hor teeth
Btlll chattered, her arm trembled In
IiIb clasp.
"Dy Jovo, Sara, this Is bad," he
cried, In distress. "You're chilled to
tho marrow."
"Nerves," sho retorted, and ho some
how felt that her lips wero set and
drawn.
"You musl got to bed right away.
Hot bath, mustard, and all that. 111
not stop for dinner. Thanks just tho
same. I will bo over In tho morn
ing." "Whon will you sail?" Bho asked,
after a moment.
"I can't go for ten days, at least.
My mothor goes Into tho hospital next
wook for an oporatlon, as I've told you.
I can't leave until after that's ovor.
Nothing serious, but woll, I can't go
away. I shall write to Hetty tonight,
and cnblo her tomorrow. Dy tho way,
I I don't know Just whero to find her.
You see, wo wore not to wrlto to each
other. It was In tho bargain. I bud-
pose you don't know how I can "
"Yos, I can toll you precisely whero
sho Is. She Is In Venice, but leavos
thero for Homo, by tho Express."
"Then you have boon henrlng from
hor?" he cried sharply,
much: thoro has not been a day slnco
she landed in England that I havo not
received news of her. I havo not
boon out of touch with hor, Drandon.
not ovon for nn hour."
"Good heaven, SRra! You don't
hienn to say you'vo had hor shadowed
by by detectives," ho exclaimed,
aghatit.
"Not directly. Dut I will say this
"Hor maid Is n vory faithful serv
ant," was hor ambiguous rejoinder.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Disturbing News.
. Ho walked homo swiftly through
tho early night, his brain seething with
tumultuous thoughts. Tho revela
tions of tho day wero staggering; tho
wholo universe seomed to havo turned
topsy-turvy slnco that devastating
hour at Hurton's inn. Somehow ho
was not nblo to confino his thoughts
to Hotty Castleton nlono. Sho seomed
to sink Into tho background, dosplto
tho absolution ho had been so ready,
so ouger to grunt her on hearing the
story from Sara's lips. Not that his
resolve to search her out nnd claim
her In splto of everything was likely
to weaken, but that tho absorbing fig
uro of Sara Wrandall stood out most
clearly in his loflcctlons.
What nn amazing crcaturo sho wnn!
Ho could not drive hor out of his
thoughts, oven when ho tried to con
contrnto them on tho ono porson who
was dearest to him of all In nil tho
world, his warm-hearted, adorable
Hetty. Strango contrasts suggested
themselves to him aB ho Btrodo along,
head bent und shouldors hunched. Ho
could not help contrasting tho two
women. Ho loved Hotty; ho would
always lovo her, of that ho was posi
tive She was Sara's superior In ev
ery respect, Infinitely so, ho argued.
And yot thoro was something In Sara
that could crowd this adored ono, this
perfect ono out of his thoughts for tho
time holtig. Ho found it difficult to
concentrato his thoughts on Hotty
Castleton.
How white and ill Sara had looked
when sho said good night to him at
the door! Tho memory of her dark,
mysterlouB eyes haunted him; ho
could soo them in the night nbout him.
They had been full of pain; thoro wero
torrents of tears behind thom. They
had glistened as If burnished by the
llres of fever.
Even as ho wrote his long, trium
phant letter to Hetty Castleton, the
plcturo of Sara Wrandall encroached
upon his mental vision. Ho could not
drive It out. Ho thought of her aa
she had appeared to him early In tho
Bprlrig; through all tho varying stages
of their growing Intimacy; through the
Interesting days when he vainly tried
to translnto hor matchless beauty by
menus of wretched pigments; up to
this present hour In which she wns
revealed, and yet not revealed, to him.
Her. vivid faco was always before him.
between his eyes nnd tho thin, white
paper on which he scribbled so eager
ly. Her feverish eyes wero looking
Into his; sho waB reading what ho
wrote before it appeared on the sur
face of the sheet!
His letter to Hetty was a triumph
of skill and diplomacy, achieved after
mnny attempts. Ho found It hard not
to say too much, and quite as difficult
not to say too little. Ho spent hours
over this all-Important missivo. At
last it was finished. He read and re
read It, searching for the slightest
flaw: a fatal word or suggestion that
might create in her mind tho slightest
doubt as to his sincerity. Sho was
suro to read this lotter a great many
times, nnd always with the view to
finding something between tho lines:
such ns pity, resignation, an enforced
conception of loyalty, or even faith!
Ho meant that she should find noth
ing thero but love. It was full of ten
derness, full of hope, full of promise.
Ho was coming to hor with a stead
fast, enduring lovo In his heart, he
wanted her now moro than over before.
Thero was no mention of Challls
Wrandall, and but onco was Sara's
name used. Thero was nothing In
tho letter that could havo betrayed
their Joint secret to tho most acuto
outsider, and yet sho would under
stand that ho had wrung everything
from Sara's lips. Her secret was hla.
He decided that It would not be snfo
to anticipate tho letter by a cable
gram. It was not likely that any mes
sago ho could send would Jjavo tho
desirod effect. Instead of reassuring
her, In all probability it would creato
fresh alarm.
Sleep did not come to him until after
three o'clock. At two he got up and
deliberately added a postscript tovtho
letter, ho had written. It was In the
nature of a poignant plea for Sara
Wrandall. Even as ho penned theso
lines, ho shuddered at tho thought of
what she had planned to do to Hetty
Castleton. Staring hard at the black
window before him, tho pen still In
his hand, ho allowed his thoughts to
dwell so Intimately on tho subject of
his well-meant postscript that her
ashen face with Its burning eyes
seomed to tako shape In tho night
boyond. It wae n long tlmo before
he could get rid of tho Illusion. After
wards ho tried to conjure up Hetty's
face ami to drive out the likeness of
tho other woman, nnd found that ho
could not recall a single fenturo In tho
face of tho girl ho loved!
When ho reached Southlook In the
morning, ho found that nearly all of
tho doors and windows were boarded
up. Wagons wore stnnding In the
stable yard, laden with trunks and
crates. Sorvnnts without livery wore
scurrying nbout tho halls. Thoro was
an air of finality about their move
ments. "Yes, sir," said Watson, in reply
to his question, "wo aro In a rush.
Mrs. Wrandall expects to closo tho
'ouso this evening, sir. Wo nil go up
this afternoon. I supposo you know,
sir, wo 'avo taken a new apartment
In town."
"No!" exclaimed Dooth.
"Yes, sir, wo 'ave, sir. Thoy'vo
been decorating It for tho pnwst two
weeks. Seems like sho didn't caro for
the old one wo 'ad. Ab a matter of
fact, 1 didn't care much for It, either.
Sho's taken ono of thom hoxponslvo
ones looking out ovor tho park, sir.
You know wo used to look out over
Madison avenue, sir, nnd God knows
It wasn't hlnsplrln'. Yes, sir, wo go
up this afternoon. Mrs. Wrandall
will bo down In a second, thnnk you,
sir."
Dooth nctunlly was startled by her
appearanco when sho entered the
room a few minutes later. Sho looked
positively 111.
"My dear Sara," ho crlod anxiously,
"this Is too bad. You nro making
yoursolf 111. Como, como, this won't
do."
"I Bhall bo all right In a day or
two," sho said, with a weary little
gesture, "I have been nervous. Tho
strain was too great, Drandon. This
Is the reaction you might say."
"Your hand la hot, your oyes look
feverish. You'd bolter aeo your doc-
An
ounco of prevention, you know."
"Well," sho said, with a searching
look into his eyes, "havo you wrltton
to her?"
"Yes. Posted It nt seven o'clock
this morning."
"I trust you did not go so far as
to woll, to volunteer a word In my
behalf. You wero not to do thnt, you
know."
Ho looked uncomfortable. "I'm
afraid I did tako your namo In vain,"
ho equivocated. "You aro a a won
derful woman, Sara," ho went on,
moved to the remark by a curious In
fluence that ho could not havo ex
plained any moro than ho could hnvo
accounted for tho sudden gush of
emotion that took possession of him.
She Ignored tho tribute "You will
persuade her to como to Now York
with you?"
"For your sake, Sara, If sho won't
come 'for mine."
"She knows the cago 1b open," was
hor way of dismissing tho subject.
"I am glad you camo over. I hayo a
letter from Leslie. It came this morn
ing. You may be Interested In what
ho has to say of Hetty and of your
self." She smiled faintly. "Ho 1b
determined that you shall not bo with
out a friend while ho Is alive."
"Los Isn't such a rotter, Sara. Ho'n
spoiled, but ho Is hardly to bo blamed
for that."
"I will road his letter to you," eho
said, and thoro was no little signifi
cance In the way sho put it. Sho held
tho letter In her hand, but he had
failed to notice it before Now he saw
thnt It was a crumpled ball of paper.
He was obliged to wait for n mlnuto
or two while she restored It to a read
able condition. "Ho was In London
when this was written," sho explained,
turning to the window for light. Sho
glanced swiftly over the first page
until sho found tho placo whero she
meant to begin. " 'I supposo Hetty
Castleton has written that wo mot
In Lucerne two weeks ngo,' " sho read.
" 'Curious coincidence in connection
with it, too. I was with her father,
Col, Drald Castleton, whon wo came
upon her most unexpectedly. I ran
across him In Paris just before tho
aVIatlon meet, and got to know him
rather well. He's a flno chap, don't
you think? I confess I was somewhat
surprised to learn that ho didn't know
she'd left America. He explained it
quite naturally, however. He'd been
ill in tho north of Ireland and must
have missed her letters. Hetty was
on tho point of leaving for Italy. Wo
didn't seo much of her. Dut, by Jove,
Sara, I am more completely gono on
her than evor. She Is adorable. Now
that I'vo met her father, who had tho
bqnstlytmlsfortune to miss old Murgat
royd's funeral, I can readily seo where
in tho saying "blood will tell" applies
to her. He Is a prince. He camo over
to London with mo the day after wo
left Hetty In Lucerne, and I hnd him
in to meet mothor and Vivian at Clar
idgo'e. Thoy like him Immensely. He
set us straight on a good many points
concerning tho Glynn and Castleton
families. Of course, I knew they wero
among tho host over here, but I didn't
know how fine they wero until wo pre
vailed on him to talk a littlo about
hlmselfi You will bo glad to hear
that he Is coming over with us on the
Maurotanla. Sho sails tho twenty
seventh. Wo'll be on tho water by the
time you got this letter. It had beon
our Intention to sail last week, but
the colonel had to go to Ireland for
Booth Was Startled by Her Appear
ance. a few days to sottlo aomo beastly
squabbles among tho tenants. Next
year he wants mo .'6 como over for
the shooting. Ho Isn't going back to
India for two yeais, you may be In
terested to hoar. Two yoars' leave.
Lots of Influence, bollovo mol Wo'vo
been expecting him back In London
slnco day before yesterday. I dare
say ho found matters worse than he
suspected and has been delayed. He
has been negotiating for tho salo of
somo of his property In Delfast fac
tory sites, I bollevo. He Is particularly
anxious to closo the deal boforo ho
leaves England. Had to lift a mort
gage on tho property, before ho could
think of making tho salo. I staked
him to four thousand pounds, to tide
him over. Of course, ho Is eager to
tor as boon as you got to town
n r r
mako the sale. 'Gad, I almost had
to beg him to tako tho money. Ter
rlbly proud and haughty, as the butler
would say. Ho said ho wouldn't sloop
well until ho has returned tho filthy
lucre. Wo nro looking for him back
any hour now. Dut if ho shouldn't got
hero by Friday, wo will sail without
him. Ho said ho would follow by tha
next boat, In case anything happened
that he didn't catch the Maurotanla.' "
Sara Interrupted herself to offer nD
Ironic observation: "If Hetty did not
desplso her father so heartily, I should
advleo you to look farther for a father-in-law,
Drandon. The colonel is a bad
lot. Estates in tho north of Ireland!
Poor Lesllo!" Sho' laughed softly.
"He'll not show up, eh?"
"Not a bit of It," she said. "H
may bo charged to profit and loss In
Leslie's books. This part of tho lettei
will Interest you," sho went on, as
If all that had gono beforo was ot
no importance to him. " 'I hear Inter
estlng nowB concerning you, my dear
gift. My heartiest congratulations it
It is all true. Drandy is ono in a mil
lion. I have hoped all along to have
him as a full-fledged brother-in-law, II
that's the way you'd put It. Father
writes that every ono 1b talking about
It, and saying what a flno thing It la
He has a feeling of delicacy about ap
proaching you in tho matter, and 1
fancy it's just as well until everything
Is settled. I wish you'd lot mo make
a suggestion, howover. Wouldn't It
be wise to let us all get together and
talk over the business end of the
gamo7 Drandy's a fine chap, a corker,
in fact, but the question Is: has he
got It in him to tako Challls' placo in
the firm? You've got to consider the
future ns well ob tho present, my dear.
Wo all do. With his artistic tempera
ment ho might play hob with your in
terests, and ours too,- for that matter.
Wouldn't It bo wlso for mo1 to sound
him a bit before we take him Into th?
firm? Forgive mo for suggesting this,
but, ns you know, your Interests are
nilno, and I'm terribly keen about see
ing you get the best of everything' .
tiy the way, wasn't he a bit gono on
Hetty? Passing fancy, of course, and
not deep enough to hurt anybody,
Good old Drandy!'"
"Thero la more, Drandon, but lt'a
of no consequence," she said, tossing
tho lotter upon tho table. "You see
how the land lays."
Dooth was palo with annoyance.
"By Jove, Sara, what an Insufferable
ass ho Is!"
"The shoe pinches?"
"Oh, It's such perfect rot! I'm
sorry on your account. Havo you ever
heard of such gall?"
"Oh, he 13 merely acting as tho fam
ily spokesman. I can seo them now
In solemn conclave. They think It
thoir indlsputablo right to select a
husband for me, to pass upon him, to
accept or decline him as thoy see fit,
to say whether ho is a proper man to
hang up his hat and coat in tho offices
of Wrandall & Co."
"Do you mean to say "
"Let's not talk about It, Drandon.
It is too silly."
They fell to discussing her plans for
the immediate futuro, although tho
minds of both were at work with
something else.
"Now that I have served my pur
pose, 1 supposo you will not caro tc
soo so much of me," sho said, as ho
prepared to tako leave of her.
"Served your purpose? . What do
you mean?"
"I should havo put it differently.
You have been most assiduous in your
efforts to force the Becret from me.
It bus been accomplished. Now do .
you understand?"
"That Isn't fair, Sara," ho protest
ed. "If you'll lot me como to seo you,
lu splto of what the gossips and Mr.
Kedmond Wrandall predict, you may
bo suro I will bo as much in evidence
as ovor. I suppose I havo been a bit
of a nuisance, hanging on as I have."
"I admlro your perseverance. More
than that, I admlro your courago In
accepting tho- situation as you have.
I only hopo you may win her over to
your way of thinking, Drandon.
Goodby."
"I shall go up to town tomorrow,
kit and bag. When shall I see you?
Wo havo a groat deal loft to talk about
boforo I sail."
"Come when you like."
"You really want mo to como?"
"Certainly."
Ho studied her palo, tired faco for
a moment, and then shook his head.
"You must tako caro of yourself," ho
said. "You aro unstrung. Got a good
rest and and forget certains things if
you can. Everything will come out
nil right In tho end."
"It doponds on what ono Is willing
to accept as tho end," ho said.
(TO BR CONTINUED.)
Why She Mourned.
"Doo-hoo!" sobbed tho lady.
'What aro you crying about?" tho
man asked.
"You know tho bread and tho Jelly
I sent to the fair?"
"Yes. Didn't It take a prize? Well,
cheor up thoso Judges"
"Dut It did take a prize they both
took first prizes boo-hoo! "
"Well, what are you crying about?"
"Tho bread took first prize as tho
bost specimen of concroto, and tho
Jolly as tho best china cement!"
4
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