Evening journal., 1892-11-09


"I lcant to ask you," began Donald, rs
this all right"
"Yes?r arching her eyebrows with an
affectation of extreme surprise, while a
sensation of passionate relief swept over
her. She felt they were coming to some
sort of an understanding, to what end
she did not care; anything would be bet
ter than this sullen waiting, this intoler-
able calm.
"Wil you come into the parlor?" cour-
teously as she might have invited a
stranger, leading the way.
81 want to ask you," began Donald
when they were seated, taking a bank
book from his pocket and selecting from
it a slip of paper, sis this all rightg'
1t was her Cancelled check for three
hundred dollars. Anita regarded it
curiously, a slight smile on her lips.
why, yes" she said slowly, ut seems
to be just as l wrote it."
"And there is no mistake about itY
perplexedly studying the paper.
Not the slightest, that l can see" her
smile broadening little, as if enjoying
his discontinue.
Il thought when went away that you
had money enough-more than enough
for all ordinary requirements. made
arrangements at the bank for you to
have all you might need in case of any
Unforeseen emergency; but can't under
stand now what possible emergency
could have arisen to demand this" re-
garding her with grave questioning.
"Nog can you mott" nonchalantly smil.
ing up at him. "Well, it is possible that
the emergency simply arose and then
sat down again, so to speak you will
look in you bank book, presume you
will discover that | deposited the full
amount two days later.
Eyes; but that does not make the mat
ter any clearer
81 should suppose it would be suffi
cient to be assured that did not use any
of it, with sneer she knew would sting
him like a lash
"As if | ever grudged you a dollar, or
questioned how you used itp he retorted
warmly, flushing under her insulting
tone when have | ever limited that
you could use too much money!
"Never, unless now," more humbly
her eyes falling little under his indig-
nant glance
"And not now 1t only seems to me
that here is something that | should
know about and ask you TO tell me. If
you had used the three hundred dollars
three times over it would not have
troubled me like your curious reticence
about it."
Another thing" he went on, after he
had waited a moment in vain for her to
speak; "a fellow came up TO my Office a
day or two ago with a curious charge of
assault and battery against Fred ingalls,.
Do you know anything about thats
"lr with a look Of frankest astonish-
ment mo, indeed; how should Il"
"Wel" in a somewhat relieved tone.
lit did not seem very hkely-the tale he
told. He had been drinking, and / scarce
ly gave his wandering yarn another
thought until | got my passbook and
Cancelled vouchers from the bank this
morning, when, in wholly unreasoning
way, it struck me that there might be
some connection between the two cir
cumstances."
"And what was his storyf" her face
curiously changing, her eyes steadily
fixed on the minute plaits she was folding
in her handkerchief
Simply that You We're down in the
bank alone with Ingalls, one evening, and
that after you had come out together,
and you had turned and gone toward
home, this fellow, passing by, made a
joking remark to Ingalls, about his bank
ing hours for ladies, when he found him.
self knocked into the ditch"
"Ohw comprehensively. not looking at
him.
"Of course told the chump that he
had no case, and, incidentally, that he
was mistaken as to the identity Of the
lady. and that if ever heard Of his re.
peating the mistake he would promptly
have occasion to bring action for assault
and battery against me"
"All the same" meeting his eyes un-
flinchingly, lit was /.
Donald did not seem surprised, al.
though his face grew graver "And may
ask what you were doing at the bankg
Certainly went there to get the
check cashed."
"ln the evening"
yes The bank was closed when
decided that wanted the money and
as a kindness Mr Ingalls, went and got
it for me in the evening when ! went
around to his house and asked him
Donald rubbed his forehead IN a he
, wildered way AMI why could You
not have waited until the bank opened
I next day.
! Because wanted to take the early
train next morning.
. 'And did your"
I Yes
, And where did you gog breathing
! hard
10 Pueblo with an inscruiable
smile
To Pueblo and you took money
{ enough to take yon to parisl suddenly
/. growing pale as a light seemed TO break
upon his mind And did your cousin
S go with your be demanded slowly
; "Oh, no, with that little. cool teas
ing smile, "bnt he came hack with me
I'm other words you went 70 meet
MIN hnarsely his eve, hashiu. blue