The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-07-24
Copyright. 1895. by J. B. Lipeineott Col
|, =" N-CONTINUEn

o. &-CoNTINUEn
"Where do you suppose he can be?'
asked Hester, when the conversation
had been brought around by carefully
guarded approaches to the object which
had prompted her early ride down the
mountain.
I'm sure I don't know" replied Mrs.
Ludlow, trying to look properly severe.
"Perhaps he's lost on the mountain;
I'ns sure I'm glad we didn't turn him
out TOTO get lost"
Hester looked mystified and hurt.
"Nhy, Helen, do you mean that we
ought to have tried harder to keep
. hiom?"
"Pthink you wouldn't have had to try
very hard, if you'd cared anything at all
about him." o.
Hester blushed painfully and hest
tated.o TT would be foolish to seem not
to understand you, Helen, but-but it
isn'tatal3 as you think; indeed, it isn't"
And hef voics qusvered a little at the
o oend.
IT was Mrs Lpdlo~'s turn to be aston
ished, and she gave a little gasp of sur
0oprise; DO you mean that you didn't
9end him away Hast night, after ALP" o
Hestefs embarrassment was pitiful,
but she made q brave effort at frank
nes9 Not in the way that you mean;
lei couldn't, very well, when he didn't
give me the chance"
There svere tears in her eyes, and Mrs.
Ludlow crossed over to the sofa and put
her arms around her. Tell me about
it, dear" she said, stroking the bowed
head tendefly. %
o There isn't anything to tell, sobbed
the girl; hes just been good and kind
and gentle as he is to ev-everybod
and last night he told me good-by as if
o I'd been the m--merest acquaintance"
} Told you gosd-by? Did he say he
was going away?"
mo; father and Henry came up just
then, and he didn't get chance to say
anything else"
- think he menat to, Hester, dear"
II almost know he did; he said he
wanted to tell me something about him
self; apd then he said It was OF no conse-
quence."
. ment and then asked: Wasn't there
the least little bit OF a quarrel about
something. dear?"
S4U up ana SHOOK neT Oe1O
vehemently. "Indeed, there wasn't
not the smallest word. We had been
tahking about the feud, and from that
We drifted into an argument about
courage; + remember we didn't quite
2 agree. but there wasn't anything like 4
) quarrel"
Mrs. Lud1ew's mind reverted instant
ly to what her husband had said about
the feud being a possible obstacle to
RingbraRd's love-making, and before
replying to Hester. she made mental
note pointing to further inquiries.
Then, IL you haven't quarreled, it's all
right, dear" she said, soothingly; hell
come hack; and happen to know that
be doesn't regard you as mere ac-
quahtanceAnot by great deal. But
. what in the world do you suppose has
become of him.
II can't imagine, only I'm just
weighed down by dreadful fear that
something awful has happened.
know tie foolish, but 1 can't help it."
slave you said anything to your ia
Their about ft?"
90 Not yet, but Tm going back right
now to ask him to go to Squire Cra-
yen's; his is the first house beyond ours,
> you know. Then I'll get Henry to ride
down to Dunbar to ask there"
that's sensible. If you'll do that,
III stir Tom up when he comes to din
ner, and if we can't find out any thing
to-day, We'll just make them get up q
search party tomorrow"
When Hester had ridden away on her
ergand, Mrs. Ludlow began. to watch
tor the home. coming OF her husband,
and that much-tired individual saw the
light OF inquiry in. her eyes before she
had said a word upon the subject Of
Ringbfand's disappearance. While
LudloN was quite sure that he held the
key to'the mystery, he could not rid
himself of a certain indefinite RESPONSE
bility for his friends safety. During
the proceedings day he had found COM
fort in the belief that he would soon
get telegram FROM the missing man,
a directing the disposition of his effects,
and whey the second morning did not
bring this he had quietly telegraphed
to Dunbar and McNairville to ascertain
IF Ringbrand had taken the train at
either of these places. The negative
answers came promptly, and on his way
home from the furnace Ludlow met the
uo"h cram III Tue purpose "a ASKING
the same question of the conductor.
The man remembered Ringbrand per
feotly, and was quite sure that he had
not had him as a passenger since the
day when he had ridden to Tregarthen
on fare paid to Kingville. In view of
these unsuccessful Investigations, Lud-
lows well-simulated indifference to
his wife's anxiety was worthy OF. all
praise.
Don't you worry about Hugh" he
said; hell turn up all right when he
gets good and ready. I suppose he and
chester had somelittle tiff and he's gone
ooff to sulk.".
at isn't anything of the kind she
insisted. "Hester's been here this
n3oSning. and she told me all about it,
They parted good friends, and she's
sure something dreadful has happened
to hiD. Don't YOU know any of his
friends in New York to whom you could
telegSaph?"
o"Nos and if I did, they wouldn't know
He hasn't had time to get to New York.
unless he went in a balloon"
Il don't care I.think it's perfectly