Evening star., 1897-05-29

turn today, but If you're Wanting to keep
her rooms | should say thRre wouldn't be
coming back here now She's rather high
and mighty in style, 1 know, and q deter
pinned sort OF crittef, hpt Ileekon she and
watsna round wEadt in eafe much h.t 70 ,ee ee
Il don't understand you,R said Demorest
impatiently. What has happened?
you heard the SAD ane
mento newspapers. Van LOO is a defaulter
skedaddled.'' fi-s --' Z.
Barker started. He iwasIinot thinking CT
the loss of his wife s. money-only Of her
disappointment and modification over 1t.
Poor girl! Perhaps she was also worrying
over his resentment. as If she did not know
him! He would go to her at once at Boom
Vile. Then he remembered that she was
coming with Mrs. Horncastle, and might
be already on her way here by rail or
coach, and he would miss her Demorest IN
the meantime had seized a paper and was
intently reading 1t.
There's bad news, too, for your friend.
your old partner" said the manager, half
sympat pathetically, half interrogattvely.
There has been a drop out in everything
the bank is carrying. and everybody is un-
loading. Two firms failed in Frisco yester-
day that were carrying things for the
bank, and have thrown everything back on
it, There was an awful panic last night,
and they soy none of the big spectators
knows where he stands. Three OF our best
customers in the hotel rushed off to the
bay this morning, but Stacy himself start
ed before daylight and got the through
night express to stop for him on the 'Di-
vide on signal. Shall send any kilograms
that may come to your room?
Demorest knew that the manager sus-
pected him of being interested in the bank,
and understood the purport of the question.
He answered with calm surprise that he
was expecting no kilograms, and added:
But if Mrs. Van Loo returns l beg you
to at once let me know" and. taking
Barker's arm, went in to breakfast. Seat
companion. I'm afraid. Barker boy, that
this thing Is more serious to Jim than we
expected last night, or than he cared 10 tell
us: And you you old man fear ar are rea hurt ar
money of your wife's. hadn't hep
Barker. who knew that the bulk of Demo-
rests fortune was in Stacys hands, was
touched at this proof of his lnseliish
tishness that he was concerned only by the
fear of Mrs. Barker's disappointment.
why, Lord! Phil, whether she's lost or
saved her money it's nothing to me. l gave
it to her to do what she liked with it, but
I'm afraid she'll be worrying over what l
think of 1t, as if she did not know me! And
I'm half a mind, If 1t were not for missing
her, to go over to Boomville. where she's
stopping"
Il thought you said she was in San
Francisco said Demorest, abstractedly.
Barker colored. Yes he answered
quickly. But I've heard since that she
stopped at Boomville on the way
Then don't let me keep you here" re-
turned Demorest. For if Jim telegraDhs
to me l shall start for San Francisco at
once. and I rather think he will. l did not
like TO say SO before those panic-mongers
outside who are stampeding everything. so
run along, Barker boy, and ease your mind
about the wife. We may have other things
to think about SOON.
D.r1 frny C
half-Gnished breakfast and slipped away.
Yet he was not quite certain what to do.
His wife must have heard the news at
Boomville as quickly as he had. and II
so, would be on her way with Mrs. Horn
castle; or she might be waiting for him,
knowing, too, that he had heard the news,
in fear and trembling For it was Bar
ker's custom to endow all those he cared
for with mis- own sensItfveHess, and 1t was
not like him to reflect that the woman who
had reeklessly speculated against his
opinion would scarcely fear his reproaches
in her defeat. In the fullness of his heart he
yet left Boomville: "AH right. Have heard
news. Understand perfectly. Don't worry.
Come to me-" Then he left the hotel by
the stable entrance ip order to evade the
anda and made his way TO little wooded
crest which he knew commanded view
Of the two roads from Boomville. Here
he determined to wait and intercept her
that many of the GUESTS" were aware of
his wife's speculations with Van Loo and
that he was her brokerg Hewished to spare
her running the gauntlet of their curious
stares and comments as she'drove up alone
AS he was climbing the slope the coach
from Sacramento dashed past him on the
road below, but he knew that it had
changed horses at Boomville at O'clock.
and that his tired wife would not have
availed herself of it at that hour particu-
LARRY she could not have yet received
the fateful news. He threw himself under
a large pine, and watched the stage coach
disappear as it swept around into the court
yard of the hotel.
Barker sat there for some moments with
his eyes bent upon the two forks of the
red read that diverged below him. but
which appeared to become whittier and
more dazzling as he searched their dis
tance. There was nothing to be seen ex-
cept an occasional puff of dust which event
ually revealed a horseman or long trail
ing cloud out of which a solitary mule, one
of a pack train of six or eight, would mo-
| mentarily emerge and be lost again. Then
he suddenly heard his name called and
looking up. saw Mrs. Horncastle, who had
halted a few PAGES from him between two
columns Of the long-drawn aisle of pines
In that mysterious half light she seemed
such beautiful and gcddess-like figure
that his consciousness at first was unable
to grasp anything else. She was always
wonderfully well dressed, but the warmth
and seclusion of this mountain morning
had enabled her to wear a light gown Of
| some delicate fabric which set off the grn ce
OF her figure. and even pardoned the rural
coquetry of 4 silken sash around her still
| sic nder waist. An open white paIasol thrown
| over her shoulder made a nimbus for Ler
charming head and the thick coils Of hair
| under her lace-edged hat. He had never
seen her look so beautiful before. And that
thought was 50 plain in his frank face and
| eyes as he sprang to his feet that it
brought a slight rise of color to her own
cheek.
II saw you climbing up here as I pa ssed
| in the coach a few minutes ago." she said
| with smile, land soon had shaken
| the dust off 1 followed you.''
Where's Kitty?' he stammered.
The color faded from her face as 1t had
| come, and shade of something like re-
proaCh crept into her dark eyes. And
| whatever 1t had been her purpose to say,
| or however carefully she might have pre-
pared herself for this interview, she was
| evidently taken aback by the sudden direct
ness of the inquiry. Barker saw this as
| quickly and as quickly referred 1t to his
| own rudeness. His whole soul rushed in
! apology to his face as he said: 20 forgive
NE! l was anxious about Kitty: indeed, 1
| had thought of coming again to Boomville.
| for you've heard the news, of course? Van
| Loo is defaulter, and has run away with
| the poor child's money"