Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-15

His. eyes told Hide to go too. She obeyed.
| with frightened glance at his face, which
was still smiling; but white as a sheet
speyer had risen; 'stauffer also stood up.
close beside Speyer. When the latter began
to speak. Harexood turned and looked at
him. and he stopped short.
"Bourke." said Harewood in even tones,
would you mind stepping into the office
and bringing me the receipt?'
Bourke's sombre, puzzled eyes rested ON
Speyer for second then he turned on his
heel and left the room. .
what do you mean by this?" clustered
Speyer
"What?" asked, Harewood without emo
tion.
There was no answer. Stauffer instinc-
lively took step toward the door, then
paused as he met Harewood's eyes. At that
moment Bourke re-entered the room, hold
ing sheet OF stamped paper In his hand.
He laid 1t on the table before Speyer. but
said nothing. rI
After silence Stauffer's weak face ex-
panded into smile. and he picked up the
paper with pitiful little swagger. Then
he laid few gold coins on the table, piling
one on the other in affected jocularity.
"Will Mr. Harewood do me the honor of
counting them?'' he said, sauntering toward
the door.
Hardwood stopped him with a gesture.
Speyer, glowering across the table,
watched the counting of the coins When
Harewood finished he stepped back pace
"Get out
"No!" ars
Get out!" he said gently. Stauffer slipped
past the table at once. Speyer hesitated,
sneering, fairly weak with rage. then turned
and walked out, followed closely by Hare
wood. At the door Stauffer began to laugh.
His forced mirth seemed to sting Speyer to
madness. He turned, as he reached the
sidewalk. Hides name was on his lips.
but Harewood lashed him across the mouth
with his riding crop.
"Go!" he whispered with white lips. "If
you don't go III kill you Can't you under
stand-can't you understandable kill you IL
you don't CO."
He flung him out into the street, and
walked slowly back to the house. closing
the door very softly behind him.
He met Bourke In the hall and answered
his inquiries with a shrug.
"Nice pair commented Bourke; "Yolette
is shedding tears; do you suppose they said
anything blackguardly to herr"
II fancy they did. It's well We came
back when we did. Is dinner ready. Cecil?"
They knocked a. the dining room door and
entered. Yolette' smiled at them as they en-
tered. 1T was very silly to cry" she said
sedately. seating Aeiseif at the table.
BOurke not knowing what to answer, sat
down gravely and looked at the lioness: and
! Scheherazade. WHO had taken a great fancy
to Harewood. stole around to his chair and
stood there. looking up with luminous eyes,
while her 1.-the tan gently waved in the
| air. rstr
"sone day. said Bourke, "sheri take
fancy to me and we shall be inseparable."
His half-seriopS. half-pretended suspicious
| as to Scheherazades intentions always de-
lighted Yolette and Hide. They loved to
hear him call the rIfoness a living tomb and
wish that his bones might have a quieter
grave. 20
Hes insulting you again." cried Hide.
dragging the lioness across to her own
chair; "as II my Scheherazade would eat
anything she shouldn't! Hear her purr, the
| darling! / do believe, M. Bourke, that you
are really afraid!'
! II am" said Bourke; SOS Harewood.
Fright keeps him speechless."
| Hide raised her dark eyes to Harewood's.
'Ts that true. monsieur"
Harewood frightened and laughed, nod
ding across the table; but Hides face, al
| ways uttie grave anu sehsilNe' eFeh III
| her mirth grew graver and more sensitive.
1t had changed within. day; something had
come into it too subtle for Harewood to de-
tect; something that even escaped Yolette.
| The contour Of her cheek and neck was
| still almost childlike, the full scarlet mouth
was also a child's mouth. yet already lip
and cheek were hner and pursr. a softer
shadow tinged the eyes. an imperceptibls
tenderness touched the lips.
II cannot see.' said Bourke honestly.