The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-01-24
The World Against Him
BY WILL N. HARBEN.
o.syr,ss. nJr RI
Nx'''oss S'"'p''t'conpss''
CHAPTER xIII.-CoSrrsuxp.
Copyriahs, U9 ~
NeVopaUkp( (So

say that little thing ike temporary |
misunderstnnding---e In so delicate
Q matter--would amount TO nothing ms
IN Offset against the humiliation
Evelyu's conduct had brought him.
Hssty reflection on this line made him
unusually blunt Of speech.
"Yes, I want to talk TO you about her, |
but not In the way you perhaps an
ticipate, Col. Hasbrooke," said the cap
tain, almost patronizingly. II felt II
my duty as a personal friend OF yours
10 come directly 10 you"
''It must be a proposal, after ALL"
thought the old gentleman, whose face
was divesting itself Of It's look Of per-
plexity, "the fellow Is badly ratified"
He waved his hand towards the cap.
tain's chair and sat down himself.
winkle took his seat and crossed his
tightly cad legs, his spurs jingling as
he moved.
'.That's right, Capt. winkle." went
on the older man, "that's always best;
like the old wny-a father has the big
gest interest In daughter after all has
been snid."
Wrinkles attention seemed not to
fasten TO this last remark.
MAY ] ask II Miss Evelyn In at
homer" he asked, introductively.
Hasbrooke could not restrain smile.
He told himself that he had never
dreamt that Wrinkle would be knocked
OF his feet by such formality, and yet
Il showed that the fellow was hard hit,
and that was what he ought TO be.
~ don't know" replied he. "but," he
added, "of course she Is; she Is never
out 80 late rs this alone, and she went
for drive shortly after dinner. Shall
l send up your card?" The colonel
reached out for the old-fashioned tas-
seled bcll-pull.
~ should like to know II she Is at
home, for sure" said Winkle; cliff
she Is, there can be no immediate dan
ger--though 1 feel certain"
"Danger!" calculated the colonel,
"what the devil do you mean, sir?"
Colonel, you may regard me rs med
ding here have no right, but fatter
myself that you cannot fail TO appre-
ciate a thing done purely in your inter-
est, and under n sense Of duty. The
truth is, saw Miss Evelyn in the cart
with Ronald Fanshaw driving rapidly
away from the scene OF the shooting.
They were going towards the railroad
station. I have hesitnted for three
hours over what l ought to do, and Mt
last"
The colonel stepped towards him, and
raised his two hands MS II to clutch the
speakers throat, but he restrained his
fury and stood staring in Wrinkles
face.
"what damnable nonsense is this?"
he thundered.
II have known for some time, colo
nel," answered Wrinkle, calmly, shat
she was falling In love with this fellow;
but could not feel that had the right
to speak"
Hasbrooke wns as pale rs death. and
he shook from head to foot as a man
with palsy. He put his hands behind
him and held them tightly one In the
other.
"You have made serious, culpable
mistake, sir" he said. ~ don't believe
my daughter has even a speaking nc-
quaintance with Fanshaw--if she has
that-nnd as to your extravagant state
ment that you saw her"
~ am your friend, Col. Hasbrookc." I"
protested the younger man, quickly,
''and do not want to leave your house
until I am assured that your daughter
10 safe under your roof. Every minute
we are talking here may be valuable to
you. Let me beg Of you to ascertain II
she Ia at home"
"You shnS have your wish. sir" The
old mans step across the room to the
bell-pull was majestic. AS he drew the
silken cord toward him he smiled.
"You shall certainly have your proof"
he said, "nnd then"-the old soldier
looked significantly at the door and
bowed.
James entered softly and stood wait.
ing.
ASK Evelyn-say TO her." corrected
the colonel. "thnt should like to see
her here for only a minute. But, hold
has she returned from her driver"
"Yes sub; des minute TO you got
back, suh."
The colonel swept a triumphant
glance at Wrinkle, and then concluded
bis command to the servant.
"Ask her TO come down."
II trust" said the captain. when the
man had withdrawn, shat you will par
don my fear that--that the couple real
" had the intention Of eloping; but
seeing them together ut such time,
was naturally disposed TO wonder wha'
could have caused such meeting; and
few minutes later, when l cam'
across the dead man, and learned tha'
Fanshaw had killed him, II was natur
al that should think"
"You shall be convinced, sir" burs
from Hasbrooke's lips, shat you have
had an attack Of blindness that Is dan
gerous to the reputation Of honorable
Awomeni"
~ shall not dispute with you
colonel" said Wrinkle, In coneiliator,
tone; "but passed a. near them al
lam 10 you now. ! shall leave II TO her
She will not deny my statement"
The old officer shrugged his shoul
ders In stern unbelief, and Ave minute
Of sullen silence bore down on the tw'
men. II was lifted by the approach o
Evelyn. Both men were on their fee
- she entered the room. Capt. winkl
bowed low, but no word Of greetinI
passed his lips. Her father placed
chair for her, but ahe signifed her dc
sire 10 stand. Her lip curlsd with dis
dair a. her eyes fell on Wrinkles face
and then she gave her undivided n,
tention 10 her father
"You are 10 decide q point betweel
Capt winkls and myself" began tn
old man, a. he released her handi
swhlnh n had faLan IN Lad her fo m