Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-09-30

II Asks2
Mario gaze both her hands to him.
You relieved Brewer, and until {
O'Clock you were absolutely alone
there. You didn't even have one OF
the boys with yous
"Thafs right" answered Brooke
"And it won't happen again. Nobody
onght to be alone down there. But
there was such an awful deluge oi
rain, and the boys were drenched to
the skin. Brewer sent them both
home.-
TITS quite long way from the sta.
ton to the theater, isn't it?" inquired
Hall.
A considerable interval of silence
followed this question. Brooke glanced
uneasily from Hall to the girl, and
then he seemed to study her for al
most aeminutc intently. AS Marie had
no idea what Hall meant she could
think of nothing to say. She was con-
| sctous of vague terror.
YES" said Brooke at last in a
changed tone. "Its nearly the whole
width Of the town."
Too far to send flowers on such a
night" said Hall, Especially when
you haven't anybody to send"
Brooke uttered confused. unintel-
ligible exclamation. 1t sounded like
q tumble of several swear words, Of
the potter sort.
Shortly after you went down to the
station" said Hall. II had occasion to
call you up on the telephone. 1 took
down the receiver and gave the num-
Der to central. Almost instantly was
surprised to hear your voice. l called
Hello, but you did not hear me. You
were talking with some one else. and
was in on the wire. You said. 1T is
too far to send roses tonight, but send
my loye-all my love- Do quote cor
rectlyY'
Brooke did not reply. He was looking
at Marie. The girl seemed dazed.
"Of course this can't be true" she
said, us If she We're thinking aloud.
Still Brooke said nothing. He took off
his hat and put up his hand to his fore
head. Then he dropped the hat into
the chair in front of him.
Il was considerably Interested" said
Hall. ut has long been my conviction
that you We're that sort Of man, Mr..
Brooke, and have hoped that Miss
Winsted would find 1t out in time.
Well, let me continue. heard girls
voice say, Isn't that sweetr and few
words more to the same effect, and
then was shut Off. SO that l heard no
more. 1t became necessary, however,
to know little more, but couldn't
DO much last evening. learned that
you had been, talking with somebody
at the theater, and that was all.
but did better today" he contin-
i ued. Il took an hour of this afternoon
and went over to the theater to ask a
few questions, but good fortune spared
me most of my trouble Some young
women who belong to the company
which is playing there this week were
standing by the door, and as came up
heard voice that seemed surprising
~ familiar. To nut my story short it
was the voice Ind heard by telephone.
learned without difficulty that she
was Miss Alice Austin-at least, that's
her stage name-that she has Just
Joined the company and that she comes
from Boston"
At the mention Of the city Marie
glanced nervously at Brooke. He was
pale. and bis lips We're compressed.
I'm case you should deny that you
We're speaking to Miss Austin" Hall
began; but Brooke interrupted him
II don't deny it." said he.
Avery we'll" said Hall what time
did you leave the station last evening9s
Eleven O'clock" answered Brooke
sharply.
where did you go8'
Home"
Il had been led to believe" said Hall
calmly, shat you went over to the
theater."
What you may have been led to be-
lieve," retorted Brooke, 'ts Of the small
est possible consequence to me. What
does Miss Winsted believer
Ihis Gun all be explained" ex-
claimed Marie. perhaps Miss Austin
isis relative"-
She felt angry and absurd. She knew
mat she was not taking the proper at
ttude; that she ought to treat this
story with utter, scorn and disbelief.
Yet Brooke had denied nothing, and
Hull sat there with look Of complete
confidence which disconnected her, II
was the mans peculiar gift that he
could always exert this influence upon
her when he tried.
Miss Austin is In no way related to
me-" said Brooke.
"And-and you said that to herY
There may have been more" said
Hall. "That was all that heard"
There was little more" said
Brooke. turning toward Marie But I
cannot tell you what 1t was"
Il don't see how you could have any
thing to say to her TINT you can't tell
me-" said Marie. II don't understand
this matter in the least At first
thought that 1t was all very absurd.
and that word from you would set 1t
right. was almost glad that Mr.. Hall
had put himself in this position. did
not wish to stop him until he had said
enough to prohibit him from ever say.
Ing any more upon this subject to me.
But you explain nothing, Stanton'.-
Because wish to be the explana-
Hon myself, the living explanation.
20 answered .hurriedly and with deep
tfr<st : u