Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-27

The principal hotel in Sandy bar
was fulsomely known as the Grand
Central" 1t was not pretentious and
was lacking in many comforts which
Mrs. Gorton and Miss Avery would
otherwise have considered necessities,
but there was nothing else for it.
The usual crowd of hansers-on clus-
tered about the door of the Grand Cen
trail when the driver of the Anaconda
stage drew up before it and halted
with a flourish. Darrell stepped out
and swept his eyes over the curious
faces of the assembled throng.
Almost the first to meet his eyes
was that of the young man whom he
had met, under such tragic circum-
stances, at Hawkbills, and whom he
had later seen at the Half Way house.
In startled wonder the youth gazed at
Darrell as he turned and assisted his
companions to alight.
Left and right the crowd broke to
permit the ladies an unobstructed pas
sage into the hotel. Darrell stepped
back to attend to the luggage which
the driver was handing down to him.
An exclamation from Elise Avery
caused him to turn in time 10 witness
a dramatic little episode Elise and
her aunt had halted midway of the
lane of curious faces and the youth,
whom Darrell knew, was confronting
the girl in blank amaze.
For one intense moment the two
gazed at each other "Elise!" came in
hoarse whisper from the young mans
lips.
He started forward, one hand waver-
ing before him. The girl recoiled in
stinctively.
The next moment she had pressed
eagerly forward. "Roy!" she muir
INJURED.
But by then the young man had re-
treated into the ranks Of the crowd
A brief pause followed and Mrs. Cor
ton, taking her niece by the arm, hur-
ried her into the hotel.
A ripple of establishment swept
among the spectators and Darrell, a
puzzled frown on his brow, followed
his friends quickly. Elise had sunk
into a chair in the Office and her aunt
was standing near her.
Darrell halted an instant to flash
a questioning look at Mrs. Gorton.
She understood and returned a glance
that left no doubt in barrels mind.
"There is little parlor upstairs"
he murmured; take her there. Will
attend to everything"
Elise arose at the touch of her aunt's
hand and left the Office like one in a
dream Darrell was also experiencing
| somewhat of her bewilderment, but it
| did not take from him his grasp of de-
| tails nor make him any the less ac-
| tive.
He secured the best rooms in the
hotel for his companions and HAD their
luggage taken there. He also ordered
that their evening meal should be sent
up to them.
After Elise had left the parlor Mrs.
Gorton came to him.
There is such a thing as destiny,
Mr.. McCloud," she sighed.
There u.s." he returned, with su-
preme conviction.
who would have dreamed that we
should meet Roy Lenyard here, in
this little corner of the world, as we
have done?"
1.-The world is not so large"
at would seem so, yet-yet ! can
hardly credit my senses"
love is a magnet" went on Darrell,
softly, distant look in his eyes. "A
double magnet, it appears, has drawn
Elise to Sandy Bar You say there is
misunderstanding between them?"
"A misunderstanding pure and SIM
| pie. MIR. McCloud."
lie was silent tor little. Il am glao
that it has so fallen out" he said.
finally.
She looked at him wonderingly.
why are you glad?" she asked.
81 cannot tell you now" He spoke
hastily and with stern attempt to
smother the sharp pain that came with
| the words. you will know SOON"
He started unsteadily toward the
door, but the elder lady caught up with
him and rested a soft hand ON his
| shoulder.
God bless you'll" she said. brokenly
He went downstairs and out into
the street, searching anXiously every
| face he met. He had no time to mar
vel at the course true love was taking
insofar as it concerned Elise Avery
and Roy Lenyard.
What concerned him most was the
misunderstanding between the two
| That could ha aynIoipa5 ona