Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-03-20
CHAPTER XIV.
Copyright, 1909, bu s. s. Mcclure Co.

LON Two hours, Cralley knew, and IT
was two hours since the new volun-
teers had sung "The Star Spangled
Banner" over the last of the punch and
had left the club to Tom and the two
old men. Only once or twice in that
time had Crailey shifted his position or
nothing. But at last he rose, went to
the window and, leaning far out, look
ed down the street toward the little
clubhouse. Its lights were extinguish-
ed, and all was dark up and down the
street. Abruptly Crailey went back to
the desk and blew out the candle, after
Which he sat down again in the same
position. Twenty minutes later he
heard Toms step on the stair, coming
up very softly. Crailey waited in ST.
lence until his partner reached the
landing, then relit the candle.
"rom," he called, "come in, please.
I've been waiting for you"
There was pause before Tom an
swered from the hall:
"I'm very tired, Crailey. think I'll
go up to bed"
NO" said Crailey; come In"
The door was already open, but Tom
turned toward it reluctantly. He stop
ed at the threshold, and the two looked
at each other.
II thought you wouldn't come as long
as you believed 1 was up" said Graf
ley, $50 blew out the light. I'm sorry
I kept you outside SO long"
"Crailey, I'm going away tomorrow"
the other began. ''I am to go over and
see the governor and offer him this
company, and tonight I need sleep, so
please
NO" interrupted Crailey quietly; 81
want to know what you're going to
do"
ITO do about what?"
"About me-"
ooh" Toms eyes fell at once from
his friends face and rested upon the
floor. Slowly he walked to the desk
and stood in embarrassed contempla-
ton of the Uttered books and papers,
while the other waited.
81 think it's best for you to tell me-"
said Crailey.
"You think so?" Toms embarrass-
ment increased visibly, and there was
mingled with it an odd appearance Of
apprehension, probably to relieve which
he very deliberately took two long
cheroots from his pocket, laid one on
the desk for Crailey and lit the other
himself with extreme carefulness at
| the candle. After this ceremonial he
dragged chair to the window, tilted
back in it with his feet on the low sill,
| his back to tho thin light and his friend,
and said in slow, gentle tone:
"Well, Crailey?'
II suppose you mean that ought to
offer my explanation frst?" said the
other, still standing. "Well, there isn't
any" He did not speak doggedly or
sullenly, as one In fault, but more with
the air Of man curiously ready to
throw all possible light upon a cloudy
phenomenon. tits very simple-all
that I know about 1t. went there
first on the evening Of the Madrillon
masquerade and played a little come
dy for her, SO that some Of my theat-
rical allusions-they weren't very FLU
minating-to my engagement to Fan
chon made her believe was Vanrevel
when her father told her about the
pair of us. I discovered that the night
his warehouses burned-and saw
something more, because can't help
seeing such things-that yours was just
the character to appeal to young girl
fresh from the convent and full of
honesty and fine dreams and fire. No
body could arrange more fatal fasci-
nation for girl Of nineteen than to
have deadly quarrel with her father.
And that's especially true when the ia.
TIERS like that mad brute Of Bob
Carewe! Then, too, you're more OF
less the town model Of virtue and pop.
ular hero, in spite of the abolitionism,
just as am the town scamp. So let
1t go on and played little at being
you, saying the things that you only
think-that was ALL 1t isn't strange
that it's lasted until now, not more
than three weeks, after oil. She's only
seen you four or five times and me moi
much oftener. No one speaks Of you tc
her, and I've kept out Of sight when
others We're about. Mrs. Tanberry is
4 her only close friend and, naturally
wouldn't be apt to mention that you
are dark and am fair or to describe
us personally any more than you and
would mention the general appear
ance of people we both meet about
town. But you needn't tell me that Il
can't last much longer. Some petty
unexpected trife will turn up, Ct
course. All that I want to know Il
what you mean to do"
ITO do?" repeated Tom softly ant
blew q long scarf of smoke out of thu
window.
"Ah!" Crailey's voice grew SHARP
and loud. '"There are many things vol
needn't tell me. You need not tell MT
what I've done to you nor what vol
think of me. You need not tell me tina
you have others to consider; that vol
have Miss Carewe to think of. DON
you suppose know that? And vol
, need not tell me that you have dut,
to Fanchon"-
"Yes," Tom broke in, his tone no
quite steady Eyes, I've thought O
that"
"Wellf
"Have you-did you He hesitated
but Crailey understood Immediately.
mo; haven't seen her again."
"But you''
eyes. / wrote. ! answered the let