Rock Island Argus., 1906-02-17

. cOufa gement-nlS ulSllIuSlonmenl.
/ 81 posed as farmer and deceived
! good Don Barnett. 1 made up for a
cowboy and fooled Baker and the rest
of the squad. And now I'm posing as
an invalid when 1 ought to be out on
I the ranch again. It's time l rode
away to new range"
Mrs. Barnett was alarmed at the
undertone of bitterness in his words.
'You must not think of even walking
downstairs for n week"
"But / can't sit here and sink deeper
| and deeper into obligation to you," he
answered. What rights have 1 in
| this room? I'm only Il poor, wander
| ing ne'er-do-well, and your beautiful
home makes me ashamed-mOre than
| ashamed-it fills me with n sense Of
guilt. L can walk now. and l ought
| not to stay another day"
Mrs. Barnett knew very well that
his mood was due to AIMS icy dis
dain, and she realized, too, how diff
cult the task of diverting his mind
from this foolish purpose would be-
She said gently: You were injured in
our service, Robert. and it is our duty
to look after you You must not utter
another word of this sort of talk to
me or l will call Don, and then you
will hear n voice that will make you
quake. l tell you frankly l will not
listen to your walking out of this room
for Il week
Louis, who had been sitting i'll some
wonder, trying TO catch the undercur-
rent of this talk, put his hand Oh Ray
mond'S knee and said: when you go,
l go too. Remember that"
1t was interesting to Jeanette. to
observe that evening dress changed
AIMS estimate of Raymond'S charac-
ter The girl had to admit that he
looked surprisingly well as he came
slowly into the library just before the
little Chinese chime sounded for din
ner Every trace of the cowboy, the
man of sun smit, wind swept plain.
was gone. He was pale, languid, but
self contained and wore his dinner suit
with easy grace.
His manner toward Ann was that OF
q polite acquaintance merely, and her
fear OF something-she hardly knew
what-instantly vanished. His bearing
during dinner and throughout the even
ing made her forget the kind of person
he had hitherto seemed to her, and she
began to study him in his true charac
ter. He dropped all his ranch life
phrases and, putting aside his reserve.
talked with entire intellectual freedom.
showing Il knowledge of books and OF
communities remarkable in any man.
Once or twice as she encountered his
glance mysterious movement ran
about her heart and her breath quick
ened.
AS they rose from dinner and while
he stood to allow her to pass he said:
You are very beautiful tonight. Icoun-
tain air has done wonders for ycu.''
You are very Courteous she re-
sponded, and her eyes fell eXasperat-
ingly. and she walked away with q
sense of having revealed Il weakness.
He came into the drawing room half
an hour later to say good night to his
hostess. looking very tired and pale,
and when he took AIMS hand his eyes
We're burning with deep inner passion.
Good night" he said. "and forgive me
for any impertinence." She scarcely
had time to reply, to ask his meaning,
for Mrs Barnett ordered him instantly
to bed.
No voice responded to Louis knock
at Raymond's door next morning, and,
hurrying to Barnett's room, Louis
called excitedly, cousin Don, have you
seen Rob3"
Barnett, splashing in his tub, shout |
ed: NO. Can't You find him?'
HE isn't in his room"
Hes gone down to breakfast, then.
Hurry along and keep him company. |
Don't let him go out"
Louis rushed into the breakfast room, |
but found it empty. The maid said |
"Are you looking for Mr.. Raymond?
He came down Tery early and said he
was going out for walk
The boy hurried outdoors, filed with |
dismay "He shouldn't be out alone |
He might get dizzy and fall" He ran |
round the block, eagerly seeking Ray
mond, who was nowhere in sight. |
When Barnett entered Rob's room he
found two letters lying on the little
desk. One was addressed to Don and |
one to Ann.
Barnett broke the seal and read his /
note almost at glance:
Dear Barnett-I'm sorry to pull out in
this way, but / am afraid it's my only |
way have been very uncomfortable be-
cause of my growing Indebtedness to you
and Mrs. Barnett. and so have cut loose.
Please don't think me ungrateful. 1t is !
because 1 feel so deeply your kindness
that 1 go. Don't look for me. I'm going
to hole up for n few days till 1 get
strong. If you happen to get any clew to
where I've gone, don't tell the boy. L
can see that his sister does not approve
OF his fondnesS for me, and she is quite
right I'm not proper companion for a
hnX nf fnClOSa a yyb
squares US so far as money can, but your
kindness in other ways, and especially
Mrs. Barnett's care and assistance, 1 am
in despair of ever paying. slide out be-
cause it would be difficult and painful to
say goodby, and, besides, / feel that L
must cut loose from the boy.
Raymond's note to Ann was short,
almost curt:
Since my thanks are burden to you.
the least L can do is to take myself out
of your life and beg pardon for having
IT. Had I attended to my duties