Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1906-04-11
THE
CRAFTERS
By
FRAN CTS Lynn DE
eCopyright. 1904. by The Bobbs-Merrill Co.,
CHAPTER VI.-CoNTINUED.


'"He is in the smoking-room with
five or six other tobacco misanthropes.
What do you want of him."
Il want to say two words in his
ear; after which 1 shall vanish and
make room for my betterS."
Miss Van Brock was gazing stead
tasty at the imprisoned face lighted
by the piano candles.
rs 1t about Miss Brentwood" she
asked abruptly.
"In way-yes," he confessed.
Sac rose and stood beside him-a
bewitching figure of a woman who
knew her part in the human comedy
and played it well.
us it wise, David?" she asked soft
ly. II am not denying the possibili-
ties: you might come between them
If you should try-I'm rather afraid
you could. But you mustn't, you
know; it's too late. You've marred
her, between you; or rather that con-
vention, which makes a woman deaf,
blind and dumb until man has fairly
committed himself, has married her.
For your sake she can never be quite
all she ought to be to him: for his
sake she could never be quite the same
to you"
He drew apart from her, frowning.
IF should say that 1 don't fully
understand what you mean?" he re-
Joined
Il should retort by saying some
thing extremely uncomplimentary
about your lack of perspicacity," she
cut in maliciously.
81 beg pardon" he said, a little
stiffly. You are laboring under an
entirely wrong impression. What 1
have to say to Mr.. Brookes Ormsby
does not remotely concern the matter
you touch upon. It's an affair of the
stock exchange"
Miss Van Brock let him go at that,
but now the way to the smoking-den
ON the floor above was hedged I'D.
He did battle with the polite require
ments, as man must; shaking hands
or exchanging word with one and an
other of the Instructors only as he
had to. None the less, when he had
finally wrought his way to the smok-
tng-room Ormsby had eluded him
again.
He went back to the parlors, won
dering how he had missed the club
man. In the middle room of the suite
he found Portia chatting with Mars
ton, the acknowledgement; and "a
young woman in the smartest of re-
ception gowns had succeeded to Eli
nor's place at the piano.
You found him." Queried the hos
tess, texcusing herself to the tall. sat-
urnine man who had shared the hon.
-ors at the head of the peoples party
ticket with Jasper G. Bucks.
NO." said Kent. Have you seen
him?"
why, yes; they all came to take
leave just few moments after you
aeft me. thought of telling Mr.. Orms-
by you were looking for him, but you
shut me off so simplify"
Miss Van Brock! What have you
done? I must go at once
Really? I am complimented. But
II you must, you must, suppose.
had something to tell you-something
OF Importance; but l can't remember
what it was now. can never remem-
Der things in the hurry Of leave-tak-
ings."
AS we have intimated, Kent had
hitherto found Miss Portals con-
fidences exceedingly helpful in bust
ness way and he hesitated. Tell
me-" he begged
No. / can't remember it: I doubt
If shall ever remember it unless you
can remind me by telling me why you
are so desperately anxious to find Mr..
Ormsby."
81 wonder If you hold everybody up
like this" he laughed. But I don't
mind telling you. Western Pacific
preferred has gone up to 5s,zz.'