Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-05

FeSdllleu aplOmD.
She appeared, to be. rather glad to
see him.
81 thought" she said, that you had
gone back to the expedition
Not without coming to say goodby,"
he answered. 1T is not likely
Just to demonstrate how fully he
felt Mt ease he took chair without
waiting for an invitation and sat tap
ping his boot with his whip, looking
her furtively up and down all the
while with an appraising eye.
And when do you go?' she asked,
with Il subtle change in her tone which
did not penetrate through his mental
epidermis.
II suppose in Il few days now. But
I'll let You know all right, never fear'
Victor Durnovo stretched out his
legs and made himself quite at home.
but Jocelyn did not sit down. On the
contrary, she remained standing per-
sistently and significantly.
'Maurice gone away" he inquired.
"Yes."
"And left you all alone" in tone of
light badinage.
II am accustomed to being left" she
answered graveE.
II don't quite like it. you know"
"You?
She looked ut him with steady sur
prise which made him feel trife I'M
comfortable.
well, you know" he was forced to
explain, shufiiing the while uneasily in
his chair and dropping his whip, lone
naturally takes an interest in ones
friends welfare. You and Maurice are
the best friends have in Loango."
Maurice has always spoken of you
with gratitude" she said.
ITO deaf ears, eli? Yes, he has rea-
son to be grateful, though perhaps
ought not to say it. have put him
into several very good things on the
coast, and 1t is in my power to get him
into this new scheme. 1t is big
thing; he would be rich man in no
Tine
He rose from his seat and deliberate
IL crossed the room to the sofa where
she had sat down, where he reclined,
with one arm stretched out along the
back of it toward her. In his other
hand he held his riding whip, with
which lie began to stroke the skirt. of
her, dress. which reached along the
floor almost to his feet.
Would You like him to be in it?" he
asked, with a meaning glance beneath
his lashes. ut is a pity to throw away
n good chance; his position is not SO
very secure, you know"
She gave n strange little hunted
glance round the room. She was
wedged into corner and could not
rise without mourning the risk of his
saying something she did not wish to
hear. Then she leaned forward and
deliberately withdrew her dress from
the touch Of his whip, which was, in
its way, a subtle caress.
us he throwing away the chance?"
she asked.
no, but you are"
Then she rose from her seat, and.
standing in the middle of the room,
faced him with sudden CLEAN in he..
eyes.
II do not see what it has to do with
me-" she said: ~ do not know any.
thing about N1aurice's business ar-
engagements and very little about his
business friends"
Then let me tell YOU Jocelyn-weu,
then, Miss Gordon, if you prefer it.
that you will know more about one OF
his business friends before YOU have:
finished with him. I've got Maurice,
more or less in my power now and It
rests with YOU
At this moment shadow dariened
the floor Of the veranda and an instant
later Jack Meredith walked quietly In
by the window.
ENTER, young man." he said dramat-
ically, by windQw-center."
Il am sorry" he went on in a differ
ent tone to Jocelyn, 80 come in t,i;
unceremonious way, but the servant
told me that you We're on the verandl
with DurnovO, and
He turned toward the half breed.
pausing.
And Durnovo is the man | want"
weighing each word
Durnovo's right hand was in his lack
ct pocket. Seeing Meredths profrcred
salutation, he slowly Withdrew il and
shook hands.
The flash of hatred was still in his
eyes when jack Meredith turned upon
him with aggravatng courtesy. The
pleasant half cynical glance wandered
from Durnovo's dark face very DELHI
erately down to his jacket pocket,
where the stock of revolver was in!-
perfectly concealed.
I'VE were getting anxious about
you" he explained, seeing that yo,l
did not come back. OF course, we
knew that you We're capable of taking
care Of yourself"
He was still looking innocently at
the telltale jacket pocket, and Dur
novO, following the direction of his
glance, hastily thrust his hand Into it.
But one can never tell with Il
treacherous climate like this what u
day may bring forth. However, | am
glad to find you looking so very fit"
Victor Dnrnovo gave, an awkward
little laugh. extremely conscious of the
factory clothes.
..Oh. yes; I'm all right" lie said. 81
was going 10 start this evening
The girl STOOD behind thea. viii i
flesh slowly fading from her face.