The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-06-02

pCU ctVSk cdh WIZ NuN AM N~e
stretched, remaining for perhaps tel
seconds In that attitude, while she. he
lips parted, her eyes lustrous, returnet
his gaze with a hook that was as In
scrutahle a. II was kind.
yes" she said, as II In answer to
question, II have come here twice to
day" She nodded slightly toward Mrs
Fear. Il can wait. am very glat
You bring good news"
Joe turned dazeily toward the other
aClaudine." be said. you've been tell
| ing Miss Tabor"
~ cert'nly haver Mrs. Fears ex
preston had cleared. and her tone was
cheerful II don't see no harm II
that. I'm sure she's good friend Of
yours. Mr.. Louden."
Joe glanced at Ariel with q faint
troubled smile and turned again Il
Mrs. Fear. "rve had long talk with
Happy"
"I'm awful glad. Is he ready to lis
ten to reasong' she asked with litter
Hes waiting for YOU
"wherer' She rose quickly.
STOP said Joe sharply. You must
be very careful with him
Don't you s'pose I'm goin' to ber
she interrupted. with a catch In her
voice. Don't you s'pose I've had
trouble enough?"
"No," said Joe deliberately and i'm,
personally, 81 don't. Unless you keeI
remembering to be careful all the
time you'll follow the first impulse
you have, as you did yesterday, and
your excuse viii be that you never
thought any harm would come Of It
Hes In n queer mood, but he win for
give you IL you ask him
"Weli. amt that what l want to
doi" she exclaimed.
II know, i know" he said, dropping
into the desk chair and passing his
hand over bis eyes with a gesture OF
infinite WEAKNESS. But you must be
very careful / hunted for him most
Of the night and all day. He was try
Ing to keep out OF my way because be
didn't want me to find him until be
had met this fellow Nashville. Happy
Is a bard man to come at when he
doesn't care to be found. and he kept
shifting from place to place until !
ran him down. Then got him In 0
corner and told him that you hadn't
meant any harm-which is always
true of you, poor woman-and | didn't
leave him till he had promised me to
forgive you If you would come and
ask him. And you must keep him out
Of Cory's way until ] can arrange &c
have him-Cory. | mean-sent out OF
town. viii your"
why, cert'nly," she answered.
smiling. THAT Nashvllle's the vurry
last person | ever want to see again
the fresh thingr' Mrs. Fears burden
had fallen; her relief was perfect, and
she beamed vapidly. But Joe marked
her renewed responsibility with an
anxious eye.
"You mustn't make any mistakes, I"
he said, rising stlffiy with fatigue.
mot me. don't take no more
chances" she responded, tlttering hap
PLY; mot after yesterday. My, but
It's load of my shouldersl do hate
It to have gentlemen quarreling over
noe, especially Mr.. Fear. / never did
like to start anything. l like to see
people laugh and be friendly, and I'm
mighty glad it's all blown over.
kind O. thought 1t would all along.
Pshor She burst into genuine, noisy
laughter. Il don't expect either OF
EN- meant no real harm to each other
after they got cooled OF little. II
they'd met today they'd probably both
run. Now, Mr.. Louden, where's Hap
pyT'
Joe went to the door with her. He
waited a moment, perplexed; then his
brow cleared. and he said in low
voice: "You know the alley beyond
Vent Miller's poolroom? Go down the
alley till you come to the second gate.
Go In, and you'll see a basement door
opening into little room under Nil
ier's bar. The door won't be locked.
and Happy's in there waiting for you.
But remember
"Oh, don't you worryP" she cut him
OF loudly. II know him. Inside Of
an hour I'll have him laughin' over all
this. You'll seer
When she had gone he stood upon
the landing. looking thoughtfulIy aft
or her. Perhaps, after all, that IL
tho best mood to let her meet him In"
he murmured.
Then, with a deep breath, he turned.
The heavy perfume had gone, the air
was clear and sweet, and Ariel was
pressing her face into the roses again.
As he saw how like them she was he
was shaken with a profound and mys.
terlous sigh, like that which moves in
the breast Of one who listens In the
dark to his dearest music.
CHAPTER XIV.