The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-02-06

II was well not TO become dull hoy.
he unused, and as he chewed his cigar
he pictured. with an odd thrill. quite
unusual with him. that slender gray
| eyed girl. with her coiled mass of hair.
her ivory shoulders and merry smile.
| He saw her float past To the measure
of two-step and caught himself re-
| senting the thought Of another mans
| enjoyment of the girls charms even
for an instant.
| Hold on, Alec" he muttered.
you're too old bird to lose your
| head" However, he was waiting for
her before the time for their next
dance. She seemed to have lost part
of her gayety.
whats the matter? Aren't you en-
joying yourselfT
"Oh. yes" she returned brightly.
I'm having>a delightful time"
When he came for his third dance
she was more distract than ever. As
he led her. to a seat they passed
group OF women, among whom were
Mrs. Champain and others whom he
knew to be wives OF men prominent In
the town. He had seen some of then
Mt tea In Judge Stillman's house and
| therefore was astonlshed when they re
turned his greeting. but ignored Helen.
She shrank slightly. and he realized
that there was something wrong. He
could not guess what. Affairs Of men
he could cope with, hut the subtleties
Of women Were out of his realm.
saU-h,t ut 4.
offended your"
II don't know what II Is. l have
spoken tothem. but they cut me-"
cut your he exclaimed.
Yes" Her voice trembled, but she
held her head high. 1T seems as
though all the women In Nome Were
here and In league TO ignore me. IL
dazes me. l do not understand"
Has anybody said anything 10 your
he inquired dercely. ANY man.
meanY'
mo. no! The men are kind. It's the
women"
'Come. we'll go home"
Indeed, we will not" she said proud
ly Il shall stay and face II out.
have done nothing to run away from.
and l intend TO find out what Is the
matter"
When he had surrendered her. at the
beginning of the next dance, McNa-
mara sought for some acquaintance
whom he might question. Most OF the
men In Nome either hated or feared
him, but he espied one that he thought
suited his purpose and led him into n
corner. az
Il want you to answer question.
No beating about the bush Under
stand? I'm blunt, and want you to
be-"
"All right"
'"Your wife has been entertained at
Miss Chester's house. I've seen her
there. Tonight she refuses to speak
TO the girl. She cut her dead, and |
want to know what it's about"
slow should known
"If you don't know, I'll ask you TO
ind out
The ether shook his head amusedly,
at which Mcnamara fiared up.
Il say you will, and you'll make
your wife apologize before she leaves
this hall, too, or you'll answer to me-
man TO man. | won't stand TO have a
girl like Miss Chester cold decked by
a bunch OF mining camp swells, and
that goes as IL lies" In his excitement
Mcnamara reverted TO his western
idiom.
The other did not reply at once, for IL
Is embarrassing to deal with person
who dlsregards the conventions utterly.
and at the same time has the inclina-
ton and force to compel obedience
The boss reputation had gone abroad.
"Well-er-I know about IL In gen
eral way, but OF course don't go much
on such things. You'd better let 1t
drop"
Go on"
"There has been lot OF tnlk among
the ladies about-well. er-the fact Is,
it's that young Glenister. Mrs. Cham
plan had the next stateroom TO them
er-him-I should say-on the way up
from the States, and she saw things.
Now, as far as I'm concerned. a girl
can do as she pleases, but Mrs. Cham
plan has her own ideas OF proprlety
From what my wife could learn,
there's some truth in the story. too, so
you can't blame her"
With a word Mcnamara could have
explained the gossip and made this
man put his wife right forcing through
her an calculation of the silly affair
in such way as to spare Helen's
feelings and cover the busy tongued
magpies with confusion. Yet he hest
tated. 1t is a wise skipper who trims
his sails 10 every breeze. He thanked
his informant and left him. Entering
the lobby, he saw the girl hurrying
toward him.
Take me away, quick! l want to go
home"