The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1908-07-17
Belinda Deals
BY NELLIE GRAVY GILMORE
Copyright. by DAILY story Pub. Coz

Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
The quarrel had been brief but hot
Both had said bitter things they were
going to regret, but neither would have
acknowledged IT just then-and neith-
er would have conceded an inch to the
other had they hung for their obsti-
macy.
But II was not until Warren had
flung himself ont Of the house and
banged the gate behind him that Be
linda allowed her face TO declare the
CONSERVATION and disappointment she
felt; and It was not tin he had left
the little green cottage in the distance
that young Templeton began TO be
conscious Of the void in his heart that
ached Ike a physical hurt.
They had been married exactly is
months. and with $4,000 TO start
with. Warren Templeton had done
nothing more than collect the regular
six per cent. interest. quarterly. and
/ plod through the Office work six days
ont Of the week at s25l And Belinda
was beginning 10 resent her hus-
bands easy-going stupidity as she
phrased IT, Why. there was Billy
Creighton, her sisters husband. who
had taken half the sum and trcbled ii
in cotton in half the time, il was in
vain that Templeton assured her of
his inexperlence in such matters; she
would not listen to his theory OF safe,
moderate investment and returns. lie
must work his way into the great
financial centers and become power
| there. like other menl
And so the battle had come about
inevitably: she. from her unreasoning
standpoint, he because Of his wounded
pride and affection.
When a full hour had elapsed and
there was no sign of her husbands
returning to make It up" Belinda
sat down by the window and gave
herself up TO tears. II was the first
time in their welded life ne had ever
ignored her this way, and Il caused
her far keener pangs than the cruel
words he had spoken. But after
little. she dried her eyes with a swift
resolution. She would pack her things
and go home that very day to her
parents in Boston, and let Warren
smart a bit for all the vexation he
was causing her. When he came home
to luncheon at one he should realise
that there was an equal amount OF
spunk on both sides.
The prospect Of the separation. how
ever brief, filed Belinda with wretch
edness. but pride rallied quickly to
her assistance and she put every
thought ont of her head except that
It was going TO be a lesson TO Warren
Templeton that would last him life
timel OF course he would either be
coming after her in week, or i'm
ploring her to return to him. But he
could not treat her this way. and the
sooner he came to his senses, the
better It would be for him.
It required less than 30 minutes to
make her arrangements and order a
cab to take her to the depot. She
had dressed herself hurriedly In a
simple dark travelling suit. with IT.
tie brown turban resting on her gold
curls. A thick veil was designed to
effectually conceal her features. As
she took up her grip and parasol and
started down the stair steps, the maid,
coming up with a note. intercepted
her.
Belinda recognized her brotherin-
laws handwriting at a glance and
tore open the envelope with suddenly
unsteady hands.
Dear Belinda: Warren is down
here doing his level best to sink every
red cent he's got in some tricky steel
Jump. I've done all could to get him
TO quit and go home, but he acts just
like a crazy man. Unless he turns
loose pretty soon, he's gone to smash.
II you could manage to get him mes
sage that you are very III, or some
thing equally urgent before he makes
any more plunges, / think we might
succeed in saving something from the
ruins. Yours in haste. BILLY
Belinda gasped and turned pale. She
was the cause Of all this-shel The
letter futtered from her neryeless
fingers to the floor. For a dazed mo-
ment. she stood cllnging to the
banister rail for support while the
world went round. Then abruptly she
ierked herself together and ran down
stairs to the telephone and rang mp |
her brother-in-law at his brokers'. lie |
answered the summons himself.
THAT Billy?'
"Yes-Bellnda?" lie cleared his
throat I'm afraid it's too late now
TO do anything. He's staked every
dollar on the thing. and If il doesn't |
take a marvellous rise. he's swamped.'
THAT means"
Just so: steel was rushing up like
fury: Warren got wild-he bought
and bought and bought tin he'd put
every cent he owned in the stock.
He couldn't be induced to sell and the |
things been literally crashing down
in the past halfhour. If it goes an
other half-point lower
"Yes, yes. But Billy
"Wen?"
THAT $4,000 you are holding in
trust for me, until I'm 21. II you
nights there any way"
"I1l do what I can. Goodby.' He
hung up the receiver sharply and BE.
linda stood pale and painting with her
hand on the back Of a chair. What
If they should. as Billy hinted. lose
everything they had. Shed have only
herself to blame. and her life would
he one long period Of sacrifice and re-
pentance. Why had she not trusted
her husbands sounder judgment?
Why had she stung him 10 despera-