Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-08-06
dres. .b.tract.dly for several seconds.

dress abstractedly for several seconds.
thurst 1t into an inner pocket of his
coat. He fingered over his break
fast after most of the guests had
taken their departure, and made a
brave attempt to eat as much as
1 usual. After he had paid his bill he
/ lighted cigar and sat down near the
fire to study the timetable. He was
in no particular hurry. II he got to
Mawgan Chase in time for dinner it
| would be quite early enough.
He made no inquiry respecting Ma
rion. Whether she went early that
morning or the evening before did not
| concern him. The outstanding fact
| that dominated all others was that she
was the daughter Of Dick West. He
could hardly help smiling at the grim
irony of the situation. His mother
| would have had'a At had she known.
There was no name so reprobated-
| so loathed-as that Of Dick West. 1t
was synonym for all that was base
| In human nature, and that the daugh-
| ter of this man should have been
their guest-and welcomed and hon
ored guest-see med almost Incredible.
| But there was another fact almost
more ironical. The daughter of this
man had interested him, attracted
him, fascinated him, more than any
other woman he had ever met. He
was in Exeter at this moment simply
because he had been unable to rest
without knowing what had become of
her. He had been resolved to take
her back with him to Mawgan Chase
and risk everything.
Well, there was at least one COM
forting reflection. He would not
now have to invent explanations and
excuses. He would return alone He
need not say where he had been or
whom he had seen, and the role of
pretended Indifference to the fate Of
Marion West which he had com
menced he would be able to carry
through to the end. That he could
take any further interest in her was.
of course. out OF the question. On the
whole, he was inclined to think on
the course events had taken. That
he had been drifting into position
of some delicacy and of considerable
difficulty there could be no doubt.
New the knot had been cut at single
stroke, and by Marion herself. She
had done the right thing--he admired
her for that. She had taken herself
off without fuss-had lost herself, as
it were, in the great city which swal-
| lowed UP SO many of the. waits and
strays OF humanity-and there was an
end OF the whole affair.
What was to become Of her was no
concern of his, The chances were, of
course, against her. Whilst her
money lasted she would be all right.
| After that
He shuddered little and shrugged
his shoulders unconsciously. She was
4 young and innocent and fair to look
| upon, and though she was the daugh-
| ter of Dick West she was still a
| woman.
He took a slow train to Plymouth
and got there in time for late lunch.
He was not in the least hungry. He
! was really too much depressed to feel
| the need of food. but he assured HIM
self that he would let no woman IN
| the world interfere with his appetite,
least OF all the daughter of a scoun-
4 drel like Dick West.
From Plymouth he sent a telegram
asking that the brougham should be
sent to the station to meet the 6
1 o'clock train. He smiled little grim
LAY during this operation.
Mother and Esther will think
have never gone beyond Plymouth"
he said to himself and shall not
| feel called upon to enlighten them"
(To Be Continued.)