The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-28
CHAPTER XVI.

~ ALIAS, left alone In Horri.
gan's private room, sat at the
big table. making no effort 10
A-> follow her brother and Phe.
Ian. A messenger, searching for H0r-
rigan, BUSTED In, looked InquirIngly at
the motIonlcss, white faced girl, then
passed on 10 the committee room be-
yond and on again In his search uAtil
the sound Of his footsteps died, And
still Dallas sat, inert. dumb
Little by little she was plecing 10
gethcr the facts OF the long miserable
complication IN the light Of what Per-
ry had just told her. IL was absurdiy
easy now that she held the key Of the
situation, She could understand every
thing-how Wainwright had put her
fortune into Borough stock TO infiu-
enco Bennett; how, failing 10 move the
latter. he had used Alwyn's knowledge
OF the fact as weapon against the
young man: how Bennett had sought
20 save her fortune and why he had
forbidden Perry TO bias her feelings
by telling OF the generous act
"From first to last" she murmured
In unhappy contrItlon, "he has acted
honorably and as he thought ! would
have wanted him TO and for my happi
ness. And |, like the wretched little
fool was. couldn't understand and
publicly hnmillatcd him. Oh, II only
II weren't too late to-
A vision OF Gibbs flashed before her
mind, and she shuddered. realizing all
that her rash steps had entaIled.
ut IL too late,' she confessed TO her.
self, lighting back the hot tears that
searsd her eyes But at least can
tell him | know and beg his forgive
meas and thank him"
The sound Of voices In the corridor
reused her from hei bitter reverie.
She sprang up hastily, unwilling that
any should see her tear stained face,
but the speakers, though they drew
near, did not enter Horrigan's office.
Instead, they stepped into the adJoin-
ing committee room. The messenger
had left aJar the door between the two
rooms. Realizing this and not wishing
to be seen, Dallas shrank back toward
the wall, fearful OF detection, Then
the voice OF one Of the speaker sud.
denly arrested her notice.
"well," Bennett was saying -.
pecially civil tones, "you said u.
ed to speak to me In private nj
have you to sayf Be brief. toy an
busy"
Finding herself the unwilling
to what promised TO be a con
talk, Dallas stole toward the do
ing to the corridor, but Horrlgan. -
was his custom. had locked II on going
out She dared not enter alone the
crowded anteroom In her present state,
SO hesitatingly she paused, forced to
remain where she was. The sound Of
another voice chained her to the spot,
and, unconscious Of eavesdropping, she
stood spellbound, hearing every word
distinctly through the half open door
way.
"I-I hardly know how. to begin"
Gibbs was replying to Benefits curt
demand. ut is delicate subject
and"--
"Then the sooner 1t is treated to open
air the better ls"--
you've won the Borough bill fight"
began Gibbs,
rs that all you have to say to mel"
mo. You've won. but you've lost far
more. You've lost Dallas Wainwright"
II hardly need to be reminded of
that" retorted Bennett, "and 1t is a
subject ! don't care to discuss"
But listen" pleaded Gibbs as the
mayor made move as though to leave
the room. Zone minute! say you've
won the Borough fight. I've won Dali
las, Can't we"-
"Wel. whatT asked Bennett, with
ominous quiet as he paused In his de-
parture.
Cant we--strke some sort Of bar
gain?" said Gibbs tentatively
explain, please" ordered E:ennett,
with that same deceptive calm.
why" went on Gibbs, emboldened
at the others seeming complacence,
suppose you give up this Borough
fight and give up Dallas? won her
by tricN She doesn't really love me.
1t is her pride, not her heart, that made
her throw YOU over and accept me. 1t
Is you she loves, and I've known 1t all
along, and you are in love with her"
what then?"
'Just this" returned Gibbs, wonder
Ing at Benefits quiet reception OF the
strange offer. "She will marry me be-
cause she isn't the sort OF girl to 20
back on her promise, especially since
she looks on me as sort Of high mind