The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1908-02-09

you passed. The judge told me all
about the affair. and let me state that
you're the pluckiest girl know
She smiled grimly at the thought of
what made her cheeks glow and Ian
guidly ioosened the buttons of her
jacket
~ suppose you're very busy, You
lawyer man. she inquired.
Eyes, but not too busy to attend to
anything you want
"Oh, I didn't come on business"
she said lightly II was out walking
and merely sauntered in
''WeIl. l appreciate that all the
MORE he said in an altered tone,
twisting his chair about I'm more
getting on we'll from the way his pro
fessionalism had dropped off.
Eyes. get tired Of talking to uncle
and Mr. Mcnamara. They treat me
as though I were little girl"
When do you take the fatal stepT
What step do you mean?"
your marriage. When does it oc-
cur? You needn't hesitate" he added.
Mcnamara told me about it a month
ago.
He felt his throat gingerly at the
thought. but his eyes frightened when
she answered lightly:
81 think you are mistaken. He must
have been joking"
For some time she led him on adroit-
ly talking OF many things in a way to
make him wonder at her new and flip
pant hunor He had never dreamed
su;x erIr
close to familiaritysand yet so madden
ingly aloof and distant. He grew bold
er in his speech.
How are things going with us?" she
questioned as his warmth grew pro-
nounced. "Uncle won't talk, and Mr..
Mcnamara is as close mouthed as can
. be- lately"
He looked at her quickly. "In what
respect?''
She summoned up her courage and
walked past the ragged edge of uncer-
tainty
Now don't you try TO keep me in
short dresses too. It's getting weari-
some. I've done my part. and | want
to know what the rest of you are do
ing" She was prepared for any an
swer
What do you want to know" he
asked cautiously.
Everything. Don't you think l can
hear what people are sayingT'
'Oh. that's it, Well. don't you pay
any attention to what people say
She recognized her mistake and con-
tinued hurriedly:
why shouldn't L? Aren't we all in
70
and then discarded | think I'm enti-
tied to know how the scheme is work
ing. Don't you think 1 can keep my
mouth shut -
.sOf course" he laughed. trying to
change the subject Of their talk. But
she arose and leaned against the desk
near him. vowing that she would not
leave the office without piercing some
part of this mystery. Ills manner
strengthened her suspicion that there
was something behind it all. This dis
sipated, brillia int Creature knew the sit
uation thoroughly and yet, though
swayed by her efforts, he remained
chained by caution. She leaned for
ward and smiled at him.
You're just like the others, aren't
you: You won't give me any satisfac-
ton at ALL
Give, give give said Strive Gym
ically. That's always the woman's
cry. Give me this--give me that. Self
ish sex! Why don't you offer some
thing in return? Men are traders:
women usurers You are curious;
hence miserable. 1 can help you. there
fore should do it for smile. You
nd vic
my honor on your caprice. Well, that's
womaniike. and I'll do it. I'll put my
self In your power, but 1 won't do it
gratis. No; we'll trade
1T isn't curiosity" she denied In
dignantly; ct Is my due
mo: you've heard the common talk
and grown suspicious. that's all. You
think L know. something that will
throw new light or new shadow
on everything you have in the world,
and you're worked mp to such a con-
dition that You can't take your own
peoples word: and on the other hand,
you can't go to strangers. so you come
TO me. suppose I tell you I had the
papers you brought TO me last spring
in that safe and that they told the
whole story whetlscr your uncle is
nDnT,eachabIe or whether he observed
hanging by that mob-what would you
do. eh? What would you give to see
them? Well, they're Where and ready
to speak for ffremse1res. Ii you're q.
woman you wont re s till you've seen
them Win you trader
Yes Sesn Give them 10 me. she
crfetl sengesty. ut which 3 wave. OF
crimson rushed up 70 bis eyes and be,
| rose abrupfr from HIS chair. He made
toward her. but she retreated to the
wall; pale ind Wide <yed
Can't dai sea. = she Sung 1t t1ti11.s
s.Shat must know s. 4 ~
He pa,Is<vi or COURSE can. but
4 want ! kiss to hind he I1rrafn-=to
apllv - sceeunt y he - q for