The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-11-26

condition was such that It had scarce
~ affected him at oil.
Again Quarter went over patiently
and carefully the very simple part he
had reserved for Mortimer that even
ing, explaining exactly what to say to
Leila and what to say to Plank In case
of insolent interruption. Then he told
Mortimer to be ready at o'clock,
turned on his heel with curt word to
the Japanese. descended to the street,
entered his motor car again and sped
away to the Hotel Santa Regina.
Miss Caithness was at home, came
the message in exchange for his cards
for Agatha and Mrs. Vendenning. He
entered the gilded elevator, stepped
out on the sixth floor into tiny, TO-
coco, public reception room. Nobody
was there besides himself. Agatha's
maid came presently. and he turned
and followed her into the large and
very handsome parlor belonging to the
suit which Agatha was occupying with
Mrs. vendenning for the few days that
they were to stop In town.
Hello" she said serenely, saunter-
Ing in. her long, pale hands bracketed
ON her narrow hips, her lips disclosing
her teeth in smile so like that nerv-
Gus muscular recession which passed
for smile on Quarters visage that
for one moment he recognized 1t and
thought she was hooking him. But
she strolled up to him. meeting his eye
calmly. and lifted her slim neck, lips
passive under his impetuous kiss.
Us Mrs. Vendenning Out?" he asked,
laying his hands on the bare shoulders
Of the TALL pallid girl-tall as he and
as pallid.
"No, Mrs. Ven. is in, Howard"
Nov? You mean she Is coming in
to interrupt
"Oh, no! She isn't fond Of you,
Howard"
You said''- he began almost an
grily, but she laid her fingers across
his lips.
Il said very foolish thing, How
ard. said that I'd manage to dis
pense with Mrs. Ven. this evening""
you mean that you couldn't manage
it?"
"Not at ALL I could easily have man.
aged it. Butt didn't care to-"
She looked at him calmly at close
rance as he held her embraced, lifted
her arms and with slender white fin
gers patted her hair into place where
ranged it, watching him all the while
out of her pale, haunted eyes.
"You promised me-" he said, that
YOU
"Oh, Howard! Do men still believe
liz promises"
Quarters face had color enough
now. His voice, too had lost it's pas
sionless, monotonous precision. What
ever was in the man of emotion was
astir. His impatient voice, his lack
of poise, the almost human lack Of
caution In his speech betrayed him In
a new and interesting light
Look here, Agatha! How long Is
this going to last? Are you trying to
make fool of me? What Is the mat
ter? Is there anything wrong?"
Wrong? Oh, dear, no! How could
there be anything wrong between you
and me-
Agatha, what Is the matter? Look
here! Let's settle this thing now and
settle it one way or the other! won't
stand it! IL can't! Did you ever
misunderstood me? Did l give you
any chance to? Were you ignorant Of
what that meant?" with a gesture to-
ward the splendid crescent of flashing
gems, scintillating where the low lace
bodice met the silky luster of her skin.
"Did you misnterpret the collar or the
sudden change Of fortune In your own
family's concerns? Answer me, Aga
tina, once for all. But you need not
answer, after all. l know you have
never misunderstood me"
II misunderstood nothing" she said
"You are quite right"
"Then what are you going to do?"
"Do?" she said in slow surprise,
"What am to do, Howard?"
"You have said that you loved me-"
II said the truth, think"
Then
"Well?"
How long are you going to keep
me at arms length?" he asked violent
ly.
THAT lies with you," she said, smil.
ing. She looked at him for moment;
then, resting her hands on her hips,
she began to pace the floor, to and fro,
to and fro, and at every turn she rails.
ed her head to look at him. All the
strange grace Of her became insolent
provocation, her pale eyes, clear,
limpid, harboring no decisions, haunt
ed with the mockery Of wisdom, chal-
lenged and checked him. Howard"
she said, why should l be the fool
you want me to be because love you?
Why should l be even If wished to
be? You desire an understanding?
VOLTA! You have it. l love you. I
never misunder-
~ q stood you from
IN VIZ the first. could
not afford to