The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1908-05-28
CHAPTER x1r-(contiuu.d.)

away during my absence, and seeing ali
ssfe, l left him. In my sitting room
found DR.. Awdrey waiting to see me-
II saw Lynn's horse outside, and ]
dropped In to know If he were here. ]
should like to see him before he goes, II
you don't mind my waiting here
Go in and see him at once" said I.
II have done with HIM"
He thanked me and went into the Office,
while l slipped into my dining room,
which, as l have said, il divided from
the Office by a half-glazed door, that in
tercepts sound so slightly that what takes
place in one room Is audible In the other.
II anyone thinks 1t Is wrong TO play at
eavesdropping, let them remember that l
am only a lawyer. l have no compunc-
ton to listening in a case OF this kind
They had got through their first greet
ing when 1 reached the door, but as l
saw through the old green tafety cur
! tains, they still held each other by the
hand.
"A mere sprain that's all. Painful
enough at first; just enough to keep me
/ from running about, you know Lynn
was saying In his bluff, open tone.
"Why on earth didn't you write a word
or two to us?" asked Awdrey.
"Oh, / didn't want to make fuss
about a trife-especlally at such a time
and you know what women are when
there's anything the matter with fell
low" Lynn replied, throwing himself into
a chair
your silence made Us think that the
accident was not triie," Awdrey said,
L ~ enhT far
ing his friend.
II see now that l was to blame. I'm
sorry for it. That's all 1 can say, my
dear fellow"
II am sorry also. 1t must have trou-
bled Miss Dalrymple; it would have Of
Tended her had she been an ordinary girl.
Old Keene here doesn't like you; l war
rant he has put a bad construction on
your silence and done his utmost to set
her against you. Indeed 1t taxed my
ingenuity to find excuses for your neg
lect."
Lynn toyed with his riding whip in 81
lence for a few minutes during which
his quick brain had conceived a plausi-
BILE means Of escaped, and then he said:
''Awdrey, old fellow, l must tell you
ALL 1 can't keep a secret-at any rate,
from you. 1 purposely stayed away
was purposely silent"
why? Let us have the whole matter
out from beginning to end"
Some months ago this old rascal here,
Keene-for what purpose l cannot i'm
agine-lst me to believe that / was heir
to k1e1more's fortune. In the belief that
/ should before long be in a decent posi-
ton to maintain a wife, I sought to win
Gertrude-Miss Dalrymple. Well, on the
day of Fle1more's death I discovered the
truth-that l had nothing to expect from
him."
The barefaced efrontery Of this lie
nearly took my breath away.
II had been living rather extravaganza
W. continued Lynn-"beyond my means,
In fact-relying on being able to recoup
myself sooner or later, and then suddenly
/ realized that 1 was thrown upon my
own resources, in debt, and incapable of
providing the woman | loved with the
home / had absolutely offered her few
days before. OF course, am to blame |
know that l ought to have been pru-
dent, / ought not to have counted upon
Flexmore's generosity l ought not to have |
offered my hand before l was assured |
beyond the possibility of doubt that l |
had enough to marry upon. But you |
know what l ana headstrong. impuls
i've, thoughtless, reckless, thriftless, I'M
happy wretch r' His voice faltered, he /
covered his face with his hands, rose abb
ruptly, stamping with Impotence at his |
own weakness, and turned In silence to
che window. 1t was not bad piece OF
acting; It took Awdrey in completely. He
rose, went TO the window, and, slipping
his hand through the others arm, said
There's nothing objectionable in that,
that she will not readily
forgive"
II know it, Awdrey, and that's the
worst part about it. / must break of the
engagement, but l know not how with
such a generous girl as that. l know
what she will say when 1 tell her am a
beggar; she will say, No matter, l can
wait till you are rich Wait-good gra-
ciousl am in debt now; penniless
beggar l must remain. l haven't the
ability to gain fifty pounds year, and
never shall have. No it must be broken
off. | said that from the first. Do you
know, I forced myself to afront her, that
she might throw me oyer-l pretended a
orutally cruel feeling towards dear little
LAure, poor child that Gertrude might
think me unfeeling. l went off to Lon
don without a word Of farewell, re-
trained from writing one kind word-all
With the same purpose. Don't you see
now?"
Yes but all that must be made clear
10 her." said Awdrey, slowly.
Made clear to her? Is that the way
% break off this unfortunate engage
nent?"
NO; but there is no necessity to break
,ff the engagement"
What do you meant Surely you
wouldn't have me ask her to wait till l
yrow rich-rich! I, who never did
decent days work in my life"
NO you will not ask her that She
lid not inquire whether you were rich
,r poor when she consented to be your
Wife she will not refuse you now for any
ason of that kind. You must explain
rour silence. and ask her to marry you
It once. Listen to me, Lynn am not
you without reason. Flexmore
Wished you to be the guardian, with Miss