Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-27
. CHAPTER, 4
kM THIRTEEN No
(Continued.)

81 did not think you would come"
he repeated, hating to rest on his
crutches He stood, balanced, staring
dreamily into the dim perspective, and
again her fascinated eyes yentured to
rest on the worn white face, listless,
somber In its fixedness.
The tears were very near her eyes;
the spasm in her throat checked
speech At length she stammered, Il
did not come b-because l simply
couldn't stand It,"
His face cleared as he turned quiet
w. Child. you must not confuse mat
ters You must not think of being sOr-
ry for me. The old order is passing
ticking away on every clock IN the
world All that inverted order OF
things is being reversed. You don't
know what | mean. do you? All, well.
you will know when grow into some
thing of what you think you remem-
Der in me and when l grow out Of
what really was"
Truly don't understand, Stephen.
But then--I am out Of training since
you went-went out of things. Have
| changed? Do seem more dull?
1T has not been very gay with me.
! don't sec--looking back across all the
noise, all the chaos Of the winter do
not see how stood 1t alone"
"Alone?"
"N-not seeing you-sometimes.'
He looked Mt her with smiling. skep-
teal eyes Didn't you enjoy the win
ter?"
do you enjoy being drugged with
champagne"
His face altered so quickly that. con-
fused, she only stared at him. the fix
ed smile stamped on her lips; then.
overwhelmed In the revelation:
stephen, surely, surely. you know
what meant! | did not mean that!
Dear do you dream for one moment
that-that could
NO. You have not hurt me. Be
sides, know what you mean"
After moment he swung forward
on his crutchee, biting his lip the
frown gathcrip.s between his temples.
They were ,,a,si,.g the big. Old fash
Toned hotel Nii!i its white facade and
green blinds. a lingering landmark of
the older CITY.
"We'll telephone here he said.
Side by side they Went up the great.
broad stoop and entered the lobby.
IF you'll speak TO Leila, I'll get
Plank on the Hlfc. Say that We'll
stop for you at I"
She gave her number: then, at the
nod of the operator. entered small
booth. Si%ard was given another
booth in a few moments.
Plank answered from his Office. His
voice sounded grave and tired, but
quickenctl, Hinged with surprise, VII
Siward made known his plan for
evening.
'Is Mrs. Mortimer in town." he Z
handed ~ had Il wire from her tina
she expected to be here, and hoped
to see her at the station tomorrow OF
her way to Lenox."
"She's stopping with Miss Lands
Sdll you LHdlliSc W SoiiS' t9hS" -
ward anxiously.
II don't know. DO you wish it par
ticularly? l have just seen Quarter
and Harrington. l can't quite under
stand Quarters attitude There's a
certain hint Of defiance about it..
Harrington is all cayed In. He is
ready to thank us for any mercies.
But Quarrier-there's something don't
fancy, don't exactly understand, about
his attitude. That's why I've expect
ed to spend quiet evening. studying
up the matter and examining every
loophole"
you've got to dine somewhere"
said Siward. "If you could fix it to
dine with US But won't urge you"
'I'n 60. Will you say that We'll
stop for them ut q"
81 don't want to urge you," repeated
Slward.
you're not III go. But-wait one
moment-tell me, did Quarter know
that Mrs. Mortimer was to stop with
Miss Landis?"
"Wait moment Hold the wire"
He opened the door of the booth and
saw Sylvia waiting for him, seated by
the operators desk. She rose at once
when she saw he wished to speak with
Ter.