The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-10-01

CAMS private room, sat at the
big table, making no effort to
- follow her brother and Phe-
Ian. A messenger, searching for Hor-
rigan, hustled in, looked inquiringly at
the motionless, white faced girl, then
passed on to the committee room be-
You'd and on again in his search until
the sound of his footsteps died. And
still Dallas sat, inert, dumb.
Little by little she was piecing to-
gether the facts Of the long, miserable
complication i'll the light of what Per-
ry had just told her. 1t was absurdly
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 influ-
ence Bennett; how, failing to move the
latter, he had used Alwyn's knowledge
of the fact as weapon against the
young man; how Bennett had sought
to 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 contrition, ''he has acted
honorably and as he thought I would
have wanted him to and for my happi-
ness. And I, like the wretched little
fool I was, couldn't understand and
publicly Inundated him. Oh, if only
it weren't too late to-
A vision of Gibbs flashed before her
mind, and she shuddered, realizing all
that her rash steps had entailed.
1T is too late" she confessed to her.
self, fighting back the hot tears that
scared her eyes. "But at least l can
tell him I know and beg his forgive
ness and thank him."
The sound of voices in the corridor
reused her from her 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 speakers sud-
denly arrested her notice.
"Well." Bennett was saying in no es-
pecially civil tones, "you said you wish
ed to speak to me in private. What
| have you to say? Be brief. for l am
busy"
Finding herself the unwilling witness
| to what promised to be q confidential
talk, Dallas stole toward the door lead
ing to the corridor. but Horrigan, as
was his custom, had locked it 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.
IL hardly know how to begin,"
Gibbs was replying to Benefits curt
demand. 1T is a delicate subject
and
'"Then the sooner it is treated to open
air the better. Isl
you've won the Borough bill fight"
began Gibbs.
us that all you have to say to me?"
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, land it is a
subject I 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"-
| swell. what?" asked Bennett, with
oMinous quiet as he paused in his de-
parture. ,.-.
"Can't we-strike some sort Of bar.
gain?" said Gibbs tentatively.
Explain. please" ordered Bennett,
! with that same decentive calm