The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-05-29

ford He stepped to the windows and
drew the blinds closely.
Now that l have you SAFE" he said
lightly, "1'll confess l had an old
womans scare. 1t came to me thai
as long as you are not, strictly speak
ing, on kind and loving terms with
every one west of the river-and this
being such an all-round nasty night
anyway why, I'd just spirit you home
and give the charged atmosphere o
chance of clearing a little"
Gordon looked at him steadily a
moment. His face did not pale. Yet
he knew that Langford had heard
or suspected-more than he intended
to tell-then. 1t was good to see him
shrug his shoulders in unconcern for
the sake of the two white-faced girls
who sat there in his stiff office chairs
You are an old duffer, Paul" he
said, in pretended annoyance. you
treat me like a child. l won't stand
it always. You'll see. Some day I'll
Eand-then-"
Meanwhile, I'll just trot these
ladies back to the hotel" said Lang
ford. But you must promise to keep
your head inside. We're fixtures until
we have that promise"
What, lock me up and run off with
all the ladies! l guess not! Why
didn't we round, up that way, I'd like
to know? This isn't Utah, Paul, You
can't have both"
Paul meant for him to lie low, then.
He was also in hurry to get the girls
away. Evidently the danger lay here.
There was a tightening of the firm
mouth and an ominous contraction of
the pupils of the eyes. He stirred the
fire, then damned huge, knotted
stick into the sheet-iron stove. 1t
seemed as if everybody had sheet-iron
stoves in this country. The log caught
with a pleasant roar as the draught
sent. flames leaping up the chimney.
But Paul made no movement to go.
Then he, Gordon, had not understood
his friend Maybe the menace was
not here, but outside. If so, he must
contrive to keep his guests interested
here He would leave the lead to
Paul. Paul knew. He went back to
his living-room and returned, bringing
two heavy buggy robes.
You will find my bachelor way of
living very primitive" he said with
his engaging smile. He arranged the
robes over two of the chairs and
pushed them close up to the stove
Il haven't an easy chair in the house
prove it by Paul. here. Haven't
time to rock, and can't afford to run
the risk of cultivating slothful habits.
Take these, do" he urged, "and re
move your coats"
Thank you-you are very kind"
said Louise. mo, won't take off my
jacket" a spot of color staining her
cheek when she thought of her gay
kimono. Involuntarily, she felt of her
throat to make sure the muffler had
not blown awry. I'VE shall be goinG
soon, shan't we, Mr.. Langford? If
Mr.. Gordon is in any danger, you must
stay with him and let us go alone. 1t
Is not far"
Surely" said Mary, with big sink.
ing of the heart, but meaning what
she said.
Not at ALL" said Gordon, decidedly.
IT'S just his womanish way Of boss
ing me. I'll rebel some day. Just
wait! But before you go, I'll make
tea. You must have gotten chilled
through.
He would keep them here a while
and then let them go-with Langford.
The thought made him feel cheap and
cowardly and snealdng. Far rather
would he step out boldly and take his
chances. But if there was to be any
shooting, it must be where Louise
and Mary, too-was not. He believed
Paul, in his zeal, had exaggerated evil
omens, but there was Louise in his
bachelor room-where he had never
thought to see her; there with her
cheeks flushed with the proximity to
the stove-his stove-her fair hair
windblown. No breath of evil thing
must assail her that night-that night,
when she had glorified his lonely half
tation-even though he himself must
sink into a corner like a cowardly
ITO Re Continued \