The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-01-28

MElMNoc.a2M0EEs

Hands are out on the street rubber
ing 10 see n there are any signs OF
anything doing?'
Perhaps YOU might let Blrdsall
keep q watch for anything like that.
But they hear, somehow; there Is 4
leak somewhere in our establishment.
1t IL not your aunt; she can hold her
tongue as well as use Il; the boy, Ar.
chie, does not know anything 70
tell"
He wouldn't tell Il II he did" In.
terrupted the colonel; and very con.
cisely but with evident pride he gave
Archie's experience in the Chinese
quarter,
Keatcham's comment took the listen.
er's breath away; so far aileld was II
and so unlike his experiences OF the
man: II was: winter, son like that
would be a good Deal OF a comfort,
wouldn't ae?p
Poor little cnapl" said Winter.
"He hasn't any father 70 be proud Of
him--father and mother both dead"
Keatcham eyed Winter thoughtfnlly
moment, then he said You've
been married and lost children. your
aunt says That must be hard. Butt
did you ever read that poem OF James
Whltcomb Rlley's to his friend whose
child was dead? It's true what he says
they were better on than he WHO
had no child 70 die
Rupert was looking away from the
speaker with the Instructive cnlbar'
rassment Of a man who surprises the
deeper feelings Of another lie could
see out OF the window the lovely April
garden aud Janet Smith amid the al
mond blossoms. Only her shining
black head and her white shoulders
aud bodice rose above the pink clus.
ters, She looked up and nodded see
ing him; her face was a little pale,
but she was smiling
4 don't know he said ITS hard
enough either way FOR a man."
q never lost any children Keatch-
ans tone was dry still. but II had not
quite the former desiccatgd quality
ebut vas married for a little while.
II It's as bad to lose your children aa
It IS to lose the hope Of having them.
is--must DC hard You lost your wife,
too?"
"Yes," said Rupert Winter
At ihls moment he became cou-
scious that Koatcham was avoiding hts
gaze IN the very manner Of hts avoid
ing OF Keatchams a moment ago and
Il gave him a bewllderlng sensation.
4 wanted to marry my wife for
seven years before we were married
Keatcham continued III that carefully
manotonous voice s9he was the
daughter OF the superintendent Of the
mine where was working was
only rs when ! arst saw her VAS
% when we were married ahe used
to give me lessons; she was educated
and accomplished She did more than
Is easy telling for me OF course her
parents we're opposed ei irst because
they looked higher for her. but she
brought them round hy her patience
and her sweetness and her faith IN
me. Six months after We we're mar
rle6. she had an accident which left
her helpless Invalid IN q wheeled
chair. az the best; at the worst, suf.
ferIng- you've known what II Il to
see anybody. whom you care for In
horrible pain and trying not to show It
when you come nearg"
q have. said Winter: merry he'll
isn't itg'
4 have aeen that expression" said
Keatcham; Il never recognized lts
peculiar appropriateness before. Yes
Il Is that. Yet, Winter those two
years she lived afterwards we're the
happiest Of my whole life. She said
the last night She was with me, that
they had been the happiest Of hers :
The same flush which once before
when he had seemed moved. had crept
up to his temples, burned his hollow
cheeks He was holding the edge Of
the table with the tips Of hts fingers
aud the blood settled about the nails
with the pressure Of his grip There
was an intense moment during which
Winter Yainly struggled to think Of
something 10 say and looked more Of
his sympathy than Ea was aware.
then. Cary Mercer needn't think
that he has had al the hard times In
the world" said Keatcham IN his
usual toneless voice. relaxing bits hold
aud leaning back on bis pillows. The
color ebhed away gradually from his
face
u don't wonder you didn't marry
again. said Winter
"You would not wonder II you had
known Helen. She always under.
stood. OF course now. At 81. could
buy a pretty, innocent young slrl who
would do as her parents bade her and
cry her eyes out before the Wedding
or handsome and brilliant society
woman with plenty Of mgtfimonlal ex-
perlence- but I don't want them. /
should have to explain myself 10
them, don't know how to explain
myselii you see | can't half DO It--r
4 reckon understand q Iisfle~
7 guess you do. You are dIiierent
TOO. Well. lets get down to business,
think you some way Of getting the
women out Of the house: and sot your
hleutha after Atkins. iI's We set hin.
Or he gets usp
The amateur secretary aasenled and