The Dolores star., 1909-07-02

returned. in a whisper lower than
hers.
She paled. Il had forgotten" she
said. with the pain Of quick recollec-
tion.
The dinner came to its end. and
everybody rose gratefully, for there
seemed to be something tense In the
air.
Seventeen thousand honest dol
lars!" murmured the pariah. tagging
along at the millionaire's heels.
Darlington threw him a swift pene-
trating glance; but the old man
was looking ecstatically at the tinted
angels on the ceiling. The old man
might be perfectly guileless; but Car
rington scented the family bitter
aroma Of irony.
Just before the carriage arrived to
convey Darlington and the ladies to
the club dance grandpa appeared. hat
in hand and a humble smile on his
face. II was very attractive face.
weather beaten though 1t was. penciled
by the onset Of 20 years.
You are not going. are you, grand
pa?" asked Norah.
Yes, my child. / should be very
lonesome here alone with your es-
Unable father. I'll drop in tomorrow
for Sunday dinner: that is, II you are
not going to have company. I am
glad that met you. Mr.. Darlington" !"
Poor old grandra!" sighed Norah.
when the door closed upon him. He
has the ridiculous idea that he isn't
wanted"
Nobody pursued the subject and
Norah began to preen herself.
An idea came to Darlington. He
wanted to be rid Of his document. He
spoke to Kate. who nodded compre-
hensively. She led him into the din
Ing room. In one corner. protected
by a low screen. was a small safe.
This she threw open. and Darlington
put the envelope into one Of the
pigeon holes. The safe was absolutely
empty. a fact which puzzled him not
little.
I'VE seldom use this" said the girl.
In his eyes. THE jewel safe Is up
| stairs in my ROOM"
ut doesn't matter in the least" he
replied, smiling. so long as l may
| safely rid myself Of these obnoxious
papers. And II you do not mind. I'll
leave them there till Monday morning.
I've thought It all out, Kate. mans
only human. after all. could never
prosecute the case myself: Id be
thinking or you and the bread have
eaten. I'll turn the matter over to
Challoner. and let him do as he thinks
best. OF course. shall be called as q
witness when the case comes up in
court, II It ever does"
She did not reply. but shut the door
of the safe and rose from her knees.
The south side OF the dining room
was made up of long colonial windows
that opened directly upon the lawn.
They we're more like doors than win.
dows. She locked each one carefully
and drew the curtain.
"Norah is probably growing i'm.
patient for u.s." she said.
With an indescribable impulse he
suddenly drew her into his arms and
kissed her. 1t might be the last he
could ever claim.
John" she murmured, gently dis.
engaging herself.
II love you." he said. "and 1 could
not help 1t. Everything looks 50
dark"
The clock In the hall chimed the
quarter hour after II. Cavenaugh was
In his den. His desk was Uttered with
sheets Of paper, upon which were
formidable columns Of figures and dol
lar signs. He sat back in his cnaIr
and listened. He thought he heard .
door or window close; he wasn't GER
tain. 1t was probably one OF the serv-
ants. He bit on the end Of a fresh
cigar and resumed his work. Let the
young people play golf, II they wanted
to. and dance and frivol away the pre-
cious hours: they would never know
the Joy of seeing one become two. two
become four. and SO on. till the add
ing grew into the ransoms of many
kings. Ay, this was to live. Oh, the
beautiful numerals! Brigade after
brigade, corps after corps, they
/ marched at sign from him; an army
greater than that of kings. To sit in
q little room. as in a puppet booth.
and juggle the policies Of the ma.
tions! Yes. Kate should have duke
| and Norah a prince; he would show
them all some day. Recollecting Car.
rington, he frowned. Did the fellow
know anything. that he felt the power
to refuse an offer such as he had
made at the dinner table? Bah! 1t
would be like crushing some insect.
He determined that this should be
Carrington's last visit. His pen moved
once more, and presently he became
lost In his dreams of calculation.
But Cavenaugh's ears had not de-
ceived him, however. for he had heard
the sound Of a closing window. A
window had been closed, but none of
the servants had been at hand.