The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1910-10-27

card table negligently toying with the
pasteboardS and frittering away the
time with Adele as If secure in the
peace and happiness of his own home
Such Indifference WAS m2GC"nin2. in
explicahle. and the old gambler. with
a final imprecaticu. decided that the
moment Adele haG gone he would con-
vey a last warning 70 bis partner. ard
i II it was still UnEceLeG he wcu!d then
think Of his OWE safety ard. however
difficult it would p:Ove. leave kirbS
to the fate he deserved.
Meanwhile that gentleman was calm
| " pursuing his G:2!%-l:e with AIele.
You ask ine if AL s":"y l Gid not
CO." he was saying. Mss Randall,
what is man We acts against all
the reason he h:>::''
Sometimes he IS :, hero" she re-
piled. steadily meeting lis eyes.
And sometimes he's fool lie add
ed grimly. Things cone so suddenly
sometimes tha; y'I cen hardly get
your breath Gui"A enough to ,ell>That
! to do Yet" he added r;uSin"ly. you
do know all the time, underneath.
what you ought to do. For instance,
| I know that ought not to be here
now. | haven't any right. And. then.
I ought TO I've hunting the man who
stole silver mounted pistol 1T the
oaks this morning"
But you can't do that she expos
tulated. noddins wisely. Your friends
| would
Miss Randall. I've got only one
friend in the world. and he's ''ut there
on the balcony swearing cuss words ata
me because ! don't go.
She turned away. evincirS sudden
and vital interest in Il book she Lad
read twice over aud knew by heart
do you think you have right to
say that you have only one friend:'
she asked gently.
IL hadn't thought Of you as
i friend. Miss Randall
why? How do you think OF me-"
, suddenly facing him. her eyes half
timid. half daring, demanding SIN
cere answer.
"Why-just as you. Miss Adele-and
I ought not 70 think Of you at all"
do you mean because this unjust
charge is hanging over you? Do you
think care for that? Is there any
! other reason?"
He nodded. permitting the cards to
fall from his hand one by one to the
table. "Yes: there is another reason.
You remember what Mercutio said Of
his wound-''T neither as deep as
well nor as wide as a church door. but
twill serve. Ask for me tomorrow:
you shall find me a grave man. The
bad prince ought not to stay too long.
you know"
She seated herself at the table and
scrutinised him with grave. troubled
eyes, her chin reposing daintily on the
cru1 of arched hands. You must
make 1t clearer to me than that. What
are you afraid Of my finding out:"
He shrugged and smiled. Life
makes some pretty queer shuff1es. Miss
Randall, and you can't fool much with
the deck yourself" he said, somewhat
irrelevantly. picking up the cards and
unconsciously beginning to rifle them.
IF you don't play the game square
it's only a question Of time till you get
taught aud then nobody will play with
you. l don't know why Life dealt me
| the hand l hold. All l know Is I've
got to play the cards according to rule.
Sometimes I've found that mighty.
hard. keep wishing and wishing
there'd be a different hand dealt. but
wishing won't change It 1t was the
shuttle that settled it long ago."
81 don't think. sir, that you've said
anything that concerns you and me
very much" she commented, glancing
up shyly.
Concerns you and me-" he echoed