Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-06-23


haven't we, Mr. Blakeley?" she asked
Although l am crazy to hear, have
not said wreck once. I'm sure you
must feel like the survivor of Water.
loo, or something Of the sort"
"Tf you want me to tell you about
the wreck" said, glancing across the
table, I'm sorry to be disappointing
but don't remember anything"
you are fortunate to be able to
forget It," 1t was the first word Miss
West had spoken directly to me, and
1t went to my head
There are some things I have not
forgotten" said, over the candles.
81 recall coming to myself some time
after, and that girl, a beautiful
girl"
"Ah!" said the lady in yellow, lean.
ing forward breathlessly. Miss West
was staring at me coldly, but, once
started, had to stumble on.
THAT a girl was trying to rouse
me, and that she told me | had been
on fire twice already" A shudder
want around tho table.
"But surely that isn't the end Of the
story" Mrs. Dallas put in aggrievedly.
why, that's the most tantalizing
thing l ever heard"
I'm afraid that's ALL" | said. "She
/ went her way and l went mine. If she
( recalls me at all, she probably thinks
of me as a weakened individual who
] faints like a woman when everything
/ is over"
What did I tell you?" Mrs. Dallas
asserted triumphantly. "He tainted,
did you hear? when everything was
over! He hasn't begun to tell It,"
| l would have given a lot by that
time If | had not mentioned the girl.
But Mcknight took 1t up there and
carried 1t on.
"Blakeley is regular geyser," he
said. "He never spouts until he
reaches the boiling point. And by
| that same token, although he hasn't
said much about the Lady of the
Wreck, / think he is crazy about her.
In fact, | am sure of it. He thinks he
has locked his secret in the caves of
his soul, but l call you to witness that
he has 1t nailed to his face. Look at
him!"
| squirmed miserably and tried to
avoid the startled eyes of the girl
across the table. | wanted to choke
Mcknight and murder the rest Of the
party
1T isn't fair" l said as coolly as
/ could. 81 have my fingers crossed;
you are five against one"
And to think that there was muir
der on that very train" broke in the
lady in yellow. at was perfect Gre
scendo of horrors, wasn't it? And
what became of the murdered man,
Mr.. Blakeley?"
Mcknight had the sense to jump in
to the conversation and save my re-
ply.
"They say good Pittsburgers go to
Atlantic City when they die he said.
"So-we are reasonably certain the
gentleman did not go to the sea-
! shore"
The meal was over at last, and once
in the drawing room 1t was clear we
hung heavy on the hostess hands.
1T is so hard to get people for bridge
in September" she walled. There is
: absolutely nobody in town. Six is a
dreadful number"
ITS good poker number" her hus-
band suggested.
The matter settled itself, however.
was hopeless, save as dummy;
Miss West said It was too hot for
overlooked the Mall. With obvious
relief Mrs. Dallas had the card table
| brought, and-I' was face, to face with
the minute | had dreaded and hoped
for for a week.
Now 1t had come, it was more diff
know If there was a moon, but there
was the urban substitute for 1.-THE
arc light. 1t threw the shadow of the
balcony railing in long black bars
against her white gown, and as 1t
swung sometimes the face was in the
u6nJ' L ulCW a Nudl ClOhG oO llldL L
could watch her.
do you know" | said, when she
made no effort at speech, that you
are a much more formidable person
tonight, in that gown, than you were
the last time | saw you?"
The light swung on her face; she
was smiling family.
The hat with the green ribbons!"
she said. 81 must take it back; had
almost forgotten"
81 have not orgotten--anything." |
pulled myself up short. This was
hardly loyalty to Richey. His voice
came through the window just then,
/ and perhaps was wrong, but l
thought she raised her head to listen.
Look at this hand" he was say
ing. Regular pianola; you could play
/ it with your feet"
He's a dear, isn't he?" Alison said
Unexpectedly. mo matter how de-
! pressed and downhearted | am, al
/ ways cheer up when / see .Richey."
He's more than that" | returned
warmly. HE is the most honorable fell
: low l know. If he wasn't so much that
way, he would have a career before
la. l.