Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-09-22

- NOS-A6 Sa1S 6AC 49,
worst yet, and when he turned back
to her from the other end of the room
there was something so haggard, SO
harassed, so fairly guilty about him
that if she had ever thought Of tell
ing him the truth Of how she came by
the ring she put it away from her
now.
But beneath his distress she recog-
nized a desperate earnestness. There
was something he wanted at any cost,
but he was going to be gentle with
her. She had felt before the poten-
tiality Of his gentleness, and she
doubted her power to resist 1t. She
famed up all the fame of anger that
had swept her into the room. She re-
minded herself that the greatest gen
tleness might only be a blind; that
there was nothing stronger than want
ing something very much, and that
the protection of the Jewel was very
thin. But when he stood beside her
she realized he held a stronger
weapon against her than his gentle.
ness, something apart from his inten-
: tion.
He was speaking, almost coaxingly,
as if to a child. II understand" he
. was saying. IT know all about it. It's
a mistake. But surely you don't ex-
, pect to keep 1t now It will only be
an annoyance to you"
She turned on him. What could it
9 be to you?"
Kerr, planted before her, with his
" head dropped, looked, looked, looked,
as if he gave silence leave to answer
for him what it would. 1t answered
with a hundred echoes ringing up to
her from long corridors of conjecture,
half-articulated words breathing OF
how extraordinary the answer must
be that he did not dare to make.
What will you take for it," he said
at last.
She was silent. With a sick dis
trust it came to her that it was the
| very worst thing he could have said
after that speaking silence.
She stepped away from him. This
thing Is not for SALE"
He stared at her with amazement
then threw back his head and laughed
as if something had amused hin
above all tragedy.
"You are an extraordinary crea
ture," he said, "but really I mus
have 1t. l can't explain the why of It,
only give the sapphire to me, ant
you'll never be sorry for having done
A that for me Whatever happens, yo1
Il may be sure I won't talk. Even
A the thing comes out, you shan't b.
mixed up in it." He had come
her again, and the point of his
"A foref1nger rested on her arm. 4A
"A was m%otionless, overwhelmed witt
IA pure terror, with despair.
ia "Why not give it to me now" h
III urged, since, of course, you can
II keep 1t? / could have it now in spit
| of you"
Everything in her sprang up i
\ %antagonism to meet him. Il kno
what you are" she cried, "but yo
shan't have 1t. You have no NOR
IM right to it than l. You can't get
HI away from me, and l shan't give 1t t
III ~'~S
HI you"
He had grown suddenly paler; hi
eyes were dancing, fastened upon he
breast. His long hands closed an
opened. She looked down, arreste
I at the sight of her hand clenched Jul
MI where her breath was shortest, ovt
the sapphire's hiding-place.
He smiled. How easily she had b
trayed herself! But she abated not
lot of her defiance, challenging hill
now he knew its hiddlng-place,
take the sapphire if he could. But
did not move. And 1t came to h
then that she had been ridiculous
think for an instant that this m;
., would take anything from her
aus force, What she had to fear was b
will at workupon hers, his persuasic
ooh his ingenuity. She thought of the pl
ing nile irises, and how he had draw
nee them toward him in the crook of
cane-and her dread was lest
yea meant to overcome her with SOL
ace subtlety she could not combat.
50; The click OF a moving latch broug
his eyes from hers to the door.
"Some one is coming in," he said
a guarded voice. 1t warned her II
her face showed too much, but $
could not hope to recover her co
n"p posure. She hardly wanted to. s
uH0 was In a state to fancy that a sec
could be kept by main force; and s
neip turned without abatement Of her re
GA less mood and took her hand FRI
where she had held It clenched Ut
her breast and stretched it out
.. Mrs. Herrick.
The lady had stood In the doorH
30. a moment-a long-featured, whit
- modelled face, draped In a dull gre
veil, a tall figure whose flowing ski
49, Of black melted way into the ba
ground of the hall-before she ca
forward and met her hostess hs
with a clasp firm and ready.
VIZ, "I'm so glad to find 0 here"
his said. She looked directly into Flor
WIRE eyes, into the very center Of her
tation. She held her tremulous hi
as If neither of these manifestati'
a surprised her; as IL a young won
and a young man in ~colloquy mi
.en,v often be found in such a state of mi
my Flora's hrst emouon was q gu
YOU relief that, after all, her face had
betrayed Kerr. But she had no 500
For murmured his name to Mrs. Herrick,
scept sooner had tnat iadys gray eyes ~
she ed upon him, than they altered Il
this clear confidence. me SITUATION
-. II ~ L. Tlnna ~ InnIxod mr.