The Prescott daily news., 1910-03-25

she interrupted. q know you. Lloyd That is enough"
 She looked him in the eye trusting . ly, and he blinked a little.
 "Plucky!' he murmured. "Theyre trying to queer me- and maybe they will, but I'm not Go,ac to .e about It. Listen. l cane to Paris a year age on account of certain person. thought l loved her, and I made fool of myself. l gave up good position in New York, and after had been here awhile l went broke So gam- bled. It's pretty bad. 1 don't defend myself. only there's one thing I want you to know. This person was not a low woman. She was lady"
 "HuhH' grunted Mother Bonneton "A lady. The kind of a lady who dimes alone with gay young gentlemen in private rooms! Aha. we have the facts"
 The young mans eyes kindIad. No matter where she dined, I say she was lady, and the proof of it is I-I want cd her to get a divorce and-and mar " me"
 "Oh,' winced Alice.
 "YOu see what he is," triumphed the RacriStan's wife-''running after a mar ried woman"
 Sut kittredge went on doggedly: "Y on ve got to hear the rest now. One tay something happened that-that nude me realize what m idiot I had been. So at last l decided to break away, and I did. It wasn't exactly path of roses for me those weeks, but 1 stuck to it, because-becauSe 1 had some one to help me"-he paused and looked tenderly at Alice-'and-well, l cut the whole thing out, gambling and all. That was six months ago."
 And the lady?' sneered Mother Bonneton. ''Do you mean to tell us you haven't had anything to do with her for six months?"
 I haven't even seen her." he declar- td, ''for more than six months"
 "A likely story! Besides. what we know is enough. l shall write M. Groener tonight and tell him the facts. Meantime"-- She rose and pointed to the door
 We'll" said he, facing Alice with a discouraged gesture. "I-Td like to know why you turned me down this afternoon"
 He was actually moving toward the door when the bell in the hall tinkled sharply Mother Bonneton answered the call and returned moment later, followed by the dOorkeeper from be- low. a cheery little woman, who bus tied in, carrying note.
 Its for the gentleman" she explain ed, from q lady waiting in q car riage It's very important" With this she delivered a note to Kittredge and added in an exultant whisper to the sacristan's wife that the lady had given her a franc for her trouble.
 What kind of lady?" chuckled Mother Bonneton.
 "Oh. very swell" replied the door keeper mysteriously grand toilet, bare shoulders and no hat. l should think she'd take cold"
 "Poor thing!' jeered the other.
 Kittredge stood as if in a daze, star ing at the note. He read it. thenread it again. Then he crumpled it in his hand, muttering, 70 God!' And his 1 face was white.
 "Goodbyw he said to Alice in ex- treme agitation. Il don't know what you think of this. cant stop to ex- i plain. I-I must go at once!' And, taking up his hat and cane, he started away.
 She went to him swiftly and laid a hand on his arm. Lloyd. you must come back. You must come back to- night. It's the last thing I'll ever ask you. You need never see me again, but-you must come back tonight"
 She stood transformed as she spoke, not pleading. but commanding and beautiful beyond words.
 Ut may be very late." he stam- mered.
 "Ill wait until you come," she said simply, mo matter what time. I'll wait. But you'll surely come, LloydY'
 He hesitated a moment and then before the power of her eyes, "Tll sure ly come," he promised. And mo- ment later he was gone.
 Then the hours passed. and still