The Comrade. (Winnfield, La.) 1890-1914, 1910-12-04

"dSleu. HOW long 40 You tnlnk
Clara'll let you stop at this hour?"
Clara isn't here" he said.
well, then your time is all the
shorter She was nettled that he
should be obliyious Of his lapse.
I'm sorry" he said, arriving at last
at his apology. Il couldn't help be-
ing late. I've had a day of it." He
drew his hand across his forehead,
and she noticed that he was in his
morning clothes and looked as rum
pied and Hurried as a man just from
the Office.
She relented. Poor dear! You do
look tired! Don't take that chair. It's
more Louis Quinze than comfortable.
Come into the library. And remem-
ber,' she added, when Shima had set
the decanter and glasses beside him,
you are to stay just 20 minutes
He took a sip of his drink and
looked at her over the top Of his
glass. Il may have to stay longer if
you want to near about 1t.
ooh, Harry, you really know some
thing? All the evening I've heard
nothing but the widest rumors. Some
say Maj. Purdie couldn't speak be-
cause some one way up knows more
than she should about it. And some
body else said it wasn't the real ring
at all that was taken, only paste
copy, and that is why they're not do
ing more about getting it back"
mot doing more about getting it
back?' Harry laughed. Is that the
idea that generally prevails? Why,
Flora" He stopped, waited mo-
ment while she leaned forward ex-
pectant. Flora he began again,
"are you NUM-"
She nodded breathless.
"Not word to Clara?"
"Oh, Of course not"
"Well-" He twisted around in his
chair the better to face her. ''To-mor-
row there will be published reward
of $4,000 for the return of the Crew
Idol, and no questions asked"
"Oh!" she said. And again, "Oh.
is that all" She was disappointed.
Il don't see why you and the major
should have been so mysterious about
that" ....
you don't, Ell? Suppose you had
taken the ring-wouldn't it make a diff
ference to you if you knew "a hours
ahead that a reward of $4,000 would
be published? Wouldn't you expect
every mans hand to be against you
! at that price? If you had a pal
wouldn't you be afraid he'd sell. yor
up?"
Flora leaned forward with knitted
brows. Eyes, 7 can see that, but still
just among ourselves, this morning
Harry smiled. you've lost sight O
the fact that it is just among our
, selves the thing has happened"
''Oh, oh! Now you're ridiculous!"
II might be, if the thing had hap
pened any where but in this town
but think a moment. How much d
r we know Of the people we meet
where they were, who they were, be
: fore they came here? There's cas-
in point. It was not quite among ou1
selves this morning"
Harry, how horrid of you!" Sh
was on the point of declaring that sh
knew Kerr very we'll indeed; but sh
J. remembered this might not be th
j. thing to say to Harry.
k my dear girl, I'm not saying an.
+ thing against him. l only remarke
;. that we did not know him.
}. Don't you, Harry"
It He gave her a quick look. "Wh
r what put that into your head?"
O I'll don't know. I thought yc
|! looked at him very hard last night
=. the picture gallery. And afterwar
e at supper, don't you remember, "
ID did not want me to mention your co
le nection with something or other
s. was talking about?'
Something or other he was talkil
O. about?" Harry inquired with a frow
le ing smile.
IS Il think it was about that embas
s. ball
g. II didn't want you to mention t
Mt embassy ball?" he repeated, and ne
" he was only smiling. my dear chi
er surely you are dreaming"
m She looked at him with the beWl
er cred feeling that he was fatty &C
re tradicting himself. And yet she COT
ng remember he had not shaken his ne
al at her. He had only nodded, Gov
al It be that her cherished imaglnat1
to had played her a trick at last? t
the next moment it occurred to |
he that somehow she had been led aW
ne from her first question.
IN. 'Then have you seen him, Harry
he she insisted.
en- "No!" He jerked it out SO shar
Ter that it startled her, but she stuck
On her subject.
es- "And you wouldn't have minded
an telling him you had been at Il
lat ball?'
There was a pause while Ha
- looked at the fire. Then III