Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-11-24

AAo1AA NAS SAoANO 0A a. 49, 49,
that?'
Flora nodded. The other seemed
intently to consider! HE will come
back" she declared.
Upheld by her friends assurance,
Flora found the endurance necessary
to spend the day, an empty, stagnant
day, in moving about a house and
garden where a few hours ago had
passed such a storm Of events. She
reviewed them, lived them over again,
but without taking account of them.
Her mind, that had worked SO sharply,
was now in allegiance. She lived in
emotion, but with a tantalizing sense
of something unexplained which her
understanding had not the power to
reach out to and grasp. For a day
more she existed under the same roof
with Clara, for Clara stayed on.
At first it seemed to Flora extraord-
mary that she dared, but presently it
began to appear how much more *
traordinary it would have been If
Clara had promptly fled. BY waiting
a discreet length of time, as If moth
ing had happened, she put herself in
dubitably on the right side Of things.
Indeed, when one thought, had she
ever been legally off it?
That was the very horror. Clara
had simply turned the situation over
and seen its market value, and how
enormously she had made it pay!
Flora herself had paid; and she had
seen the evidence that Harry had
paid, paid for his poor little hour of
escape which a mere murderer might
have granted him in pity. Yet Clara
could walk beside them, meet them at
dinner with the same smooth face,
chat upon the terrace with the unsus-
pecting Mrs. Herrick, and even face
Flora in a security which had the ap-
pearance of serenity, since she knew
that nothing e would be told. At
every turn in the days business Flora
kept meeting that placid pres
ence; and it was not until the end Of
the day that she met 1t primed for de-
parture. Flora was with Mrs. Her
rick, and Clara, coming to seek them
out, had an air Of casual farewell. The
small sweet smile she presented be-
hind her misty veil, the delicate
white-gloved hand she offered were
symbols of enduring friendship, as II
she were leaving them only for a few
hours; es If, when Flora returned to
town, she would find Clara waiting
for them in the house. But Flora
knew It was only Clara's wonderful
way. This uprising and departure
were her last.
Now all her waiting was for Kerr's
returning. She did not know how she
should face him, but she wanted him
A telegram came an hour before him
came to Mrs. Herrick announcing him;
and then himself, driven up on the
high seat of the cart, just as daylight
was closing
did you save it," Flora asked.
He looked at Mrs. Herrick, hesitat
ing.
"You can tell, she knows" Flora as
sured him.
mo, I haven't saved it-not 90 far,
he said. He had taken off his hat ant
! the strong light showed on his fac'
lines Of fatigue and anxiety. "H'
gave me the slip--no trace of him
No one saw him come into the city
nothing turned up in the goldsmith
shop. His friend, the blue-eye'
| Chinaman, has dropped out Of sight
I haven't made 1t public" he glance
at Fora-"but our men think he
: gone by the water ~route-Lord know
. in what or where! He must have ha,
this planned for days" He didn'
r look at Flora now. He turned hi
communication carefully on Mrs. Hel
rick. There were seven vessel
t sailed that day, and all were search
ed; but there are ways Of smugglin
opium. and why not menu"
They were walking toward tn
r house. Kerr looked up at the windo1
where, a short time before, Clara
face bad looked down upon the col
fusion in the garden.
i. "b that paid woman still here?"
n ''Oh, no; she's gone" Flora locke
!? at him warningly. But Mrs. Herric
d he'd caught his tone. why shouldn
r she be?" she demanded with delicat
t asperity.
Kerr had dropped his monocle. "B,
cause, In common decency, sh
6 couldn't. She sold Cressy to me for
good round sum-"
Flora and Mrs. Herrick exchange
a look of horror.
I'D suspected him." said Kerr.
knew where I'd seen him but
It couldn't be sure Of his identity II
IL she showed me the picture"
What picture?" cried Flora
n "The picture Butler mentioned
the club that night; Farrell Wan
boarding the Loeb Ettive. Don't yc
k, remember?" He spoke gently, as
afraid that a hasty phrase In sue
d connection might do her harm. No'
n when lie saw how white she locke
a. he steadied her with his arm. Nv
k won't talk of this business any more
lie he said.
II "Rut ! must talk Of It" Flora