Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-11-30

long as she had the sapphire upon
her. She recalled fearfully the mo-
ment when she had crouched against
the window with her hand protecting
the jewel, and Harry's hand grasping
her wrist. He would know well enough
where to find it now Oh, the restless
uncomfortable thing! Where could
she hide it?
She took the pear-shaped pouch
that swung always before her on her
long gold chain. She had repudiated
that hiding-place before, but now the
more obvious the better-now that
both men supposed she carried the
jewel far hidden out of sight. With
out removing from the bed where she
was crouched, cramped and cold, she
made the exchange, leaving the chain
still around her neck, dropping the
jewel into the pouch, where it would
swing free, so carelessly dangling as
to be beyond suspicion, but never be-
yond the reach of her hand.
1t was a pale, splendid dawning full
of clouds when she fell asleep!
Broad sunlight filled her room when
she was awakened by a knocking at
her door. She sprang from the bed
and went to it. She was not to be
come in upon by any unwelcome Wis
itor. But it was Mrs Herrick; and
Flora, with a murmur of relief, since
this was the one person she did want
to see, drew her inside.
why, my child, you haven't slept,
at least not properly" Mrs. Herrick
herself looked anxious and weary.
I've come to tell you that Mrs. Brit
ton is here. She came an hour ago."
where is she?"
in the breakfast-room with Mr..
Cressy."
"Oh," Flora cried, you know 1
didn't expect them. 1 didn't want
them. 1t wasn't for them asked you
to come"
"But can't you tell me what it is
you're afraid OFF," the other urged.
Between us can't we prevent it? Is
there nothing can do to help you?"
"Ah, if you knew how much you
have already helped me by just being
here"
Her companion laughed a little.
Cant I do something more active
than that?'
Flora pondered where is Mr..
Kerr?"
I'm the garden, in the willow walk"
do you think you can manage that
the others don't get at him?"
81 can; if he doesn't want to get at
them" Mrs. Herrick replied. Against
a man like that, my DEAR" she aimed
it gravely at Flora, zone can do moth
ing"
But Flora had no answer for the
warning. II must see Clara immedi.
ately," she said.
But not without breakfast" Mrs
Herrick protested. 81 will send you
up something Remember that she
never abuses herself, so she's always
fresh-and so she's always equal to
the occasion"
Mrs. Herrick went. Flora looked
into the mirror. Almost for the first
time in ten days she thought of her
appearance. If it was, as Mrs. Her
rick said, factor of success, some
thing must be done for it, for it was
dreadful. The best she could do re-
vived pale replica of the vivid crea-
ture who had been wont to regard her
from her glass. Yet her black srwn,
thin and trailing far behind her, and
her hair wound high, by very force
of their contrasted color, gave her a
real brilliance as they gave her
seeming height But she descended
to the breakfast-room with trepida-
ton, and stood a full minute before
the door gathering courage to go in.
When she did open it, it was so
suddenly that both occupants faced
her with start. They were stand
ing close together, and between them,
on the glare of the white table-cloth,
lay a little heap of gold. AS they
peered at her she saw that both were
highly excited, but in Clara it showed
like a cold sparkle; in Harry it
gloomed like menace. His hand
/ lowered, clenched above the money
in panic of irresolution; then, as if
with an involuntary relax of nerves,
OpeHed anu let IAN one last piece VI
gold Like a flash the whole disap-
peared in sweep of Clara's hand. 1t
passed before F1ora's eyes like a
prestidigitator's trick, so rapid as to
seem unreal, and left her staring. Har-
ry gave Clara a look, half suspicious,
half entreating; and then, to Flora's
establishment, turned away without
word to either Of them
Clara stood still, even after the
door had closed upon Harry, and odd
ly, and rather horribly, she wore the
same aspect she had worn the day
when she had looked intently and alb
sorbedly upon the rified contents OF
F'lora's room.
(To BE CONTINUED