The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-09-23

doubt. After saying so much, was he
going to say nothing more? She had
feeling that she had not heard the
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 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
TALLY of his gentleness, and she
doubted her power to resist 1t. She
famed up all the flame of anger that
had swept her into the room. She re
minded herself that the greatest gen
tleness might only be 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 hel
she realized he held a stronger
weapon against her than his gentle
ness, something apart from his inten
ton.
He was speaking, almost coaxingly
as if to a child Il understand" he
was saying 81 know all about it. It's
mistake. But surely you don't ex
pect to keep it now. 1t will only be
an annoyance to you"
She turned on him. What could II
be to you?"
Kerr, planted before her. with his
head dropped, looked, looked, looked
for him what 1t would. 1t answered
with a hundred echoes ringing up tt
her from long corridors of conjecture
half-articulated words breathing O
how extraordinary the answer mus
be that he did not dare to make.
what will you take for it," he sale
at last.
She was silent. With a sick dis
| u uSJ IL Cdulc W nCl IndJ IL was Ii'
very worst thing he could have sait
after that speaking silence.
She stepped away from him. "Thi
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 it. can't explain the why of it
only give the sapphire to me, ant
you'll never be sorry for having dom
that for me. Whatever happens, yol
may be sure l won't talk. Even i
the thing comes out, you shan't b.
mixed up in it," He had come nea
her again, and the point of his lonl
forefnger rested on her arm. Sh'
was motionless, overwhelmed will
pure terror, with despair.
why not give it to me now" h
urged, "since, of course, you can
keep it? l could have it now in spit
of you"
Everything in her sprang up IL
antagonism to meet him. 81 know
what you are" she cried, "but yol
| shan't have it. You have no NOR,
right to it than l. You can't get i
away from me, and l shant give it tt
you"
He had grown suddenly paler; hi
eyes were dancing, fastened upon he
breast His long hands closed ant
opened. She looked down, arrested
at the sight of her hand clenched jus
where her breath was shortest, owe
the sapphire's hiding-place,
He smiled. How easily she had be
trayed herself! But she abated not ;
lot of her defiance, challenging him
now he knew its hidding-place, tt
take the sapphire if he could But h,
| did not move. And it came to he
then that she had been ridiculous t.
think for an instant that this mai
would take anything from her b!
force. What she had to fear was hi
will at work upon hers, his persuasion
his ingenuity. She thought of the puT
pie irises, and how he had draw
them toward him in the crook of hi
cane-and her dread was lest h,
meant to overcome her with som,
subtlety she could not combat
The click of moving latch brough
his eyes from hers to the door.
Some one is coming in," he said II
a guarded voice. 1t warned her tina
her face showed too much, but sh'
could not hope to recover her com
posture. She hardly wanted to. Sht
was in state to fancy that secre
could be kept by main force; and she
turned without abatement of her reck
less mood and took her hand from
where she had held it clenched upoI
her breast and stretched it out t.
Mrs Herrick.
The lady had stood in the doorway
moment-a long-featured, whitish
modelled face, draped in dull greer
veil, tall figure whose flowing skirts
of black melted away into the back
ground of the hall-before she came
forward and met her hostess hanC
with clasp firm and ready.