Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-10-27

pened to your
She gave him a look. She couldn't
forget their scene in the red room,
but the mixture of apprehension and
real concern in his face went far to-
ward melting her. She might even
have told him something, at least a
part of the truth, but for that other
standing watching her from the draw
ing-room door. With Clara, there was
nothing for it but to ignore her disor-
dered hair, her hat in her hand, her
rufie torn and trailing on the floor.
She put on a splendid nonchalance,
| as if 1t were none Of their business.
"Oh, l am sorry if I kept you wait
ing" +
It was Clara who spoke to her, past
Harry's blank establishment. why,
we don't mind waiting a few moments
more while you dress"
81 shan't have to dress" Such a
statement Flora felt must amaze eve
Shima, waiting like an image on the
threshold of the dining-room. But if
these people were waiting to be
amazed she felt herself equal to
amazing them to the top of their ex-
pectations.
"Oh, but at least go up and let
Marrika give you some pins" Clara
protested, hurrying forward as If fair
ly to drive her.
THANK you, no, this will do" Flora
said. On one point she was quite
clear. She wasn't going to leave those
two together for a moment to discuss
her plight; not till she could first get
at Harry alone. Then and there she
turned to the mirror and with heI
combs began to catch back and smooth
the disorder Of her hair, seeing all the
while Clara's reflection lowering per
turbed and vigilant in the background
of her own.
While her hands were busy seem
ing to accommodate Clara, her mint
was marshaled to Clara's outwitting
The only thing to do was to tel
nothing. Let Clara spend her time il
guessing. Unless by some wild chanc'
she had seer Kerr in the garden sh'
couldn't come neal the truth of wha
had happened. But what was to b
done with Harry? Harry was too clos
o to her to be ignored.
d At that dreadful dinner, where sh
sat a conscious illustrator of these tw
e silent ones, glancing at Harry's fact
d she knew that If she didn't attack sh
% would be attacked by him. 1t wa
here in the midst Of the noiseles
II passings Of Shima, watching Harry
- suspicious glances flashing across th
.g table at her strange disorder, that tn
b. idea occurred to her of a way out
S, it. She was bold enough to try
}; daring thrust at the mystery. If eve
u a hunter was to be led off on a falls
n scent, Harry was that one. She WE
OF amazed at the sudden, fearless II
ne pulse that had sprung up in her. 81
IN wasn't even afraid to say to him u
st der Clara's nose, Harry, I want yc
he to myself after dinner. Come up in
tn the garden study"
it He was very willing to follow ne
az She thought she detected in his ala
1t rity something more than curiosity
at concern. II seemed almost as If HI
nv was ashamed Of that scene In t
re red room, and anxious to make it
if. with her. He even tried before tn
a had reached the head of the stat
To "Oh, Floral say, Flora, /"
nd But an explanation between the
cit was the last thing she wanted il
an then. She fairly ran, leaving h
hit painting in the wake of her airy Skin
al For the first time since the thi
al began Clara was left out complete
1t Flora knew she was va left out
tn a possibility of listening at the k
.hg hole. For. the bright, tight, lit
Of room into which Harry followed
up was approached by a square entry a
The a double door. The room itself ov
hung the garden as a ships dc
ma overhangs the sea. Leather books
ing long red curtains were the note Of
lad She and Harry had often been HI
her together before.
.ow He hadn't got his breath. He |
an. hardly shut the door on them Def
she began. "Well, something
ah. happened" She had his attenti
His other purpose was arrested. |"
end something extraordinary. l wo
!, mr. have told you on the spot, onl!
,ce thought you would rather Clara die
she know it."
md. \ "I?" That left him staring. wv
of have | to do with it,"
I.- - oora him q limo lF
She AT this she gave MN d lons ~
ling ut was through you he ever had
ing chance of seeing me. | mean
was blue-eyed Chinaman. He has foil
tt ed me all the evening. He followed
and here to the very door" Flora's al
the of facts fell so fast, so hard, SO pc
ed, that for a moment they held
speechless in the middle of the 70
lora Any fleeing suspicion she m
ina have had of his completely in
her Chinaman's pursuit vanished.
ntly showed plain bewilderment. Flo
moment he was more at sea than
cab. self. The next she saw the shado7
a thought so disturbing that it sh
the ened his ruddy face to harshness.
For stepped toward her. what did
ate: say to your" He doomed dire
here above her, threatening.
he. Nothing. He didn't say anytf
/, IN But I know he followed me quit
IN a the house. I saw his shadow all
way down the hill"
else Harry still Dreathed quiz
"Where-how did he come &C
you?"
She'd been prepared for the
ton.
II was driving down Suffer 81
,ssed and he saw me at the carriage
ne. dow