Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-09-29
CHAPTER Kill.
Thrust and Parry.

tHiuoh oih 0i'J
My dear Flora: I an going out early
and shall not be back to dinner.
CLARA.
Flora let the little note fall as If
she disliked the touch Of it. She was
achieved to think she would not have
to see Clara that day. 1t was her de-
sire never to see Clara again. If only
they could part here and now! How
she wanted to shake the whole thing
off her shoulders! How foolish not to
have gone to Harry when she had
first made up her mind to! For why,
after all, make him any explanations?
Suppose she should just take the ring
to him and say: ut gives me the shiv-
.ers, Harry. Let's take it back and get
something else" If he didn't suspect
the sapphire already, he would never
suspect it from that.
But did she really want Harry to
rid her of the ring? She would get
hold of him first and then she would
see what she would do.
She stepped into the hall with all
tllG COulluClNG VI OAO WIZ hoo luAAJ
made up her mind to carry matters
with a high hand; but at the tele-
phone she hesitated. Calling him up
at such an hour of the morning de-
manding his attendance on such a
fanciful errand-wouldn't he think 1t
odd? No, he would think it the most
natural thing in the world for her to
sbe so fiighty. R~eassured, she gave the
club number and stood waiting, listen
ing to the half-syllables of switched
off voices and the crossing click
click, that was bringing her fate near
~er to her. She heard some one com
ring up the stairs and down the hal
toward her. Marrika stood stolid a
heP elbow.
"Mr. Cressy," she pronounced.
Eyes, yes," said Flora, with thu
club clamoring In her left a
He is downstairs" said Marrika.
Flora nearly let the receiver fall
Harry here? What a piece Of luck
But here on his own account, at sucl
san hour-how extraordinary!
Hello, nello," persisted the club
whats wanted?"
why, l." Flora stammered. TT
"a mistake; never mind. / don't wan
shim now" She hoped that Harry hal
mot heard her as he came in, since l
was his informal fashion to await he
in the large entrance hall. She didn'
want TO spoil the chance he had Civ
EN- her of seeming off-hand about tn
ring. But the hall was empty, and a
she descended the stairs she amuse
herself with the fancy that Shima ha
Mad a vision, and that she would stil
have to ring up the club and explai
ITO the attendant that, after all, sh
wanted Mr.. Cressy.
Then from the drawing-room thresl
.old she caught sight Of Harry stant
ing in the big bay window Of the draw
dng-room, in the same spot wher
Kerr had awaited her the ~afternoo
before. Harry was tall and large an
freshly colored, and yet he did not fl
the room to her as the other man ha
done. He met her, kissed her, an
she turned her head SO that his lii
nier her cheek close beside her ca
She did not positively object to hi
kissing her on the lips, but her L
stinct was strong to offer him be
cheek. He had sometimes laughed
this, but now he resented it. He Il
SISTED on his privilege, and she We
passive to him, conscious Of less 10y
an this than assertion Of possession.
"You are not going to Burhngam
are your" she asked him with her fir
breath.
He looked down at her with
flushed and sulky airs What diffe
.ence would that make to you? al
as it happens, but | suppose you thfr
that's no reason for disturbing "
so early" He was angry, but at whs
she wondered, with creeping unea'
mess.
what Is the matter?" she urge
"Are things going crookedly at BY
aingame?"
"Things are going as crooked
you please, but not at Burlingame.
oyer there" he said, nodding iowa
the window-bench; RI want to talk
/ you"
Harry had the air Of one about
scold, and certainly Flora thought
anybody was carrying matters WI
q high hand. 1t wasn't herself; but 9