The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-04-09

ener who belongs here is working at
the club
Remind me tomorrow to send out
man from town. he said. Il know
the very fellow"
record this scrap of conversation,
Just as | have tried to put down any
thing and everything that had a bear
ing on what followed, because the
gardener Halsey sent the next day
played an important part in the events
of the next few weeks-events that
eliminated as you know, by stirring
the country profoundly At that time,
however | was busy trying to keep
my skirts dry. and paid little or no
attention TO what seemed then most
trivial remark.
At the lodge everything was quiet
There was a light in the sitting room
downstairs, and a faint CLEAN, as if
from a shaded lamp in one of the up
per rooms Halsey stopped and ex-
amined the lodge with calculating
eyes.
Il don't know, Aunt Ray" he said
obviously; this is hardly a woman 8
affair If there's scrap of any kind,
you hike for the timber Which was
Halsey's solicitous care for me, put
into yernacular
"Tll stay right here said, and
crossing the small vnranda, now
shaded and fragrant with honey
suckle, hammered the knocker on
the door.
Thomas opened the door himself
Thomas, fully dressed and in his Gus
| tomary health. had the blanket over
my arm.
Il brought the blanket, Thomas" /
said; Il am sorry you are so ILL.,"
4 The old man stood staring at me
and then at the blanket. His con-
4 fusion under other circumstances
would have been ludicrous. a0
what Not ill?" Halsey said from
the step. Thomas, I'm afraid you've
been malingering."
Thomas seemed to have been debat
ing something with himself. Now he
stepped out on the porch and closed
the door gently behind him.
\ II reckon you bettah come in Mis-
Innes," he said, speaking cautiously
"It's got so | dunno what to do, anC
it's boun' to come out some time Ell
ruther."
He threw the door open then, ant
stepped inside. Halsey close behind
in the sitting room the old negro
turned with quiet dignity to Halsey.
"You bettah sit down, sah,' he
said Its place for a woman sab.
Things were not turning out th'
way Halsey expected He sat dowI
on the center-table, with his handl
thrust In his pockets, and watched
me as followed Thomas up the mar
row stairs. At the top q woman wa
standing, and second glance showe'
me it was Rosie. She shrank back
f, little, but said nothing. And thel
Thomas motioned to a partly opel
door, and went in.
The lodge boasted Of three bed
rooms upstairs, all comfortably fun
nished. In this one, the largest an
airiest, night lamp was burning, an
by its light could make out plail
white metal bed A girl was aslee
there-or in half stupor, for sh
muttered something now and ther
Rosie had taken her courage in he
hands, and coming in had turned u
the light. 1t was only then that
knew. Fevernushed, i'll as she was
, recognized Louise Armstrong.
"Will you tell me what you mear
Thomas Johnson. by not telling Ill
this before?" | demanded Indignantly
Thomas uuailed.
"Mis' Louise wouldn't let me- h
said earnestly. 81 wanted to- Sh
ought to "A had doctor the night sh
came, but she wouldn hear to it.
she very bad, Mis- lnnes?"
Bad enough" said coldly. sen
Mr. lnnes up"
Halsey came up the stairs slowl.
I looking rather interested and incline
Y to be amused. For a moment he coul
not see anything distinctly in tn
darkened room; he stopped, glance
at Rosie and at me, and then his eye
g fell on the restless head on the pl
low. | think he felt who 1t was befor
If he really saw her; he crossed tn
o room in a couple of strides and ber
If over the bed.
S "Louise!" he said softly; but sill
e did not reply, and her eyes showed n
recognition. Halsey was young an
d. illness was now to him. He straish
e ened himself slowly, still watchin
her, and caught. my arm.
p "She's dying, Aunt Ray!' he sal
y huskily. "Dyingl Why. she doesn
V, know mel"
r FUDGE" I snapped. being apt
l. grow irritable when my sympathie
l, are aroused She's doing nothing {
e. the sort-and don't pinch my arm.
L you want something to do, go an
'r choke Thomas"
K But at that moment Louise rouse
lf from her stupor to cough. and at III
end of the paroxysm. as Rosie laid ht
ie back. exhausted she knew us. Th'
r. was all Halsey wanted; to him CO.
sciousness was recovery He droppe
ID on his knees beside the bed, and trie