Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-12-27

suspicious glances flashing across the
table at her strange disorder. that the
idea occurred to her of a way out of
1t. She was bold enough to try a
daring thrust at the mystery. If ever
a hunter was to be led of on false
scent, Harry was that one. She was
amazed at the sudden, fearless i'm
pulse that had sprung up in her. She
wasn't even afraid to say to him I'M
der Clara's nose, Harry, l want you
to myself after dinner Come up into
the garden study"
He was very willing to follow her.
She thought she detected in his alac-
rity something more than curiosity or
concern. 1t seemed almost as If Har-
ry was ashamed of that scene in the
red room, and anxious to make it up
with her. He even tried before they
had reached the head of the stairs.
"Oh, Floral say. Flora, T."
But an explanation between them
was the last thing she wanted just
then. She fairly ran. leaving him
painting in the wake of her airy skirts.
For the first time since the thing
began Clara was left out completely.
Flora knew she was even left out of
a possibility of listening at the key
hole. For the bright, tight, little
room into which Harry followed her
was approached by square entry and
a double door. The room itself over
hung the garden as ships deck
overhangs the sea- Leather books and
long red curtains were the note of it.
She and Harry had often been here
together before.
He hadn't got his breath. He had
hardly shut the door on them before
she began We'll, something has
happened" She had his attention
His other purpose was arrested. ooh,
something extraordinary. l would
have told you on the spot, only
thought you would rather Clara didn't
know it."
'T?" That left him staring. What
have to do with it?'
At this she gave him long look.
1T was through you he ever had the
chance of seeing me. mean the
blue-eyed Chinaman. He has follow
ed me all the evening. He followed me
here to the very door," F1ora's array
of facts fell so fast, so hard, so point
ed, that for a moment they held him
speeches. in the middle of the room
Any fleeting suspicion she might
have had of his completely in the
Chinaman's pursuit vanished. He
showed plain bewilderment. For a
moment he was more at sea than her.
self. The next she saw the shadow of
a thought so disturbing that it sharp
ened his ruddy face to harshness. He
stepped toward her. What did he
say to your" He doomed directly
above her. threatening.
Nothing. He didn't say anything.
But l know he followed me quite to
the house l saw his shadow all the
way down the hill"
Harry still breathed quickly.
"Where-how did he come across
your"
She'd been prepared for the ques-
ton.
81 was driving down Suffer street
and he saw me at the carriage win
dow"
Harry stood tense, poised, catching
everything as she tossed it off; then
as if all at once he felt the full weight
ofpthe burden, Lord" he said, and
let himself down heavily into a chair.
It was plain in his helpless stare that
he knew exactly what it all meant.
Laying her hands on the high chair
arms, leaning down so that she could
look into his face, Flora made her
thrust
What do you think he wants?" she
gently asked. 1t was as If she would
coax it out of him. His answer was
correspondingly low and soft.
Its that damned ring"
She heard her secret fear spoken
aloud with such assurance that she
waited, certain at the next moment
Harrys voice would people the 81
lence with all the facts that had so
far escaped her. But when, after a
moment of looking before him he did
speak, he went back to the beginning.
which they both knew.
You know he didn't want to part
with it in the first place"
Eyes, yes; but he did," Flora in
sisted
"y5eN," he answered quickly, "but
that was before" He caught him.
self and went on with a scarcely per-
Ss4I