Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-13

az ttotull0n ndu NOiu tue
little allegOry with simple feeling and
sincerity. his manner growing more
distracted until at the conclusion IL
seemed as II he We're speaking TO his
Inner self. taking counsel with sll that
was best in him. silence ensued. while
Adele looked dresmily away. and be
continued 20 stare az the cards. but
seeing them not.
Does a man always stop to think
whether be has right or nOty" she
ventured at length. speaking so low
that he strained forward 10 catch the
words
Doesn't a woman always want him
to-" he gravely returned.
"Ah. but there is something a wo-
MAJ wants a man 10 do more than
that-sbe wants him not TO give up
anything till-he is beaten" she whis-
pered
Suppose he is the kind Of man that
ought 90 be beatenE"
She arose. throwing the scarf about
her shoulders. and walked meditatively
20 the door
But mightn't IL bc perhaps perhaps
with one woman" she whispered. he
couldn't be beaten even them"
AstoniShed 40 her own daring. she
gave "a little gasp. then iucontinently
fed. while Kirby stood staring after
her. fearing 90 interpret her words He
turned with a start as Bunce STROBE
through the balcony window.
well have YOU told her goodbye"
snapped Larkin who had interpreted
the foregoing passage as a species Of
farewell
NO" said Kirby violently. irritatet
at the interruption.
"Weu. 7 reckon it's about time 90
sit down au0 take a good hard think"
warned the other. pacing the room like
an excited sentry. do YOU think you
could git this girle" ne continued. with
heavy sarcasm. How about &c when
she finds out who you are-Cameo
kirby
"Easy on that name. Larkin"'
Easy on the namer" beloved
Bunce. appealing 90 the ceiling. why.
it's been shriekin' through this house
ever since you got here. There's been
two fellers within ten feet OF you all.
the time who never took their eyes
oG-n you-that young Neaudry and
Aaron Randall DO you reckon they
think you're Colonel Moreaug Why. \
seen them leave the house a short spell.
back. and I'D be willin' TO bet my i'm
mortal soul they're on 60 our makeups
and are planuin' 20 raise h. with Us.
tell YOU this place is gittin' too hot
FOR Larkin Bunce. You haven't said
goodhy 60 her? Well. then. I'll say
goodby 20 you. Somebody's got 20 be
loose. ! wouldn't be no good 20 you
nor 10 me either-in Jail For the last
time" he pleaded. making an implor-
ing gesture with his trembling hands.
are You comm with mc2"
Kirby who had quietly resumed his
place at the table. now slowly shufled
the deck and carefully Inspected the
card that had turned up.
mo" Dee said. with grave Gnality.
"Im not going with you. my friend.
The hands dealt. TN play 10 out"
For Gods sake. Gene implored
Bunce Then / got 90 quit YOU. You
know what this means 60 me" he add
ed despairiugly. Il hate 90 go. but
there's no sense In my stayin,"
40. And I thank you FOR staying
as long as YOU have" interrupted Klr-
by, with a smile, rising and placing his
hand on the others shoulder. "Im
afraid ! haven't been thinking very
much OF YOU. old partner But I'm 20
ing 90 stay-call 10 what YOU like
However. this is not your hand. Lar.
KIN, and ] don't want You 20 help me
play Il out Go, 10y all means. and M
once. Did YOU get n fresh horseT"
a fresh horse? Why. ! wouldn't
even burst 20 ask for the one / come
on" cried Bunce. hopping his face.
You don't seem to rightly size up tue
mess we're in, Gene. I'll be lucky 20
git out on my own two feet. don't
even know where they put my hat.
and T'm skeered 10 ask for IL. Then Il
amt no more use my askin' you to
conner
mo more use than in your staying"
said Kirby
Bunce hesitated for n moment. then
thrust out his huge hand.
"Goodby. you burned foolr' he gasp
ed. choking up
"GoOdby, Larkiu. but don't bet that
IL is goodby. They won't get me. I'll
ride your horse into town for you to
morrow"
Bunce bestowed a final helpless ap-
peal upon the ceiling. gave his part
ner's hand q farewell wrench. then
numbered hastily from the room. while
Kirby. cumming softly TO himself.
strolled 10 the open window and. lean
ing negligently against its frame. gave
himself up 20 retrospect.
He wanted to be alone; he wanted to
think, 10 dream, TO 20 over and over
again every word that Adele had spo-
ken. every smile. every gesture. His
thoughts were solely OF the immediate
present and past For the future he
did not care-neither Tom Randalrs
Homecoming nor his own inevitable
unmasking lie wondered what he
would have been. what the end would
have been, had his early life been laid
In pleasanter lines-less harsh. less
lonely. Yes. utter loneliness was q
great and sinister factor in molding