Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-01-03

THINGS To MEl
It difficult to explain. The arguments
of the others only annoyed him. The
walk to Cherry's hotel afforded him
time for reflection. which, while 1t
deepened his doubt, somewhat lessen
ed his impatience, and when he was
shown into her presence he did not be-
gin In the impetuous manner he had
designed.
"Nhat makes you think I had any.
thing to do with itp she asked after
be had spoken.
"You were with Hilllard last night"
She nodded slightly. I'VE closed our
negotiations for the copper mine last
night"
How did you come out?"
HE takes 1t over and does the de.
velopment work." she answered.
"That means that you are independ.
ent; that you can leave the north coun-
try and do all the things you want to
doT This time her smile was puz.
zling. you don't seem very glad"
"No! Realization discounts anticipa.
ton about 90 per cent But don't let's
talk about me. I'm unstrung to-
day."
"Tm sorry you aren't going back to
Kalvik," he said, with genuine regret.
"But I am" she declared quickly.
I'm going back with you and George
L you will let me. want to see the
finish of our enterprise"
"see here, Cherry; hope you didn't
influence Hilliard in this affair"
"Why probe the matterT
Because I haven't lost all my man.
hood" he answered roughly. "Yester'
day you assumed the blame for this
trouble and spoke Of sacrifices, and
well, I don't know much about wom-
en-, but for all I know you may have
some ridiculous, quixotic strain In your
makeup. hope you didn't
what"
"Well, do anything you may be sorry
for" At last he detected gleam OF
spirit in her eyes.
Suppose | did. What difference to
you would that make" He shifted
uncomfortably under the girls scru.
tiny.
Suppose that Mr.. billiard had call.
ed on me for some great sacrifice be-
fore he gave up that money. Would
you allow 1t to affect your
"Of course" he answered. Then,
unable to sit still under her searching
gaze, he arose with flushed face to
meet further discontinue as she con-
tinued:
even II 1t meant your own ruin, the
loss of the fortune you have raised
among your friends-money that Is In
trusted to you-and-and the relin-
quishment of Miss Wayland3 Honest.
", now"-her voice had softened and
dropped to lower key-"would 1t
make any differencef"
Certainly"
"How much differenceY
"Pm in very embarrassing posi-
tion," he said slowly. You must re-
allze that with others depending on me
I'm not free to follow my own hclina.
tions."
She uttered a little mocking laugh.
"Pardon me. 1t was not fair ques-
ton, and l shouldn't have asked 1t, but
your hesitation was sufficient answer"
Then as he broke into heated denial
she went on:
Like most men, you think woman
has but one asset upon which to trade.
However, II | felt responsible for your
difficulties that was my affair. and If !
determined to help extricate you that
also concerned me alone" He stepped
forward as II to protest, but she silenc-
ed his speech with an imperious little
stamp of her foot
In spite of the cheering turn bis for
tunes had taken, 1t was In no very ami
able mood that he left her at last no
whit the wiser for all his questioning.
In the hotel lobby below he encounter
ed the newspaper reporter who had
fallen under Fraser's spell upon their
first arrival from the north. The man
greeted him eagerly.
How d. y do, Mr.. Emerson? Can
you give me any news about the fish,
eries?"
mo"
"I thought there might be something
new bearing on my story"
"Indeed! So you are the chap who
wrote that article some time ago. eh2"
"Yes, sir. Good. wasn't it?"
DOUBTLESS. from the newspaper
point of view. Where did you get itY'
From Mr. Clyde"
fro BE CONTINUED