The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-24

clearly that Horny snapped the case
shut in jealous haste and put it away.
1T remands me- he went on, bit
awkwarGly, that I want to sound you
on this very thing Olivia and l want
to get Sue a little something for
Christmas-and you know how easy
that sort of thing isn't 'Livia said that
a mate to this very string, per-
haps-"
There he stopped PENS gray eyes
fiickered upon him like threatening
steel. through narrowed lids, and
PENS white teeth set yiciously through
his cigar, the muscles whitening about
his tense lips. And then-Quickly as
it came, the look was gone. Pen was
! doing no more than squint through the
fragrant haze of smoke. and his lips,
relaxed, were even smiling.
"Pearls2" said he. why. that's
mighty nice of you. but, as chance has
it, I'm planning to give Sue that very
thing-myself.''
Under Horny Remsen'sN attractively
guileless exterior lay depths of expe-
rience. He showed, therefore. only the
right expression, and his voice was not
a shade of its usual even tone as he
answered.
Bother take you-might have left
us that solution, seems as if. BY the
way, If you haven't picked your string
yet, know the people" They
talked easily together of pearls-price
80 on to commonplace. On the train
cftyward they chatted with other
town-going members of the colony, and
a cheerful arrangement had been made
for luncheon before Pen was dropped
from the taxi at his Office Then and
not till then did Horny Remsen let his
bewilderment show.
In the name of all the forgotten
gods" he said aloud, what did / do!
What is ailing him? What can be the
matter with Penn"
An hour before the appointed time
J he went to the club, where he was to
: meet Penny for luncheon; and PENS
: was the first voice he heard OIL enter
) ing-Pen's laugh that led the rest
And 1t came to Harry suddenly, that
2 he hadn't heard Pen laugh out that
way at home for long time
, And as the men called greeting and
: Pen turned with them, Horny fancied
/, he saw swift clouding-gone as soon
as come-that drove the persistent
, question back upon him, lead-weighted
!. and sickening. Did Pen dislike him.
5 And for what? What had he done
+ how could it be? The unsettline
thought drove him to the silence Of
: the writing-room, to think 1t over. He
5 sat far down on his spine at table il
/ the unoccupied room and glowered a
the club letter-head on the ready
g placed thick white paper AS an in
!, diyidual with opinions and well-de
e veloped personality he had won thu
J. valuable experience of several enmitie
It in his globe-circlings but they had in
= terested rather than annoyed lin
e This. thought it were true-was
e heart-shaking thing He had felt 81
contentedly confident of PENS friend
IL ship and understanding-had proved i
7, many a time,-and now-thisi
y He showed himself up and bent owe
o the blotter as some one entered tn
IS room. Undeterred by his preoccupiet
e appearance, the newcomer made
straight for his table. Horny looked VI
u with the expression that marked hin
y his mothers soma blending of re
u moteness, cool surprise and Olympial
10 question that usually sufficed to rou
u undesirables without waste of words
The look changed as he saw it to b
sr Billy Trudell, who was seating himsel
E 30 unpardonably near He and Oliyi
"a had run into Trudell in Switzerland
= the past July, and Trudell had re
g moved himself from their honeymoon
y world in highly likable manner
n Horny smiled his friendliest.
Hasn't occurred to me to ask whe
n you returned, Tru. I thought you wer
% over for lengthy stay, as we though
Is ourselves to be. When did
The steamer ahead of you" Trude
q answered briefly. He was big, III
e distinguished, well-enough-looking an
q fastidious person of accepted selfishnes
II and scant speech. His gaze, when h
y chose to center it, gave one the sens;
10 ton Of having stepped, nude, into a
J, icy draught. He treated Horny to
le seconds congealing stare, threw 0
y hesitation with a wave of his han,
III and went to his point
pa Il hear that you and Mrs. Remse
u are staying with the Bonds I mu.
81 ask you to remember that | have bee
~ Pens friend for many years. / wal
e. to ask If you have noticed
-, With rush of relief and emotio
ne that surprised himself, Horny lunge
20 forward, scattering the paper broa
cast.
ne Thank the Lord But you're II
g: first-Trudell. what is the matter wi
ad Penny"
MS Trudell's pink and impassiye face I
no yealed nothing, but the temperature
as his regard seemed TO go up degre
m Then you have noticed" said h
ct DO You mind telling me what?"
Horny sat back, feeling young al
ITS confused; but his concern for Penn
nut held him.
en- WHY can't say, 1t has been
1t feeling-an undereurrent Of strain,
ee, well, for instance And he to
OF the happening in the car. 1--WE almo
ng got to thinking that it's personal-th
I've offended Pen; though Heay
ln- knows how or when" he ended. frow
led ing. 1t went against him to talk /
thing over, to seem to gossip, but BIZ
be Trudell took it with business-like i
mt personality.
ian ut was so before you came he
Ing sured Horny. Pen laughs too hard
lrs. plays too much I've he
wn away for months and I'VE lost a
ept clue | might have picked up.
the Something's wrong, though. Ter