The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-02-07
THE:MAN.HICHER.UP
lie cNaw@dzzg Amezdaw
HENRY RUSSELL MILLER

1t was ON impulse. / never YET
lyielded<to an impulse but l regret.
ted it -afterward. Explain it as
you choose don't want him un-
der your influence. I'm not in the
habit of begging. But it occurred
to me to come and ask you to send
him away-he won't leave you OF
his own accord-and / came. That
is all. 1t was very foolish"
He rose to leave, but she stayed
him. "Wait, please. This has
been a very unusual conversation
and we may as well finish it while
we have the opportunity. We
aren't likely to meet again-at
least, we both hope So" She
smiled family. Won't you sit
DOWN."
Bob sat down and silently
awaited what she had to say. She
leaned her head against the back
of her chair, turning her eyes from
Bob to look wistfully into the fire
"Mr. McAdoo," she began, still
gazing into the fire, that was the
| first sensible thing you have said
to me, because you said it without
deliberate intention to hurt me.
Both times we have met, we have
succeeded in striking the antag-
onistic note. We seem fated to
dislike each other. We can't ex-
tplain it and we can't help it, l sup
pose. But I'm going to be honest
with you"
| She paused, as though uncertain
how to continue. Winters early
dusk was falling outside, leaving
only the freight to light the
room. She was very beautiful, as
the soft glow fell upon her face.
Were a good deal alike, you
and /. You have taken everything
you want. I've been given every.
thing-except the things that
count most. We're both very self.
ish. You make the excuse that
you have to be selfish to realize
your ambitions. j have the excuse
that life hasn't treated me very
kindly-and neither excuse is
valid, l suspect. You're not a slave
to conscience, and well, I'm
i afraid I'll never let conscience
stand between me and happiness
You have few friends. I've had
| plenty to admire me because In
not bad to look at and can turn E
witty phrase occasionally. But
none has ever cared for me be
1 cause none saw in me those wom
anly qualities which are so much
| Gin Do
Remington seems to fill both oul
wants. He is your one friend. He
cares for me because he thinks
possess qualities l don't possess
but which he-he makes me wan
to acquire. He seems my only
hope of escape from becoming the
most pitiable of creatures
lonely, cynical, selfish, lovelesl
woman. l wonder why / tell yol
this?" She leaned forward
abruptly. What are We going tt
do about it?"
THAT is what 1 came to fine
out"
mo, you came to tell me wha
must do. You put the issue
squarely: one of us must retire
in the others favor. That amounts
to challenge, doesn't it? IT.
too bad we have this dislike tt
contend with. Your natural stat,
is Sighting, and I suppose you
don't mind one fight the more. Blu
| don't want to fight for my hap
piness-or possible happiness. Els
pecially when l run the risk o
losing 1t altogether. We both ruI
that risk. Don't you think" Their.
was the faintest twinkle in he
eyes, don't you think it would b,
wise-don't you think it would b,
good politics-to ignore our dis
like-and share the spoils?"
/ No" But despite the curt
ness of his reply, she thought she
detected a relaxing of the corners
of his mouth.
Il believe he has a sense of hu
NOR, after ALL" she thought
lean we afford the risk?" she sale
aloud, pressing home her fanciet
advantage.
81 can't afford not to take tn,
risk
i you are implacable. I'm no
in the habit of begging men no
to be my enemies, Mr.. McAdoo.
is this the way you twist Rem
ington around your finger?"
Her gasp of establishment, i
simulated, was a fine bit of acting
do you think--do you for an in
slant dream that I'm tempting yo,
to forget your dislike of me?"
Trying to tempt me-"
i For answer she burst into a de
licious, girlish laugh. 80, In
. glad you came. l haven't had s.
much fun since l was a girl"
$50 you take it as a joker"
She nodded gaily, still laugh
ing.
Il think l should have done bet
ter to let you die in the mills
This time her look of bewilder
ment was genuine. 'I don't un
derstand-why,-''
For an instant the luxurious
firelit library faded away from he
sight. She stood amid the grim
and roar of the mills.
She felt herself caught in an irol
grasp which dragged her towar,