The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1911-03-02

ms uesk, resting ner sable mum on IT'S
polished top.
ITO what am indebted for this
pleasure?' he asked of her.
yourself" She smiled gracously
on him as she spoke.
Valentine drew near to her.
How ...
"Don't you suppose like you as
we'll as do the children?" she an
swered gayly. 81.
'sDo you?" be asked anxiously.
"Yes, but why is it that you never
do call on me any more?" she ques-
toned reproachfully. ~.
swell BECAUSE he became very
uncomfortable She must never know
he true reason for bis avoidance of
her.
"Do you think it's fair to use wo-
mans we,lm,n against her? You know
It's woman's birthright to say be
cause when she''- .-..
~ meant -. = f..
"What?' '..
: "Oh-ah-what were We talking
about o.
"As to why you don't call on me
any more" ..
Valentine struggled to think Of a
successful mode Of escape from an
swering the question.
"Well. now don't you see he STAN
mered. "Of course you do" He was
becoming more involved every mo-
ment.
The girls smile began to fade
Rather grimly she interrupted him.
mo. / don't see at ALL" was her an
nouncement. She moved away from
the desk.
'Well. Miss Lane, u
The telephone bell rang at his desk
He bent forward and put the receiver
to his ear. As he hung up the re-
ceiver clerk entered
"WNl ,you have the cash nowr' the
employee asked.
I'm q few minutes"
No sooner had the clerk made his
exit when a messenger boy entered,
bearing telegram. Valentine tore
It open, apologizing to Rose as he did
%. The girl saw that the assistant
cashier was very busy. She deter
mined to leave him for the present
As Valentine dismissed the boy she
announced that if the press Of bust
ness would not continue all day she
that in half hour he would be at
leisure and that he would sacrifice
everything else in order to talk to her.
She started toward the door. assuring
him that she would return. AS she
opened the door she turned and cast
q smile in the direction Of the assist
ant cashier.
But Valentine did not notice it. He
did not see it. His eyes were glued to
the slip of yellow paper that he held
In bis hand. The girl saw that as he
read the telegram an expression OF
tenseness. of ,unsubdued excitement,
crept across his face. Wonderingly
she softly closed the door. A few
steps carried her before Valentine
who looked up IN surprise. thinking
she had gone.
'What Is ft-that telegram" she
=gasped. "It,s bad news for you-very
bad" she went on II must know"
Valentine. undergoing pronounced
shock owing to the contents of the
message which he held in his hand.
was almost completely anstrung by
the interruption Of the siYl he loved
Was 1t not fate that prompted her to
appear before him at the very moment
when
"Oh. it ia nothing.' he said weakly,
1Merely a little business tangle-tbat
= ALL
He stepped out from behind his
0esk, crumpling the fateful telegram
in bis hand. and gently led the girl to
the door. Remember" he said, II
have an engagement with you in q
half hour
II will remember"
Unconvinced. mystined and thor
oughly agitated BY his nervous man
ner, Rose Lane went out of the Office.
Valentine. smiling as best he could
under the circumstances. closed the
door behind her He crossed to her
chair. sank into it and fattened the
wrinkled telegram before him. Again
he read it from end to end:
"I4ook out. he read. Doyle will be
in town this afternoon at to see you
about an important matter"
The assistant cashier dropped his
chin into his palm and stared vacant
" at the opposite wall.
Doyle he muttered George
Doyle. He said he'd get me if 1t took
ten years-a lifetime Well, perhaps
he can; then, again. perhaps he can
not. At any rate he can probably ruin
my career, my hopes, my standing here,
where have friends who believe in
me-
Valentine leaned back meditativelys
In his chair The fatal telegr;m drop.