The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1911-12-23

peculiarly her own, and the Giro
let brought a vision OF the white
throat II had WED with-brought Il so
clearly that Horny snapped the case
In jealous haste and put II away.
1T remands me-" he went on, a bit
that I want to sound you
on this very thing. Olivia and I want
10 get Sue a little something for
Christmas-and You know how easy
that sort OF thing isn't. Livia said hat
a mate 10 this very string. per
haps-"
There he stopped. PENS gray eyes
1ickered upon him like threatening
steel. through narrowed lids. and
Pens white teeth set ~viciously through
his cigar. the muscles whitening about
his tense lips. And then-Quickly as
II came. the look was gone. Pen wa3
doing no moro than squint through the
fragrant haze Of smoke. and his lips.
relaxed. were even smiling.
"Pearls?" said he. why. that's
mighty nice OF you, but. as chance has
II. I'm planning TO give Sue that very
thing-myself."
Under Horny Remsen's attractiveIy
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-mlght have left
US that solution. seems as N. BY the
way. II you haven't picked your string
yet. l know the people" They
talked easily together OF pearls-price
so on TO commonplaces. On the train
cityward 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 ONCE. 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 I do?
what is ailing him? What can be the
matter with Penn"
An hour before the appointed time
he went to the club. where he was to
meet Penny for luncheon: and Pens
was the first voice he heard OH enter
ing-Pen's laugh that led the rest.
And II came TO Harry suddenly. that
he hadn't heard Pen laugh out that
way At home for a long time. e.
And as the men called greeting and
Pen turned with them, Horny fancled
he saw a swift clouding-gone as soon
as come-that drove the persistent
question back upon him. lead-weighted
and sickening. Did Pen dislike hinif
And for what? What had he done
how could # he? The unsettling
thought drove him 10 the silence OF
the writing-roOm. to think II over. He
sat far down on his spine al a table in
the unoccupied room and %glowered at
the club letter-head on the ready
placed thick white paper. As an in
dividual with opinions and a well-de-
yeloped personality he had won the
valuable experience Of several enmiiies
in HIS gl0be-circlinEs; but they had in
terestcd rather than annoyed him.
This. thought II were true-was a
hcart-shaking thing lie had felt so
coutentcdly confident OF Pens friend
ship and INTERCHANGEABLE proved II
many a timel-and now-thisi
lie showed himself up and bent over
the blOtter as some n entered the
room. Undeterred by his ~preoccupied
appearance. the newcomer made
straight for his table. Horny looked up
with tho expression that marked him
his mothers son-a blending Of re-
motcncss. cool surprise and Olympian
question that usually suficed 10 rout
undesirable without waste OF words.
Tho look changed as he saw 81 20 he
Billy Trudell. who was seating himself
80 u~npardOnably a. He and Olivia
had run into Trudell IN Switzerland
the past July. and Trudell had re-
moved himself from their honeymoon
world In a highly likable manner.
Horny smiled bis f~riendliest.
Hasn't occurred 90 me 20 ask when
you returned. Tru'. ! thought you were
over for a lengthy stay. as We thought
ourselves 90 le. when did"
The steamer ahead Of Won" Trudeil
answered briefly. lie was a big. nm.
distinguished. well-cnough-iOoklng and
flHtIII0us person Of accepted seihshuess
ana scant speech. Ills gaze. when be
chose 90 center 70. gave one The sensa.
lion ~ having stepped. nude. into an
Soy draughf. lie treated Horny 10 a
seconds conEealing stare. threw on
hesitation with a ava Of hls hand.
and went N his point
Il hear that y0u and Mrs Remsen
are staying with tho Bonds. I must
ak you % remember that I have been
Pens friend for many years / want
to aek ~ sou have noti~ed-"
With n rush ~ relief and emotion
that surprised himself. Horny lunged
forward. scattering tho paper broad.
cast
Thank me LORD But you're ths
frs' Trudeil. what is the matter with
Penny
rruieIs pink md im~parrive face 70
venlef nothing luf The temperature Of
3 hia regard seemed fo so w "a degree
Then you have noticed" said he
/. "U1 sou mind telling mo whaf7"
fioIy s8t Bach. feeling yourg end
confused. but bis concern Tor PENN
+. held him
Why cant say 70 has been ,
. feeling an unferrurrenf ~ strain. ri
weil. Tor inrfanco- And he told
ffo happening fn Tho car I've aimosN
, got f0 thinning That ffs peraonaI-tha
,e offended Pen. though Heaven
fn0wa boa or when DO ended. froWn
iur Or went against him fo talk thf
thing over. 10 seem 20 gossip. but HuiJ
T-uIcl took 80 with business Ike im
per 1uaflfy
, Or vat s1 before you came. he a.
, Fur0i Horny. Pen laughs foo bard
plays too much I've iror
away fHr months and Two lost ans
clue mlrh' have picked up
Something wrOug though. Ter