The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1911-02-04

library, Thomas she replied, art
er a moments hesitation. And
shall not be at home the rest OF
the afternoon"
Why had Bob come to see Mrs
Gilbert? Bob himself was trying
to answer the same question
When Paul left him in the morn.
ing, all Bob's old, primitive ego
ism welled up within him in q
flood of savage resentment against
the woman who had come into
Paul's life, into both their lives
From the thing that stared him
in the face-the hold his friend.
ship for Paul had taken ON his
own life-he doggedly turned
away his eyes. Blindly he felt
that one of his possessions was
threatened and that he must fight
with a woman for supremacy over
Paul. And for the first time in
his life, Bob doubted the out
come. He must meet weapons
whose edge he had never felt
Moreover, he knew nothing of the
skill and spirit of his adversary
other than the significant fact
that in two weeks she had shaken
the hold he had needed six years
to gain; and that other fact, even
more significant, of a certain
memory which he had never beer
able to cast out of mind or heart
The fighters instinct to know his
adversary gave the impulse thai
carried him to the Sanger library
He heard the swish of skirts il
the hall and rose to meet the enc.
my. 1t would not be accurate tC
say that Bob's heart went one beat
thrill of excitement, nevertheless
He had felt the, same sensation
once before. He smiled, as mem
DRY recalled that other time, in
Higgins saloon, when he faced
the bully to fight him for the SUI
premacy over a ward.
The portieres were parted and
she stood before him, Bob real
lied resentfully that here was a
very beautiful woman, far more
beautiful than either Kathleen
Finn rMsr. Dunmeade, the only
women of finer type he knew. Fol-
the fraction of second, while she
paused on the threshold, there was
the same fencing of glances with
which they had met in the theatel
the adversaries' salute. Then
her eyes softened to an amused
CLEAN. While Bob stood still, she
went over to him.
1--WE been trying to decide
whether this is pleasant or un.
pleasant surprise" she smiled
quizzically. Which is it," She
held out her hand.
Bob looked at the outstretched
hand, and shook his head coldly
The hand was at once returned tc
her side.
you persist in the hostile atti.
tude?"
"Why not? Let us have nc
false pretenses. l dislike you
you dislike me. If we stick tc
that, it will simplify matters"
She smiled again. Il ought tc
snub you by saying that I'm real.
ly totally Indifferent to you. Only
l fear the snub would be wasted
on you"
And it wouldn't be true"
How do you know l don't like
your" The amused CLEAN in chr
eyes deepened.
God Forbid" he calculated in
voluntarily. But" he added
grimly, there's no danger"
Don't be too sure of that"
she warned him in gay malice.
You know, nothing wins a wom-
ans liking so quickly as resist
ance. If you're not careful, ]
may end by liking you. That
would be a terrible predicament-
IL we're to be enemies"
st would"
Eyes, for you," she flashed
back. Because then I should
have to make you like me. But
don't be nervous. 1 shan't try.
You're more interesting as-you
are"
81 am relieved" She noted
with surprise that his ironical bow
was easy and not ungraceful.
She laughed. Come, / see your
call is to be a pleasant surprise,
after all. But won't you sit down
Since we're to be enemies, we
may as well be comfortable so.
No, not that chair-the one
across the table; it matches your
bigness better"
She looked at him curiousyl.
do you know, for just moment
l was almost persuaded not to be
at home to you this afternoon.
I'D have stayed until you
changed your mind, Mrs. Gill
bert. I saw you at the window"
I'm spite of my wish?"
He nodded. "There are some
things which need thrashing out
between US"
do the laws of courtesy mean
so little to you? suppose
thouse," she added in smiling in
science, that men of your sort
are insensible to these finer con-
Men of my sort, Mrs. Gilbert,
are apt to find that courtesy is
demanded from them more often
than it is extended to them. Is
there any reason why 1 should
fear to displease your"
There have been men who
feared to displease me, Mr.. Nc
Adoo." Then she flushed with
that she had boosted.
I've no doubt there are such
men," And Bob's tone did not
convey high tribute to the class.
"But / don't happen to be one of
them"
Nor am | afraid of you, Mr..
she countered. 81 was.
Co.. n,e o...o..4 49, l. IL :