The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1911-07-07
his PEN, why, I'm glad to hear I'll"

at AeasI, MIS-. steele MADE
no comment. But, as he rose from
the breakfast table he felt that the
moment for an explanation was al
hand. Her eye was upon him, and he
was fam to avoid 1t.
Il am sorry, dear" he said, uneasiIy
but I must go downtown again today
II have to consult with Morton" He
named his lawyer. It was not strictly
untrue; he did mean to see Morton
for minute or two, IL he found time
You have sold your seat?" she
asked, abruptly.
1-er-Hunt was not ready yester.
day. It'll be settled in a day or So"
AS yet he shrank from the lie direct
but the following day a new subter.
fuge must be invented; he dared not
tell her the truth.
Il find" he said glibly-having
thought 1t out beforehand, during a
sleepless portion Of the night-"that
pr will have to spend several days
perhaps week-at the office. A mat
ter has cropped up requiring my at
| tention."
| AAANSA otOOu I4dL MI. HdQ az
ranged everything by your instruc-
tons, using your power of attorney"
Il had-er-forgotten this matter
due to my illness perhaps"
How would 1t work out? Steele
failed to foresee. The reformed tip
pier had broken the pledge
A week passed. The issue grew. be-
q a Hxa1 hot
the woman. Finally it might no
longer be evaded.
I'm involved in the market" he
told her, surlily, with a logged air.
"Jim!"
He cringed.
II can't help it, Sara-it's be-
yond helping now. I'm sorry, but I
saw the chance, thought, to make a
few thousands and"
But, Jim!" He looked quickly
away from the pain in her eyes; he
would not have witnessed 1t, knowing
that he had caused 1t, for worlds.
But, Jim, you-you gave me your
world"
Il know, L" He foundered mis-
erably under her accusing gaze. But
it can't be helped. In a few days--a
week, at the outside-I hope to have
it all fixed. And that will be the end.
Sara!"
She did not answer; Steele's primal
impression was that she was refusing
to listen. Then he saw that she was,
for the instant, unable to give him her
attention.
She had pushed back her chair, as
though intending to rise; on the con-
trary, she seemed held down, as
though by an invisible hand-strug-
Cling vain1y. She had turned from
him, averting her face; Steele could
see no more than the full curve of her
cheek; and that whitened to a pallor
beneath his gaze. Unconsciously her
left hand went toward the region of
her heart, clutching at the folds of her
morning gown.
Steele hurried toward her.
"Sara!" he cried second time. 'Ts
is it your heart, dear-the old
trouble?"
His voice seemed to rouse her; the
hand dropped to her side, she sat up
determinedly in her chair, then warned
him away from her with a little,
weary gesture. Steele bent toward
her in an agony of solicitude.
THE old heart trouble?" he de-
manded. But she refused to credit him
with the anxiety with which his tone
was charged.
YES" she said, family. Tits
gone, now. l am all right"
III send for Doctor Dexter, at
once" he proposed.
1T is unnecessary" She rose, cold
ly ignoring his proffered arm. He fol-
lowed her toward the door. HE was
here yesterday. tell you-it is moth
ing. Now, go on-go to the Office. I
am all right"
But
CO." she insisted, drearily. Don't
pretend to worry about me. L"
But l will not go!" he cried. "At
least. until l know"
1T is getting late" she reminded
him, quietly. THE exchange opens
within an hour. You had best go at
once Don't think of me-think Of the
you have involved"
He had no answer. 1t was true
he had no choicG but to consider the
his presence upon the floor at
the opening was an imperative neces-
sity. While he hesitated, considering
that phase of the case, she brushed
past him and left the room. Steele
started after her, paused. recousidered
and left the house, muttering to
himself.
Where before he had gone to the
market as a man desiring a stimulant,
now he plunged into the turmoil on
The floor as he would have swallowed
IN oplate; it would deaden his sensi-
0ilities, help him to forget her face as
she had last looked upon him.
Since that first day, when he had
urned the furry in Tennessee Rope &
Irvine into a rise, he had been drawn
more and more deeply into the tolls.
Vests combination, finding that they