Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1911-03-30
CHAPTER x. (continued.)

Betty is making no end of a row"
Max said, looking up from his game.
because the old lady upstairs insists
on chlorOform liniment Betty says
the smell makes her i'll"
And she can inhale Russian ciga-
rettes," Anne said enviousIy, and
gasolene fumes, without turning a
hair call a revoke, Dial: You
trumped spades on the second round"
Dial flung over three tricks with
very bad grace, and Anne counted
them with maddening deliberation.
Game and rubber" she said
Watch Dial, Max; he will cheat in
the score if he can. Kit, don't have
another clam while I am in this house.
/ have eaten so many lately my waist
rises and falls with the tide"
you have a stunning color, Kit"
Lollie said. You are really quite SUI
perb. Who made that gown?"
Where have you been hiding, du
kleine?' Max whispered, under cover
of showing me the evening paper, with
a photograph of the house and a cross
at the cellar window where we had
tried to escape. IF one day in the
house with you, Kit, put me in this
condition, what will a month do?"
From beyond the curtain of a sort
of alcove, lighted with a red-shaded
lamp, came a hum of conversation
Bella's cool, even tones and a heavy
masculine voice. They were laugh
ing; | could feel my chin go up. He
was not even hiding his shame.
Max" l asked, while the others
clamOred for him and the game, has
any one been up through the house
since dinner? Any of the men?"
He looked at me curiously.
only HARRISON" he replied prompt
ly, Jim has been eating his heart
out in the den ever since dinner; Dial
played the Sonata Apassionata" back
ward on the pianola-he wanted to
put through one Of Anne's lingerie
waists, on a wager that it would play
a tune played craps with Lollie, and
Flanagan has been washing dishes.
Why?"
Well, that was conclusive, anyhow.
I had had a faint hope that 1t might
have been joke, although it had
borne all the evidences of sincerity,
certainly. But it was past doubling
the landing, and had kissed me, me,
when he thought was Jimmy's wife
Oh, l must have been very light, very
contemplate, if that was what he
thought of me!
| went into the library and got a
book. but 1t was impossible to read
with Jimmy lying on the couch Civ
ing vent to something between a sigh
and a groan every few minutes. About
II the cards stopped, and Bella said
she would read palms. She began
with Mr.. HARRISON, because she de.
clared he had a wonderful hand, full
of possibilities: She said he should
have been a great inventor or a play,
wright, and that his attitude to WON.
en- was one of homage, respect. almost
reverence. He had the courage tic
look at me, and if a glance could have
killed he would have witheTed away
When Jimmy preferred his hand
she looked at it icily. Of course, she
could not refuse, with Mr. Harbisor
looking on.
Rather negative" she said coldly
~The lines are obscured by cushions
of flesh; no heart line at AL. mentah
ty small. self-indulgence and irrita
biIitv verv marked :"
Jim held his palm up to the light
and stared at it.
Cad he said Hardly safe for
me to so around without gloves, is
it,"
1t was all we'll enough for Jim tC
laugh, but he was horribly hurt. He
stood around for a few minutes, talk
ing to Anne. but as soon as he could
he slid away and went to bed He
looked very badly the next morning
as though he had not slept. and his
clothes quite hung on him. He was
actually thinner. But that is ahead
of the story.
Max came to me while the others
were sitting around drinking night
caps and asked me in low tone If he
could see me in the den: He wanted
to ask me something. Dial overheard
ASK her here" he said. I'VE al
know what 1t is, Max. Go ahead and
wen coach you"
viii you coach me?" I asked, FOL
Mr. HARRISON was listening.