Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-14


quickly as / can" she concluded.
after all, nothing has happened.
Robert is Robert. and l am l. just as
we were when we pledged our troth.
And yet could have killed him to-
night To kill man because he hap
pens to be himself is scarcely reason
able or sane. With this weakness. in
herent in his nature. he'll have need
of me. And the children want me.
I'm indispensable to all Of them. l
must take my life in my own hands.
No one can help, me now. 1t will be
amusing to manage It. an excitement"
She rose. but Iherl knees shook in, IN
imbecile sort Of way. She laughed q
bit sharply outsinto the dark. Z
I'm my moehero nli over again.
see. My youngflt hother died Of this
sort Of thing. / believe" She put her
hand out to touch tiny jutting spur
twinkling silver in the new moons
rays aud shivered. But I'll not die
Of it: shail fill out. The fall from a
fools paradise hurts-oh. 1t hurts-but
it doesn't kill us in these days"
Closing the balcony door softly. she
entered the nursery. The children
were fast asleep in their cots. She
touched them curiously to see IL their
soft, warm flesh would thrill her as it
used to do.
t'Poor little helpless souls! You will
need me. wont you?" she said broken
". crouching down at their side. =
Robert junior stirred.
''The roof-it has a lazy time." he
murmured in his sleep.
Anna .smoothed his soft hair and
trembled. Z
''Dear little son. she said. didn't
mother tell you the roof couldn't help
being where 1t is. 1t was made; like
that. Aud the walls-they have to
hold it up. No. they do not have
much fun" "a
ii /. go
Mr.. Marshdeid Craven. the connden-
tial friend and legal adviser of the
president Of the Gotham Trust COM
pany. clustered into the presidents H.
brary in his home up the Hudson, near
Ossining. He had come from New
York early that afternoon and had
much to do before the presidents ar-
rival on the 2:3O express.
In hurried, whipping fashion, this
drawer was opened. then that. Papers
and documents we're hastily strewn
here. there and everywhere. Cnopen-
ed envelopes which dunned-f for atten-
ton were quickly torn open and
thrown into the wastebasket or on the
floor. as the chance might be. All Of
which proved a sore trial to Mrs.
Mason. the presidents housekeeper.
who was in the last stages OF ''tidying
up the library.
As usual. when Craven was busting
with work he noticed nothing Of his
surroundings He pulled out his
watch. Fifteen minutes. yes!
"See If you can rattle OF this letter
in time for TIE next post: Miss Ora
ham. Take. It directly on the ma
chine" SAID. plying his fingers
through hi6 thin. gray hair. And be
began tosdlcfate. 80 ~
But thkH Was no confirming click
of the HpWWrdter. Craven turned over
his shoulder toward the. secretary's
desk and looked above the rim Of his
glasses.
''Bless my SOUL. he exclaimed. '.if
hadn't clean forgotten the bird had
flown. Humph. Mrs. Mason" he said
suddenly. addressing the housekeeper,
who stood mutely busting generous
pipe rack: what in the world induced
Miss Graham 70 give up her job any.
how? She's been here over q year,
Shes given entire satisfaction: had
her stipend raised twice: always trsat.
ed considerstely-the deuce il l can
make it o1t!'s'.
Mrs. Masnn suspended her feather
buster and smiled enigmatically.
"She said her health was bad and
she wanted q rest
"Health bad! F1ddlesticks!' grunt.
ed Crnven. '.Ste had cheeks ike Bald.
win appleAsand walked like india rub
ber." 4
"well. fos my part. Mr.. Craven, Til
be perfectly frank. I'm going to give
up my position. too. only don't In
tend to lie about It I'm going be.
cause
/ Because. Mrs. MasonT. The law.
yer whirit4 around with surprise and
vexation.
'Well. things don't suit me, sir"
Then why don't you FIRE the cook,
IRE the butler. fire the whole blame
outfit II they don't suit you? know
Mr.. Temple would rather lose all Of
'em than YOU
Mrs. Mason finished the pipe rach
and began -ntrvously plying her duste,
among the anthem and araved hunt.