Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-04-18

ward Rose Lane. The burden Of mis-
cry that might descend upon him
would only be given greater weight.
Valentine desired TO talk alone with
Rose Lane, and after a lengthy con-
versation. punctuated by lavish PROM
ises of hunting trips. sent the lad away
to play with Kitty in the new vault.
which for their purpose became a
smuggler's cave.
The assistant cashier stepped for
ward toward Rose, who stood close to
his desk, resting her sable muff on its
polished top.
"To what am indebted for this
pleasureT' he asked Of her.
Yourself" She smiled graciously
on him MS she spoke
Valentine drew near to her.
"How?"
Don't you suppose like you as
well as do the children?" she an
swered gayly.
do you?" he asked anxiously.
Eyes, but why Is it that you never
do call on me any more?' she ques-
toned reproachfully.
"Well-because"- he became very
uncomfortable. She must never know
the true reason for his avoidance of
her. a.u
do you think it's fair to use wo-
mans weapon against her? You know
it's woman's birthright to say be
cause when she'-
" meant
"What%
"Oh-ah-what were we talking
about?"
"As to why you don't call on me
any more" M
Valentine struggled to think Of a
successful mode OF escape from an
swering the question.
"Well, now-don't you see," he STAN
mered. "Of course you do" He was
becoming more involved every mo-
ment.
The girls smile began to fade.
Rather grimly she interrupted him,
mo. don't see at ALL was her an.
nouncement. She moved away from
the desk
well. Miss Lane. r
The telephone bell rang at his desk.
He bent forward and put the receiver
to his ear. AS he hung up the re-
celver clerk entered
"Will you have the cash nowY the
employee asked
In a few minutes -
No sooner had the clerk made his
exit when messenger boy entered.
bearing a telegram. Valentine tore
it epen. apologizing to Rose as he did
so, The girl saw that the assistant
cashier was very busy. She deter
mined TO leave him for the present
AS Valentine dismissed the boy she
announced that if the press of bust
ness would not continue all day she
would return. Valentine assured her
that In a half hour he would be AT
leisure and that he would sacrifice
everything else in order to talk to her
She started toward the door. assuring
him that she would return. AS she
opened the door she turned and cast
smile in the direction Of the assist
ant cashier.
But Valentine did not notice 1t. He
did not see it, His eyes were glued to
the slip of yellow paper that he held
in his hand The girl saw that as he
read the telegram an expression Of
tenseness. of unsubdued excitement
crept across his face. Wonderingly
she softly closed the door. A few
steps carried her before Valentine.
who looked up in surprise, thinking
she had gone.
I what is it-that telegram she
rasped. "Its bad news for you-very
Lad" she went on. Il must know"
Valentine. UNDERGOING pronounced
shock owing TO the contents OF the
message which be held in his hand
was almost completely unstrung by
the interruption OF the girl he loved
Was 1t not fate that prompted her tC
appear before him at the very moment
/ when
"Oh. 1t is nothing he said weakly
Merely a little business tangle-t that
is ALL
He stepped ont from behind bis
desk. crumpling the fateful Telegram
In his hand. and gently led the girl I,
the door. 'Renrmber" he said. /"
have an engagement with you in
half hour"
| IL will remember"
Unconvincpd. myStIned and thor
)ughy agilated by his nervous man
ner Rose Lane went out of the office
Valentine. smiling as best he coul,
under the circumstances. closed tn
door behind her. He crossed to he
chair. sank into ii and Gattened tn
wrinkled telegram before him. Agall
he read 1t from end TO end:
"Look out" he read Doyle will b
in town this afternoon at 4 TO see yot
about an important matter"