The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-10

him?" she said, looking at the fire.
her brows knit
Exactly. Offer her a good sum on
the stipulation that she leaves him
and goes away to New York or Eu-
rope. Then in the course Of time she
can write him asking him to grant her
a divorce on some such technical
grounds as desertion. or incompatible
ity, or anything else that's respect
able. He'll have to give 1t to her.
He can't do anything else. And there
you are!"
What IL she refuses?'' she said in
a low voice, and he saw she was
afraid OF this refusal which would
shatter her last hope.
Raise your OFFER" he answered
briskly. "She probably will refuse the
first time"
She pondered, eying the fire with
heavy immobility.
yes" she said, nodding cit sounds
reasonable. It's about the only thing
left"
eff I can be of any assistance to
you," he said, you just call on me.
I'm willing to help in this thing all |
can. 1t goes against me to see Dom
mick caught in a trap this way just
at the beginning of his life"
"a boy" said his mother, "that
would have made some good girl
so happy"
Cannon rose from his chair.
That's Just it," he said, "and
there are not so many of 'em round
that we can afford to lose one of the
best I've always liked Dominick and
getting to know him so well up at
Antelope | grew downright fond OF
him. He's a fine boy"
He smiled at her with his most gen
ial air, beaming with disinterested af
lection for Dominick and the desire
to be helpful in grievous strait
Mrs. Ryan looked brighter and more
hopeful than she had done at the
beginning of the interview.
Its very good of you" she said, etc
| come and listen to an old woman's
complaints. But as we get on, we
seem to take them harder. And you
know what my boy was to me-"
about the same thing that my CIR
is to me-" Cannon answered as he
turned away to look on the table fol
his hat.
| There was a little more talk, ant
then the set phrases Of farewell
brought the interview to close
| Though momentous, it had not LASTED
long. AS he left the room, Cannon
heard the single note of half-pas
| three chime from the clock on the
mantelpiece.
| Outside he stood for a moment OF
the top of the marble steps, LOOKING
downward with absent eyes. He wa!
completely engrossed with the just
ended conversation, parts Of which
repeated themselves in his mind as h
stared unseeingly down the wide, un
encountered vista of the street.
Carriages flashed past through
strips of sunshine; automobiles
whirred by, leaving dust and gasoline
in their wake. On the sidewalks there
were many foot passengers: lazil!
sauntering couples, lovers, family par
| ties, and little groups bound for thu
cars which would whisk them owe
the dunes to the park. AS he SLOWLY
began to descend, one of these groups
formed of three women, a man, and ;
child, approached the bottom of thu
| steps. They were walking down thu
avenue in close, laxative bunch. Thu
descending magnate was apprised o
| their proximity by the high, cacklin!
sound of the women's voices and al
aura of perfume which extended from
them into the surrounding ether. H
| paid no attention to them, his eye
with its look of inward brooding, pass
ing indifferently over the faces turne,
eagerly toward him.
They were not so unmoved. Thei
| chances were trained full on him, thei
eyes wide in the unblinking intensit.
Of their scrutiny. Even the child, VIII
was skipping along beside the eldes
of the women, inspected him with So
emn care. Brushing by in their ga,
Sunday raiment they drew together t
discuss him, their heads in cluster
their voices lowered. He was so use'
to being the object of such interes
that he did not bother to look at them
and was therefore unaware that one o
the women, quite pretty, with reddisl
hair and dark eyes, had turned as sh
moved away and surveyed him owe
her shoulder.
CONTINUED Monday