Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-03-23

Fl understand But you shall not go
to find her"-she smiled into his star
tied eyes-"for she is hidden in my
room waiting to tell me more-waiting
until I tell her something that will
take the burden from her heart. 1
had been listening to her when my IA
ther came in with his story. 1 had
not made my confession. 1t would
have comforted her-it will comfort
her, for can tell her truthfully 1 have
not yet met the man 1 can love, Har-
Ian. You were not the oner' She left
with him the consolation of a smile
and fastened away. She did not even
reproach him because of his affair with
Linton.
He stood waiting at the door. He
heard the steps on the stairs. He was
ready to clasp her.
But Madeleine Presson came In
alone. 1.-The girl has gone, Harlan.
The maid said she ran away after L
left her. 1 was a fool 1 dropped
your card
He stood dumb and motionless.
"Gone, believing thatr' he gasped-
She shook him But you can find
her Remember that she is young.
She believed gossip too quickly. You
must find her. Hurry She will only
have to see your eyes to know that
they all lied"
He rushed to the door.
Bring her to mer' cried the girl. 'I'n
know how to help you
At the railroad station he was told
that the special trains had gone with
the visitors who were not in town for
the ball.
He did not even know the name of
the school from which she had come.
At the statehouse he at last found
some one who had seen and known
the group-an attache of the state ed
ucational department. There was no
train that way until midnight. He
took it. How he passed the time of
waiting he never knew. He was at
the doors of the institution as early as
decency permitted. He did not wish
to compromise her.
He was assured in q manner that left
no room for doubt that Miss Kavanagh
had not returned with the others. They
were much worried and had notified
her father.
Harlan sent an appealing telegram
to, him, daring even to solicit that ogre
of the north. But no word came to
him.
He wired orders to his caretaker at
the barracks to investigate at that
end and returned to the state capital,
distracted, baff1ed, not knowing what
step to take next. The session had
not closed for the day when he arriv-
ed at the statehouse-
Men in the lobby stared at him as
he passed. 1t was evident that tongues
had been busy with his affairs. His
n
tried to intercept him, but he kept on
10 his seat. All the eyes of the house
were on him. Word of the Thornton
bill" had gone abroad. Now. in spite Of
his mental distress, he remembered his
duty.
The bill went in and on its way, and
that night the capital buzzed with the
discussion of it.
Harlan Thornton spent half the night
at the telegraph office, his mind intent
on something far from prospective leg
islation.
But no word came to comfort him,
no clew that he could pursue
DAYS grew into weeks. He did not
attempt search in person 1t would
have been vague wandering about the
country. He remained to hold up the
hands of Governor Weymouth. finding
relish for fight in the rancor that set
tied within him
He and Linton silently faced the Cos
sip that beat about them in regard to
their encounter and kept away from
each other. Theirs was balanced ac-
count
And Madeleine Presson somewhat os-
tentatiously permitted the attentions Of
the young secretary Of state