The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-04-26

battle on his behalf at the slightest
 opportunity. She believes in him, de fends him, and resents the slightest insinuation directed against him. He even escorts her back and forth from her work"
 You know this?'
 T certainly do," and he laughed at the recollection. "Fairbain met us coming out of the dining know what delightful, blunt, blunder- ing fellow he Is! We'll, Miss Christie must have made an impression even on his bachelor heart, for he actually requested the privilege of escorting her to the Trocadero, and back to the hotel after the performance tonight limited at lunch, the gay old dog, and pranced about like stage-door Johnnie. It was a treat to watch her face when he blurted it all out, snap ping his sentences as if he swung a whip-lash. She excused herself on the score of a previous engagement"
 But that was not necessarily with Hawley."
 q asked her directly, after the doc tor had disappeared"
 You must have become very famil- iar," questioning once again in her voice.
 "So Miss Maclaire evidently thought, judging from her manner. However she answered frankly enough, and even def1antly added the information that the gentleman had something to impart to her of the utmost import ance, sarcastically asking me if I ;-I, I I,o hear. But sit down, Hope, until tell you all that has occurred"
 He went over the various events in detail, watching eagerly the expres- sion upon her face as she listened in- tently, only occasionally interrupting with some pertinent inquiry. The light fell so that she sat partially in the shadow, where her eyes could not be read, yet he experienced no difficulty in comprehending the various moods with which she met his narrative, the color changing in her cheeks, her SUD- pie form bending toward him, or lean- ing backward in the chair, her fingers clasping or unclasping in nervous at tention. He began with Neb's report, repeating, word by word, as nearly as he could recollect, what had passed between Hawley and her father. He paused to inquire if she had ever heard the name Bartlett, but her re- ply was merely a negative shake of the head. When he described their missing the train, she was, apparently, not convinced as to the Generals de parture upon it, although finally agree ing that, if he really believed the re- port that the man sought was else where, it would be characteristic of him to accept the first means of get ting there. "If he only knew I was here," she exclaimed wearily, '.it might be so different, but, oh, we are all of us just groping in the dark" Then Keith turned to his chance meet ing with Miss Maclaire, and repeated carefully their conversation, dwelling particularly upon the few admissions which had slipped through her lips. These did Fol. seem important to eith- CT, although they treasured them up and talked them over. Then, having exhausted the topic, silence fell be- tween them, Keith asking the privi- lege of lighting a cigar. Hope, after watching him apply the match, think ing what a fine face he had as the ruddy flame brought 1t forth with the clearness of cameo, leaned back, drawing aside the semblance to a lace curtain, and staring forth, without see ing, into the street.
 Somehow, it was hard for her to full 1y realize the situation, and how close ly 1t affected her. The swiftly passing events, the complication arfsing so suddenly, apparently out of nothing. left her feeling as though she must surely awake from . dream. She could not comprehend what it was aii about; the names Bartlett and Phyi- lis had no clear meaning, they rePre- sented nothing but shadows; and this other woman-this music hah stager what could thsre be in esasDsa ks- tween them? Yet there East bs sonsthing-sonaethAng sf vttal im|srt ance to her father-ss1skkAag witch had already eest hsr BeoEAsrs nfe. Y,s.- A~ .