Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1912-10-31
CHAPTER VlI-(Continued).

CHAPTER VIl-(Continued).
'T am alone in the crowd, too" he
rejoined. 'If l thought Floyd would
not object, or feel that | took advan-
tage of his absence, l should ask II
you would do me so much honor as
to go to the theater with me. this
evening"
Her gray eyes widened, the color
flushed through her transparent skin.
Suddenly and wildly Stanton was re-
minded of Floyd's face on the first
night when he invited the mechani-
clan to race with him for the season.
"You are asking me?" she doubted
1T would like to do so. But not If
you think Floyd would refuse to let
me, If he were here. He can't have
much of an opinion of me-"
IT wish / might tell you what Jes
thinks of you" she made grave an
swer. 81 am quite sure that he would
let me go with you, Mr.. Stanton; you
are very good and l thank you from
the bottom Of my heart"
The little old Irishwoman in black
silk opened the door for him, beam
ing and smiling. Amazed at himself.
bewildered by sense of having seen
Floyd and yet not seen him, Stanton
went down into the practical city
street.
He spent two hours in selecting an
irreproachable play and theater;
task of some delicacy in this his ma
tive town. After which, he ate a per-
functory dinner and went home to
dress. Stanton, whose overbearing
willfulness spared no one, whose
rough tongue hurt his mechanician as
often as they met, would no more
have taken Floyd's sister to dine with
him In a public restaurant without
Floyd's permission. than he would
have stolen his purse.
1t was a dazzling Jessica whom he
found waiting for him, at the appoint
ed hour. Yet she was simply gowned
in delicate gray, with demure lace
collar that came up to her round chin,
and long lace sleeves. 1t was her
vivid, expressive face; the bronze
curls massed under the wide gray
hat, the splendid glow and young vi
tality of her, that made people look
and look again. Stanton approved Of
her unreservedly; he had fixed mas
outline notions Of what women should
wear In public places,
On her left arm, over the transpar-
emit sleeve, she wore an antique silver
bracelet fully four inches in breadth ;
q singular ornament, set with dull tur
Quoise matrix. When Stanton assist
ed her to remove her cloak, at The
theater, she suddenly WINGED.
1.-THE BRACELET caught my arm,
she explained, before he could ques
ton. 1T is too heavy, really, tt
wear"
But nevertheless, she did not TAX,
It off, and several times through tn.
evening touched her gloved finger t,
the silver band as if to assure her
self that 1t was in place. A souvenir
perhaps, Stanton idly reflected. H
was too much interested in the wear
er to pay heed to the bracelet. Excep
for the hours passed with Floyd, b
had never experienced anything lik
this satisfying companionship.
Stanton was carefully plotting hi
charge through the slow-moving mas
of people, when he heard his ow
name exclaimed. He glanced AROUND
and saw Valerie Carlisle comm
down the stairs from the boxes, he
large, amber eyes fixed upon hin
Under the strong light, in her elal
crate pale-green gown, her shoulder
bare and showing satin-white wher
her cloak had slipped back, her blond
hair circled with a wreath Of gree
enameled and jeweled leaves, she We
conspicuous enough to draw ii
chances of all those passing, as we
as that of the man she called. Sta
ton bowed and would have continue
on his way, but she called secoI
time, adding a gesture of summons.
mt. Stanton!"