The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-22

Alsop answered. But the older man
held up his hands with face of comic
| dismay.
If Elinor heard or saw the byplay she
made no sign. In the car as they
whirled home she sat inert amid her
wraps, answering with commonplace
quiet whatever Alsop had to say. There
was no rebound in Eer-she did not
even admit how stupid she had found
| the rich folk Her husband was all
| taken aback-she had always been as
responsive as a harp-string and as
vivid as a summer day.
In his heart he cursed roundly the
root of trouble-the little lame dog she
had found and fetched home only to
have 1T sent by his mother straight to
| the pound. This was the sensible thing,
| or course-but the furry innocent, hun
cry and friendless, had gone straight to
Elinor's heart. She had begged to keep
| 1t-only until it was WELL and she could
md home for it. Her mother-in-law
| had been inexorable, with the result
OF sending her into stormy tears
Throughout the next six weeks of dry
| eyed calm on her part, William Alsop
thought ne would welcome anything
tnat would bring back the tears.
She kept going, going, from her late
rising to her later lying down. The
mouse she had let slip into elder hands
giving over even the account books
which had been her special pride. Bust
| drove herself in the name of pleasure.
She helped him individually. Traver
STUCK at nothing in his behalf Want
TO make some pretty money for the
pretty child to throw away" he said
sometimes, with a chuckle Traver's
word had weight, especially when his
money went behind it. After a fever
1sh campaign. Alsop caught breath-to
find himself richer, by a quarter of a
million.
He started home early, but moved
by a queer impulse stopped at a IA
nous jewelers. shop. 1t had suddenly
come to him that Elinor loved pearls.
he would buy her a string the hand
soonest he could find, even though the
cost might be half his recent gains. He
was no judge of such things, but the
snop imprint was a Observation-Disclosures
1T employed the best of all experts AL
sop had nodding acquaintance with
the expert. Moving among bewilderfn.r
counters in search of him, he can1e in
view OF couple standing face to face
Inc Woman's back was to him-the
man he recognized as an elderly bache-
lor banker, enormously rich, with the
name of being also enormously nm
scrupulous. He was smiling down at
the woman, and saving persuasively.
IF you will but permit-what hanni,
ness Tor me. Anything-here-or in the
whole world. You love pearls,
Alsop made almost a leap for the
pa1r-somethfng familiar in the out
me or throat and shoulders, in the
slken chestnut hair, told him who
was listening. But he was man
enough, gentleman enough, to carry
off things well. 81 see my wife has
peen confessing her pet sins to you,
MT MI. Vortress," he said, stepping be-
tween them. Are you a fudge of
pearls? How 1uckyI My business here
is to buy her string
Not now-some other day." Elinor
murmured compoSedly, turning to go. |
Alsop walked possessively beside
her, put her into her cab and himself ,
followed her.
Not until they had made the round |
or the park did he speak. Then lift |
ing his haggard face from the hands
tnat had hidden it, he asked, miser- !
abIy: Elinor, how far has this gone
How long have you known Vortress ? |
How dared he offer you
Traver presented him have toll
Grated him for business reasons Elf
nor said coolly. "As to his offer
please understand 1 did not accept.
You see-I am still foolish He told
me you had won out-as you don't
in the morning."
Elinor! Darling! I need you as
never before I love you. love. love, |
love you-better than all the world |
Try TO forgive mel know was hru-
tai, Alsop painted. 'Only stay-you
s 81 nave whatever you want-even
II II should be hundred dogs"
..1 Elinor sat trembling. her eyes humid.
II don't want-any dog-now."
she murmured. "I ought to go away
hand," ''-' NY iiuS-
-Alsop could not speak
co. 1912, by Associated Literary Press)