The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-02-08

NY 'Vpuldtiou ny ulSciOSluS tue W0Oie
transaction to the public? can do it.
now you've confessed your guilt"
Nothing In the world to hinder"
Bob replied. Only the fall Of his CT.
gar bitten through indicated any feel.
ing is there anything moreY He
carefully ticked the ashes from his
coat.
"Yes!' Paul went on impetuously.
his mood gathering momentum.
There's one thing more. lit con.
Germs Mrs. Gilbert. | confded to you
my regard for her. You took 1t upon
yourself 10 object to It. You even went
so far as to call upon her.
IL did"
And you gave her to understand.
how directly | can only imagine, that
you opposed our intimacyw
Yes"
You carried your interference so far
that Mrs. Gilbert has refused TO mar
ry me unless you withdraw your OPP
position. | wish you tc understand
that | consider your action an un
warranted intrusion into my private
affairs | don't propose to endure your
meddling. You understand" his voice
rose. 81 won't stand It."
you make yourself entirely clear.
l think" Bob said evenly.
Furthermore. since you've intruded
your opposition. | expect you to with
draw it finally and absolutely. Other
wise His pause was ominous.
That's hardly necessary. You're
not a minor. nor am | your guardian.
that my consent is necessary. You
will be able to persuade Mrs. Gilbert
to take that view. 1 think. and threats
do no good"
Bob made an effort to smile. 1t vas
more than once, the smile of a strong
man trying to conceal bitterest suffer
ing and humiliation. By a trick OF
fancy Paul's angry. handsome face
seemed to fade away and In Its stead
Bob saw the face Of a stricken woman
Both knew that they had come to the
parting OF the ways. Words had been
spoken that neither could forget.
l think that even her Paul would
have retracted his words had Bob OF
fered him an opening. He had not
planned the conversation. but when
1t was begun Bob's composure had
goaded him t. reckless lengths. lie
broke the silence with what was al
most an appeal
Have you anything to say?"
Bob shook his head slowly. mo;
there's nothing more to be said-now.
They were counting on you to make
a speech TO the executive committee
this afternoon. | suppose you will not
be there?''
Paul shrugged his shoulders help.
lessly. mo: | have an appointment
with my manicure. | have a weak
ness for clean hands. you know"
He caught up his hat and coat and
walked out Of the Office.
AS the door closed the mask Of Bob's
composure fell from him. The smile
disappeared. His shoulders dropped
and his head fell forward.
"Paul!' he whispered. "Paulg
How he got through the rest Of the
day Bob hardly knew. In the even
ing there was the final rally. to which
locked thousands and from which
hundreds more were turned away for
lack of room. Bob made a speech. but
his recollection of that effort is hazy.
When he rose to speak the wave OF
applause came to his ears as the far.
away thunder of the sea. When his
speech was concluded sD' the last
outbp,st of enthusiasm had died away
he quietly left the meeting and went
home.
In his room Bob threw himself
YEARLY into a chair by his desk and
and over the events Of the past few
weeks. listening again and again to
Paul's bitter words of the afternoon
He relentlessly tore at his wounds un'
til they gaped. taking a kind Of saw
age Joy in his self castigation.
"Just m thing more Is needed" he
said to himself bitterly. II will gel
out OF his way-out OF her way"
He seized q pen and began painfully
to write.
Then his eyes fell upon the telephone
at his elbow. He dropped the pen and
opened the directory.
At last he reused himself and saw
agely jerked the receiver from its
hook.
Highland thirty thirty. Yes. Is
that Highland thirty thirty? VIII you
call Mrs. Gilbert to the t~elephonei
Robert McAdOo."
There was a long wait. during which
all his will was needed to keep him
at the telephone.
This Is Mrs. Gilbert" came the an
swer at last She need not ave
named herself. He recognized her
voice.
~ am Robert McAdoo."
Eyes. Mr.. McAdoo."