The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-08-07

quircd. Her attitude OF reserve to-
ward Gregory which Frans presence
had inspired, melted to potential help
| iuln"ss, at the same time her dislike
for the girl soidncd.
What do you adviser" Gregory
asked his secretary gently.
Grace cast a disdainful look at Fran
Then She turned to her employer and
her deliciously curved face changed
most charmingly Il think" she re-
sponded with a faint shake OF rebukc
for his lGnIency, that you should not
need my advice In this matter" Why
should he stand apparently helpless
before this small bundle Of arrogant
impudence?
Gregory turned upon Fran with af.
fected harshness You must 60" lie
WAS annoyed that Grace should lmag-
inc him weak.
Fran's face hardened It became an
nX OF stone sharpened at each end,
with eyes, nose aud mouth in n mar.
row line Of cold defiance. To Grace
III" acute wedge Of white forehead
cleaning It's way TO the roots of the
black hair, and the sharp chin cut.
ting It's way down from the tightly
drawn mouth. spoke only Of cunning.
She regarded Fran MS fox. brought
to bay.
Fran spoke with calm deliberation
Il am not going away"
looking down at her from under droop.
Ing lids, Ito go at once, for n storm is
rising. DO you want to be caught in
the raiu?"
Fran looked up at Grace. undaunt.
ed. u want 10 speak to Mr.. Greg.
DRY. II you are the manager OF this
house. he and | can go outdoors. l
don't mind getting wet. I've been In
all kinds of weather"
Grace looked at Gregory. Her ST.
lcnces were effective weapons.
4 have no secrets from this lady"
he said. looking into Gracc's eyes, an.
swcring her silence What do you
want to say to me, child?"
Fran shrugged her shoulders. always
looking ut Grace. while neither of the
others looked at her. Very well.
then. of course It doesn't matter to
me, but | thought Il might to Mr..
Gregory. Since he hasn't any secrets
from you. OF course he has told you
that one of nearly twenty years ago"
1t was not the rumble OF distant
thunder, but strange exclamation
from the man that interrupted her; It
was some such cry as human crea-
lures may have uttered before the
crystallizing OF recurring experiences
into the terms of speech.
Fran gave quick. relentless blows:
"Of course he has told you all about
his Springfield life"
"Silence!" shouted Gregory. culver.
ing from head to foot. The word was
like an imprecatior, and fur n time It
kept kissing between his locked teeth.
And OF course" Fran continued,
fitting up her chin as IL to drive in
the words, since you know all of his
secrets-all OF them-you have natu.
rally been told the most important
one. And so you know that when he
was boarding with his cousin In
Springfield and attending tho college
there. something like twenty years
ago"
Leave us!" Gregory cried, waving
a violent arm at his secretary, az II
to sweep her beyond the possibility
OF overhearing another word
Leave you--with herr Grace STAN.
mered. too amazed by his attitude to
feel offended.
yes. yes, yesl Go at once!" He
seemed the victim of some mysterious
terror.
Grace compressed her full lips till
they were thinned to a white line
DO you mean foreverT
"Oh, Grace--l beg your pardon
Miss Grace don't mean that, OF
course. What could do without you?
Nothing. nothing, Grace--you are the
soul OF my work. Don't look ut me so
cruelty"
Then you just mean" Grace said
steadily. "for me to 60 away for
little whlle?" A
Only half an hour; that's all Only
half an hour. and then come back to
me, and will explain"
You needn't 90 at all. on my &C
count" observed Fran. with twist
OF her mouth. ITS nothing to me
whether you go or stay"
She has learned a secret" Gregory
stammered, that vitality affects--af-
fects some people-some friends OF
mine must talk to her about
about that secret, Just for little
while. Half an hour. Miss Grace, that
is all. That Is really all-then come
back to me. You understand that it's
on account OF the secret that ask
you to leave us. You understand that
| would never send you away from me
If had my way, don't you. Gracef"
II understand that yoi want me to
20 now" Grace Noir replied unre-