The Washington herald., 1913-11-23

if startled. Then he came on slowly,
hesitatingly, looking from one to the
other.
why didn't you tell me this fellows
name? Why didn't ask?' demanded
Hal; but he really seemed pleased.
There was no time for a reply. The
young man had come up to them. Hal
turned to him savagely.
well, Peyson?" he inquired.
How do, Gilman?" said Mr.. Peyson
with a jerky nod, and then held out
his hands to Alice, with an evident in
tention to ignore her escort from that
moment on.
Hal stepped between them.
"Peyson, I'll give you just two min
utes to get out of sight" he pleasantly
observed. IF you'll remember, we
gave you twenty-four hours at college.
You had things to pack up there You
haven't herep
Mr.. Peyson looked at him curiousIy
for an instant and moistened his lips,
then he suddenly wheeled, and a mo-
ment later they saw him worming his
way through the crowd.
I'm sorry, Alice, that I can't tell
you the details about him." Hal said.
She was standing very stiff and
straight herself.
Il don't care to hear. l know
enough. l am just praying my graft
tude that | am not to be linked for
life to any man whom another man
could make run without explanation"
Hal scarcely heard her. Already he
was consulting a timetable. 1t had
taken them three hours to make the
trip. They had started at $50, and
it was now 1890 There was not
another train back until 3 o'clock in
the morning. and it would not land
her in Oakdale until daylight She
had not comprehended to the full this
phase of it as yet. But Hal swiftly
decided that whatever they did and
wherever they went they could not
stand there, and he bundled her into a
cab.
1t was not until they were rolling
away from the depot that she thought
with a gasp of the possible conse-
quences of her act, and cried: What
are we to do?'
Il pass" replied :he young man,
suddenly and briskly losing all the
dignity that had weighted him down
when he got his sheepskin, and re-
verting once more to the slang of
early college days. 1T looks to me
as if we were in a jam. Never you
mind. though. Rely on your Uncle
Dudley He'll put rouge and cold
cream and violet talcum on the face
of this thing. and don't forget it. Do
you know anybody here that you could
VISIT"
Not soul" she walled 81 only
know one family, and they are
abroad
Never mind" he said, patting her
hand where it lay trembling on his
arm. you just keep your eye on Lit
tie Willie First OF all we are driving
over to my hotel, where l shall leave
my suit case and send couple of tele-
grams. Then we'll do a real quick
thinking stunt. Did you ever see me
think? 1t will be a positive Joy to
you"
She nestled confidently up to him.
His voice sounded so good and strong,
and she liked him so much better since
he had dropped his age. She was
glad, oh! so glad, that he had hap
pened to come with herl
At the hotel Hal Jumped out with
his suit case. He left her in the cab,
but presently he came out, chuckling.
He had two kilograms in his hand.
One of them he had not opened, but
the other he read and re-read with
evident appreciation.
You'd better open this one before
I show you mine," he said, handing
the unopened telegram to her.
She looked at the inscription. 1t
was addressed to Mrs. HATRED Joyce
Gilman. She handed it back demure-
ly.
1T certainly isn't for NJ she said
with laugh that had a suspicion of
a tear or two in it.
1T doesn't seem to be for anybody"
he retorted, laughing a bit nervously
himself, and tore it open. 1t was from
her father.
My dear girl" it read. you are
very, very foolish child, but it is no
trouble at all to forgive you. Come
back home as soon as you can."
He handed them both to her.
you precious young rascals,' read
Grandfather Gilman's message, "if you
are already married when you get this,
remember there's got to be another
ceremony in Oakdale.'
1t looks to me as If we had to
II