The Red Cloud chief., 1913-05-29

outitully nelpOu mona 10 pack ner suit
cases. II will send Briggs in with
you. and II you don't find mamma
home, 90 right through to Lakewood
and take Briggs with you. I'm SO sor'
ry you have to co."
"Yes. you are!" retorted Mona. with
a swift fash Of sisterly resentment.
You know I detest Lenore Morris,
and won't meet Jack Wallace"
Powder your nose, dear. It's quite
shiny from emotion" teased Barbara
you simply must stop this fireworks
exhibition, Mona. It's 80 conspicuous,
honey. What has Jack done to deserve
it?"
We'll. II you must know" Mona
watched Briggs gathering up her lug.
gage. The runabout was waiting. i've
found him out. He has been tacitly
engaged to aboHt 20 different girls. I
don't think I've spoken about him to
any girl in your set who hasn't told me
Jack Wallace made love better than
any man she ever met"
But. dear. that doesn't imply they
were all engaged to him."
Mona's wide hazel eyes blazed with
indignation.
II don't suppose It does down here
In your horrid old New York. Out
west when man kisses girl and
tells her he loves her best In all the
world, she knows he's straight and
means It, or she wouldn't permit him
to do It. That's why don't like your
Captain Wallace. Bah"
Have you told him all this?"
II wrote to him yesterday, and I
told him I fully realized what little
donkey had made Of myself. Yes. !
explained It all. fully. I don't think he
can misunderstand."
Barbara smiled, aud kissed the flush.
ed, lovely face. Secretly she felt proud
Of her. She knew just how keen the
thrust had been to the captain.
Don't miss your train. dear. at
6:02," she said.
The runabout drew up on the shady
side OF the little stone station. Mona
went into the waiting room. She was
early. It seemed almost deserted, and
then suddenly she saw Jack Wallace.
He had been waiting. She saw that
at a glance. Probably It was for Le-
more, she decided. and prepared to cut
him. But the captain understood mil.
itary tictics. Straight towards her he
came. and he was not smiling.
you must not take that train,
Mona" The note Of authority struck
Mona oddly. He gave her no chance
to argue or protest. BriggA came to.
wards them. Take Miss Whitmore's 8
luggage back" he said. "She has
changed her mind about taking this
train"
"You do nothing of the sort, Briggs"
Mona found her voice. BUY the tick.
cts"
Briggs, go out and talk to the
chauffeur for moment" Bland. mid.
dle.aged Briggs beamed on the cap
tain. and retired. Now. DEAR" he
turned and took Mona's hands In his.
Il have Just come from your mother" "
Il suppose you explained everything
satisfactory" Mona's tone was still
peppery. "You need not have troubled.
I told her. and Barbara. too. and took
all of the blame for my mistake"
what mistaken"
Mona was silent. He knew we'll
enough what she meant-that she had
loved him with the first. sweet. be.
lieving love OF girl untaught In social
ways or wiles, and because he had
sent her flowers. spoken tenderly to
her. singled her out from the others
for weeks, she had given him the same
trust az II he had been westerner
instead Of a New York squire of danes.
"What do you mean?" he persisted.
II mean that I mistook a carpet
knight for real man." she flung back
cruelty. Every girl I have met has
told me that Jack Wallace was debu-
tante's first discipline. didn't know
that kind Of game"
III you we're anywhere but rail.
why station. would take you In my
arms and crush you until you took that
back" said Wallace between his teeth.
II have come directly from your moth.
or with her permission to say this to
you. VIII you be my wife. Mona3"
II think my train 10 about DUE" said
Mona. calmly.
II shall lift you and carry you out
to that car II you do not come will.
ingly. You put this ring on your fin-
ger, and look me In the eyes and say,
Jack. l love you.'"
mo. you DON'T" laughed Mona. II
did that before. told you that when
you kissed me. l don't 60 back on my
word. wonder II Briggs bought the
tickets"
| Wallace glanced about. There were
Ave or six people waiting out on the
platform. The ticket seller was busy
at the telegraph desk. The side door
of the station stood open. and Just be-
yond was the runabout Before Miss
Whitmore realized his intention. he
had picked her up easily. and carried
her straight out to the car. In 1t sat
Briggs. deaf. dunno. and blind to all
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