The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1913-11-25

-oood Evening. Professor Ashton
Grace cast n dlsdainfui look nj Fran.
Then she turned TO her employer and
her deiiciously curved face changed
most charmingly. II think she 70
sponded with a faint shake OF rebuks
for his leniency. that you should not
need my advice In this matter" Why
should he stand apparently helpless
before this small bundle OF arrogant
l%mpudence?
Gregory turned upon Fran with NJ.
fected harshness. you must CO." He
~as annoyed that jrace should imag.
Inc him weak.
Fran'B face hardened. II became IN
ax OF stone. sharpened nj each end,
with eyes, nose and mouth In a mar
row line of cold defiance. To Grace
the acute wedge OF white forehead.
cleaning iS 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 a. q fox, brought
to bay.
Fran spoke with calm elaboration:
4 am O going away"
Il would advise you." said Grace.
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 rain !'
Fran looked up at Grace. undaunt.
cd. II want 70 speak to Mr.. Greg
DRY. II you are the manager OF this
house, he and I can go outdoors. I
don't mind getting wet. I've been In
all kinds OF weather."
Grace looked at Gregory. Her 81.
fences were effective weapons.
Il have no secrets from this lady"
he said. looking into Grace's eyes, an.
swering her silence. What do you
want to say TO me, child?"
Fran shrugged her shoulders. always
looking at Grace. while neither OF the
Others looked at her. Very well.
then, OF course II doesn't matter 10
me, but ] thought II 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"
IL was not the rumble OF distant
thunder. but a strange exclamation
from tho man that interrupted her; II
was some such cry as human cr.a.
lures may have uttered before the
crystallizing OF recurring experiences
into the terms of speech.
Fran gave quick. relentless blows:
tnf nnItnuA hA I.a safl ,,a, III .l...s
his Springfield life"
"Silence!" shouted Gregory. culver
ing from head 10 foot. The word was
like an ~imprecation. and for a time IL
kert Kissing between his locked teeth.
And OF course" Fran continued,
fitting up her chin as II 10 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 the college
there, something like twenty years
ago"
Leave us!" Gregory cried, waving
a violent arm at his secretary. as II
To sweep her beyond the possibility
OF o~verhearing another word.
Leave you-with herr" Grace STAN.
mered. too amazed by his attitude to
feel offended.
"Yes, yes. yesl Go ut 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 f~orever?"
"Oh, Grace-I beg your pardon
Miss Grace-I don't mean that, Of
course. What could I do without you
Nothing. nothing. G~race-you are the
sou! OF my work. Don't look at me 30
cruelty"
Then you Just mean" Grace said
steadily, for me to go away for q
little while?"
only half al hour; that's all. Only
half an hour, and then come back to
me. and l will explain"
you needn't 20 at all, on my ac
count" observed Fran. with a 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 a little
while. Half an hour. Miss Grace, that
In all. That IL really all-then come