Charlevoix county herald., 1913-12-13

man could avert bad falls or even
death was a mystery to all who knew
him.
Both women, with the wondrous art
which their sex alone can master, had
dropped into conventional attitudes
with their backs to the light by the
time the intruder's first word was
spoken. AS Give Standish passed
through the portieres into the library
he saw only that it's two occupants
were seated, one reading, the other
crocheting, in polite boredom, each
evidently quite willing that their pro-
longed session of dreary small talk
should be interrupted.
"Good evening, Aunt Lefty" said
Give, as ne stopped over the excited
woman and kissed her. 81 called to
see Mr.. Conover on a matter of some
Importance. The footman was not
sure whether he could-or would-see
me or not. So, while / was waiting
for him to find out, l thought l heard
your voice in here and ventured in.
Good evening, Miss Lanier. You'll
pardon my left hand?"
The right he held behind him, yet
in one of he mirrors Anice could see
the knuckles were swathed in plaster.
The hand he offered, too, was bruised,
cut and discolored.
T-I had slight accident" he said
hastily, noting her glance. Nothing
of Importance. +"
"Mr. Conover has told us of it," an
swered Anice. at was splendid of
you, Give! You risked your life to"
"To get out of a fight that my own
folly had brought on. That was all.
Pm afraid my tour wasn't exactly a
success. In fact, / fear it will go
down in mountain state annals as the
colossal failure of the century. So
Pm back"
you've given up?" she asked in
quick interest.
Why? Do you want me to-"
Her monosyllable told little. Her
eyes, which he alone could see, told
more. Give was satisfied.
81 have not given up" he said sim
ply, "and / am not going to-"
ooh, but, Give" put in his aunt
finding her voice at last after the
shock of seeing Standish walk thus
boldly into the lions den. YOU'D
really better give up the whole silly
business. I'm sure Mr.. Conover would
be so pleased"
81 don't doubt it," replied Standish
smiling grimly at Anice over the ole
lady's bobbing head "but Pm afraid
it is a pleasure that's at least de-
ferred. The kind that Solomon tells
us 'maketh the heart sick I'm still
in the race. Very much in it."
"Why do you want to see Mr.. Con.
over?" asked Anice, cor is that al
impertinent-?"
mot in the least. | want to come
to an understanding with him. AT.
fairs have reached point where that
is necessary"
Gan understanding
Eyes. AS long as he contendec
himself with ordering his fellows t.
lampoon and villify myself and the
League / made no complaint 1t wa!
dirty, but / suppose it was pol
itics. But when he muzzles the press
orders the police and the mayor Of
the cities to refuse me fair play, anC
sets thugs to attack me and illegally
steals the State convention, it's time
to have it out with him face to face
That is why | am here, and why
|
hadn't meant to say all this to you,
he ado,~, ashamed of his own heat
but"
WELL" came the Railroader's stri
dent tones from the hall outside
where is he, then ?"
The portiers were swiShed asid,
with a jerk that set the curtain rings
to jingling, and Caleb Conover, in rid
ing dress, hated, spurred and slash
ing his crop against one booted leg
filled the narrow doorway.
Mrs. Conover gave little gasp O
fear. Anice Lanier let fall over he
bright face the mask of quiet reserve
it always wore in her employers pres
ence.
Give rose and took a step towarC
his unwelcoming host.
And so, for ten seconds, the riva
candidates faced each other in silenc,
"a silence with promise of storm.