Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-06-04

ut is h'importnnt, sar."
VERY we'll" He opened the envel-
ope and pretended to read. but in re-
atty the sheet held nothing for him
but ravishing, mischievous face with
pansy eyes. He must have stood star
Ing unseeingly at 1t for several Sec
onds. Then the dancing visions faded
and the scrawl stood out plainly:
Williams. detective. st. Louis. arrived at
Colon this evening on the Prince Joachim.
You'd better take 1t on the run.
1t was written upon Tivoli paper.
but the hand was strange. and it was
not signed.
"Well!" Kirk came suddenly to him
self. and II spasm Of disgust seized
him. What rotten Inconvenience.
he said aloud. But before he had time
to measure the effect of thi.s new COM
plication the swelling music reminded
him that this dance belonged to Mrs.
Cortlandt and that her answer was
due.
She was waiting for him In the gal
lery and motioned him to the chair ad-
joining hers.
II can't two step and talk Mt the
be quite private"
Kirk remained standing. what
have to say won't take long I've
made up my mind. and cannot give
up Chiquita"
You know what it means?" She
stared at him with hard. level eyes.
I'm not Il moderate person-l can't
do things by halves. No! I see you
are mad over this Gar,vei girl. But
yon can't get her" Something In his
d;lzZled. love foolish smile enraged her
So. you are planning even now
We'll. then. understand can build
and l can Destroy
"1rhere's nothing more to say" he
interrupted her quietly. $50 Id better
excuse myself"
Yes! | would prefer TO be alone
When lie had bowed himself AWAY
she crushed the fan In her hand
staring out across the lights of the
city below and 1t was thus that Cort-
landt found her a few moments later
He dropped into the empty chair he
side her, saying:
Hello! Thought you had this with
Anthony"
81 had"
whats the trouble?"
There is no trouble" She began to
rock. while he studied her profile:
then, conscious Of his look. she in
CURED. aren't you dancing?"
mo. Just looking on. as usual. I
prefer to watch. You have broken
your fan. 1t seems" He flung his Gig
arctic into the darkness and. reaching
out, took the fan from her hand. She
saw that his lips We're drawn back in
a peculiar smile.
We'll! Is that so stranger" she an
swered sharply. "You Scent She
broke off and looked deliberately away
from him.
Row. eh2" he inquired softly.
She could barely hold back her hatred
Of the man He had worked power
fully upon her nerves Of late. and she
was half hysterical.
why do you take pleasure In an
noying me2" she cried What aiis
you these last few weeks? ! can't
stand It'll won't"-
"Oh. rartlonl One quarrel an even
Ing Is enough should have known
better. TOO bad you and he don't hit
1t Off better; he likes me. He's giving
me a party after the dance. sort OF
gratitude affair A delicate way to nc
knowledge debt, eh?"
You know very we'll 1t Is Runnels'
doing" she said.
oh. there are six Of them In 1t alto
eether. but Anthony originated the
little surprise It's intended for you
of course"
~ don't see 1t. Are you going7"
~ accepted. Funny spectacle. chi
Me the guest of-Anthony?"
There was trace OF anxiety In hpI
voice ms she answered. and. though
she spoke carelcssly. she did not meet
his eyes.
"I-Id rather you'd make an excuse
III have to 20 home alone. you know =
He raised his brows mockingly. my
dear! I'm to be the honored guest"
Suit yourself. of course"
marine officer approached. mop
ping his face. and engaged her In con
versation, whereupon Cortlandt rose
languidly aud strolled away through
the crowd that came eddyinE forth
from the ballroom
hi Si,L hnd al q
who was looking for him, eager to ex
press his congrntulat tons and to dis
cuss their exploit In detail.
Now that he had some one to whom
Kirk could talk freely. he let himself
go. and he was deep in conversation
when Stephen Cortlandt strolled W
and stopped for an instant to say:
quite lively party isn't it?''
Kirk noticed how sallow he haf
grown in the past few months unt
how he had fallen off in weight. II,
looked older too. His cheeks hat
sunkea I'm until they outlined his jaw,
sharply He seemed far from we'll.
A nervous twitching Of his finger
betokcned the strain he had been III
der He was quite as immaculate. pol
ished and collected as usual. however
How is our little stag coming on?'
he asked
Fine! Everything is ready" SAT-
Runnels. 'You won't expect an eluh
} crate layout It's mostly cold storage
you know. but we'll at least be able t
guench our thirst at the Central"
"'rhen it's really coming OF? wa