Evening star., 1914-07-19

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Obcying an imperative impulse that he
did not stop to analyze, he that night slipped
out of Pine Bay At nine O'Clock the follow
ing morning he was giving precise orders to
a Chicago barber for the domestication of
his hair. At nine-thirty he was in a tailor
snop giving a rush order for Clothes with
capital c, Clothes with character and spirit
and youth in them. And so on his third
day in Chicago he was arrayed in one of his
three new SUITS and on his head was Pana-
ma hat, and on his feet were new shoes
He had luncheon in palm-screened cor
ner of an overly begilt restaurant. Soon he
half started from his chair. Taking place
almost opposite was that handsome Gordon!
And with him was woman,-young, allur-
ingly dressed, distinctly pretty, with warm,
dark cyes The manner of the two denoted
previous intimacy; and when she laid down
her gloves on the table he slipped hand
over hers. She let her hand remain i'm
prsoned for a moment, and flushed, and her
dark eyes glowed into his.
Western blazcd with wrathful impulse
to cross the room, denounce Gordon, and
expose him to his companion. Certainly his
suspicion had served him true in regard to
Gordon. There was no trusting these hand
some, plausible appearing men, who were
such general favorites with women! Poor
Joan.
At half-past two the pair left the restau-
rant. Western slipped after them. They
took taxicab; Western also took taxi and
ordered the chauffeur to trail the cab ahead.
The chase led straight to the Northwestern
station-his station The pair had a mo-
ment of semiseclusion in corner of the
waiting room. Western, from a safe dis
tance, saw them take each others hands,
both hands; saw her speak rapidly, appeal
ingly it seemed, with those dark eyes aglow;
and then he saw Gordon suddenly lean down
and kiss her!
THE following morning, when Western
called, the clerk at Joan's hotel told
him that she had already gone out, and
added, 81 believe with Mr. Gordon"
Western, palpitant with disappointment,
apprehension, and wrath, struck off into the
footpath that bordered the bluff, until at
last turn brought Joan before him. With
her was Gordon. They had not seen him.
They were standing up, close together, eyes
into eyes. He was holding one of her hands,
and she was letting him hold it, and he was
speaking in an emphatic, imploring manner
Remembering just such a scene of yester-
day, only with another woman in Joans
part, the impulse famed up in Western to
| throw himself upon Gordon and hurl him
down the cliff.
Joan first saw his approach and greeted
him with smile.
Gordon let out cordial "Good morning,
Mr.. Western" and extended hand
Western gave Gordon blighting glare,
keeping his arms stiff at his side He turned
to Joan. May l have minute with you,
| Joan-alone?"
why, certainly" her brown eyes wide
with wonderment at his behavior toward
Gordon.
"Then III be wandering back" said Cor
don, who seemed no less bewildered @Good
morning, Mrs. Gray"
Western gazed after him until his hand
some figure had disappeared among the
pines Then he pressed Joan back into
rustic seat. He noticed that new amaze
ment was in her eyes: she was staring at
him, at his clothes. He flushed hotly-and
not unpleasurably.
1t was hard for him to speak, and when
the words did come out they emerged tremu-
lously. Joan, we're such old friends-and
you've been SO frank about taking me into
your plans-and so want the very best for
you-that l feel l ought to tell you and
he broke to her as gently as he could the
story of his discovery of the other woman
and of Gordon's duplicity. At the beginning
of his recital she dropped her face into her
| hands; and she sat silent her face still COW