El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-06-10
CHAPTER NNTV.

u y
precedents Of romance, had slept
soundly. Consciousness Of his
own shortcomings was not one Of his
characteristics. and in this case any
Quaims that the remembrance Of his
perfidy might have caused him were
wholly overcome by the thought Of his
triumph and By his proud mothers
rapturous words Of praise
He was engaged TO Edith, he told
himself eNultingly. He had won out
against odds that would have discour-
aged less persistent man. She was
his the girl he loved. The manner in
which he had won her did not trouble
him, nor did any scruples abate in the
least the thrill Of Observation-Disclosures
that possessed him when he considered
his conquest.
It is doubtful II either that night or
the following morning he gave more
than passing thought TO Tom Morton
after he had decided TO pay-with his
mothers mOney-the debt he owed his
cousin.
It was too damp. he decided. to go
into town. so after calling up Edith
on the telephone and talking to her
for a few minutes. he lounged about
the house. smoking. stopping at his
mothers door for an occasional affec-
tionate word, and casting resentful
glances at the gray and lowering day
outside.
He had become terribly bored with
himself and his present surroundings,
and had Just decided to invite Edith
to go into town for some kind Of "a
show tonight. when he was summoned
TO the telephone by Edith's father
Ralph answered him with suddenly
awakened sense Of uneasiness-
The possibility Of having to explain
his own actions, and worse than that
Toms actions to John Hale had for
some reason not occurred to him As
he grasped the receiver there flashed
across his mind the idea that perhaps
he had only now begun his fight for
Edith.
7 am in the city. Ralph. and called
you up at your office" the older man
began abruptly. But I learned that
You were not there"
NO" replied the other. Il didn't 60
into town this morning-it was such a
rotten day"
a imagined that was your reason for
staying at home" observed John Hale,
dryly. I am sorry you did not come
in. There is something that I wanted
to talk to you about-sOmethlng that
cannot very well be discussed over the
phone Can you come 10 my house some
'Why-yes-I think I can" Ralph
hesitated; though L was planning 10
ask you and Mrs Hale TO let me take
Edith into the city for the theater
this evening But that can, Of course
be postponed"
If Edith really wants to go there
Is no necessity Of pOstpOnement-
the father said 'I shall be at home at
5 this afternoon Suppose you drop In
and see me then"
II shall be only too glad TO-" agreed
Ralph with a cordially which ne was
far from feeling"
Very WELL returned John Hale Il
shall expect you at 5 o'clock I may
well tell you frankly beforehand,
Ralph, that there are several things
that puzzle me. I shall hope that
full explanation from you may clear
them up. Goodbyt"
"Goodbyr' Ralph returned, forcing
himself to speak pleasantly But his
face was white as he turned away from
the telephone Suddenly he saw the
depth OF his deception and entansle-
ment, and a sickening dread gripped
him, driving all Of his thoughts Of TIL
umph from his mind For a moment
even his justification deserted him.
How much did Mr.. Hale knOw2 How
much did he suspect These questions
echoed again and again through his
perturbed mind, torturing him like a
physical pain He had always been a
little afraid OF Edith's father As far
back as Ralph could remember the
keen-eyed. clear-headed man OF busl-
ness seemed to understand him and
his methods far better than the boys
own mother did.
The accepted sutton appreciated now
that the conference for which he had
just arranged would be no mere for
mality. Mr. Hale would question him
searchinEly, nor would he accept eva
sive answers. II he was determined TO
know what had caused his daughters
change Of mind, any apparent attempt
on the part OF the younger man to
blind him TO the truth would ruin his
own hopes.
Perhaps Edith's father had already
had a talk with Tom Morton; he might
even bring Tom home with him and
make the younger cousin tell his story
before the man whom he had betrayed
The idea was most disconcerting
Ralph Morton went TO his own room
and walked the floor for a long hour,