Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-08-15
Copyright, 1913,
By Geo Barr
McCutcheon.

TO Insult me WIN Lhem.
"I most sincerely crave your par
don, il it isn't too late, /" cried, abb
ieet once more Il don't know what
gets into me once in while.)
"The safest way, should say, is for
neither Of US to express an opinion SO
long as we are thrown into contact with
each other. II you choose to tell the
world what you think of me, all well
and good. But please don't tell me"
"fI can't convince the world what 1
think Of you for the simple reason that
I'D be speaking at random. don't
know who you are.
"oh, you will know some day." she
said, and her shoulders dropped little.
"I've--I've done a most cowardly,
despicable thing in hunting YOU"
"Pleasei Please don't say anything
more about it. 1 dare say you've done
me lot Of good. Perhaps / shall see
things little more clearly. 70 be per-
Ifeetly honest with you, went into this
marriage with my eyes wide open, but
IL was only one fool among many. Doz-
enH Of other girls in my set were crazy
to marry him. II haven't told you
that he is extremely good-looking. And
lhe was-was adorable in those days."
A far-swsy, dreamy look came into
her eyes. She was staring at me, but
II felt myself quite outside the range OF
her vision.
1 ventured o shrewd conjecture, con-
sidering the obvious character OF her
abstraction.
"Stranger things have happened
than that you should patch up your
difficulties and go back to live with
your husband. :"
She uttered a little cry of revulsion.
The dreamy light died in her eyes and
Ihe transfixed me with q look OF in
[dignation.
Chow dare you suggest such thingi
How dare you speak to me in that wayl
You'll ought to order you out OF this
room and never-never-"
| My luminous smile checked the out
burst.
"Splendidl" 1 cried. "You convince
me that ii can never happen. +"
She smiled doubtfully, quite uncer-
tain how to take my hnmor.
"Oh, dear me, :" she sighed, "I don't
believe we shah ever get on at all well
togther, Mr.. Smart. You ere such .
whimsical person."
"Im try to do better" cried,
frankly pleased with the situation.
Fs'Give me chance"
tsYou spoke of him as my husband"
she said, going back to my remark.
IsfHe ia not my husband. Please be good
enough to remember tina" :"
"It will be easy, assure you. May
h therefore venture the hope that if you
ever decide to marry again you'll give
some deserving American a chance to
make you his queenf You'll find it
better than being a countess believe
me." ("
ssI shall never marry, Mr.. Smart"
she said with decision. "Never, never
Fafdin Will kcb Ahb~ a naooo 'n"e 80 ~
hard to get out of. 1 can say this to
you because I've heard you are bach
elor. You can't take offence.
tI fondly hope to die a bachelor"
said / with humility.
sGod bless you'll" she cried, bursting
into q merry laugh, and ! knew that a
truce had been declared for the time be-
ing at least "And now let us talk
sense. Have you carefully considered
the consequences if you are found out
Mr.. Smartf"
"Found outi'
"If you are found shielding a
fugitive from justice. i couldn't go to
sleep for 'ours last night thinking OF
what might happen to you if"
"Nonsensel cried, but for the life
of me I couldn't help feeling elated.
She had soul above self, after ALL
"You see, am thief and robber
and very terrible malefaetor, accord
ing to the reports Max brings over from
the city. The fight for poor little
is destined to fill columns
and columns in the newspapers of the