The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-08-13

exquisite thing. Olivia's belongings
grew peculiarly her own, and the Giro
let brought a vision Of the white
throat 1t had We'd wfth-brought it so
clearly that Horny snapped the case
shut in jealous haste and put it away.
1T remands me-" he went on, bit
awkwardly, that want to sound you
on this very thing. Olivia and I want
to get Sue a little something for
Christmas-and you know how easy
that sort Of thing isn't. 'Livia said that
a mate to this very string, per-
haps-
There he stopped PENS gray eyes
f1ickered upon him like threatening
steel, through narrowed lids, and
Pens white teeth set viciously through
his cigar, the muscles whitening about
his tense lips. And then-quickly as
1t came, the look was gone. Pen was
doing no more than squint through the
fragrant haze of smoke, and his lips,
relaxed, were even smiling.
"Pearls?" said he. Why, that's
mighty nice of you, but, as chance has
1t, I'm planning to give Sue that very
thing-myself."
Under Horny Remsen's attractively
guileless exterior lay depths of expe-
rience. He showed, therefore, only the
right expression, and his voice was not
a shade off its usual even tone as he
answered.
Bother take you-mfght have left
us that solution, seems as if. BY the
way, if you haven't picked your string
yet, | know the people" They
talked easily together of pearls-price
so on to commonplaces. On the train
cityward they chatted with other
town going members of the colony, and
a cheerful arrangement had been made
for luncheon before Pen was dropped
from the taxi at his office. Then and
not till then did Horny Remsen let his
bewilderment show.
In the name of all the forgotten
GODS" he said aloud, what did I do?
What is ailing him? What can be the
matter with Penn
An hour before the appointed time
he went to the club, where he was to
meet Penny for luncheon and Pens
was the first voice he heard OH enter
ing-Pen's laugh that led the rest.
And 1t came to Harry suddenly, that
he hadn't heard Pen laugh out that
way at home for a long time.
And as the men called greeting and
Pen turned with them, Horny fancied
he saw a swift clouding-gone as soon
as come-that drove the persistent
question back upon him, lead-weighted
and sickening. Did Pen dislike himf
And for what? What had he done
how could it be? The unsett1ing
thought drove him to the silence of
the writtng-room, to think 1t over. He
sat far down on his spine at table in
the unoccupied room and glowered at
the club letter-head on the ready
placed thick white paper. AS an in
dividual with opinions and well-de-
veloped personality he had won the
1rro hi on,-{o 0f
in his globe-circlings: but they had in
terested rather than annoyed him.
This, thought it were true-was a
heart-shaking thing. He had felt so
contentedly confident Of Pens friend
ship and understanding-had proved 1t
many a time!-and now-this.
He showed himself up and bent over
the blotter as some one entered the
room. Undeterred by his preoccupied
appearance, the newcomer made
straight for his table. Horny looked up
with the expression that marked him
his mothers soma blending of re-
moteness, cool surprise and Olympian
question that usually suff1ced to rout
undesirables without waste of words.
The look changed as he saw it to be
Billy Trudell, who was seating himself
so unpardonably near. He and Olivia
had run into Trudell in Switzerland
the past July, and Trudell had re-
moved himself from their honeymoon
world in a highly likable manner.
Horny smiled his friendliest.
Hasn't occurred to me to ask when
you returned, Tru'. thought you were
over for lengthy stay, as we thought
ourselves to be. When did,
The steamer ahead of you" Trudel1
answered briefly. He was 4 big, IN
distinguished, well-enough-looking and
fastidious person of accepted selfshness
and scant speech. His gaze, when he
chose to center it, gave one the sensa-
ton of having stepped, nude, into an
icy draught. He treated Horny to a
seconds congealing stare. threw off
hesitation with a wave of his hand,
and went to his point
Il hear that you and Mrs. Remsen
are staying with the Bonds. I must
ask you to remember that I have been
Pens friend for many years. l want
to ask If you have noticed"
With rush of relief and emotion
that surprised himself, Horny lunged
forward, scattering the paper broad
cast.
Thank the Lordl But you're the
f1rst-Trudell. what is the matter with
Penny"
Trudell's pink and impassive face re-
Vealed nothlng, put the temperature or
his regard seemed to go up a degree.
Then you have noticed" said he.
do you mind telling me what?'
Horny sat back, feeling young and
confused; but his concern for Penny
held him.
WHY can't say. It has been a
fee1ing-an undercurrent of strain, of
well, for instance" And he told
the happening in the car. I've almost
got to thinking that it's personal-that
I've offended Pen; though Heaven
knows how or when" he ended. frown-
ing. 1t went against him to talk the
thing over, to seem to gossip. but Billy
Trudell took it with business-ltke i'm
personality.
1T was so before you came" he as
sured Horny. Pen laughs too hard
away for months and I've lost any
clue | might have picked IN