Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-04-24

Rosebud Girl"-really. this time, with
a native lyric sweetness-Wiley sighed
with more content. which may, after
all. have the two drinks. It was
an amazing splendor and success, and
he looked about in c~omplacence that
he knew her and the Others did not.
ANA n OF those glances went to the
figure OF a man standing near, which
he watched curiously for 1t was ia
milar. Then he saw 1t was Harlan
van Hart. Harlan. in the gloom of the
foyer. watching imperturbably. Be
fore Wiley could move. the young
mans gaze shifted. He came directly,
and without surprise. to the other man.
"Wiley?"
You saw the Journal tonight"
stage. OF herr" 'A'
Harlan motioned systematically.
Come with me. l want to show you.
Although. l don't know why 1 should
Curran followed to the cafe. They
aside. Its this" He drew the paper
from his pocket. why 1 came here.
BY God. to save her. Wiley, if it's
true!''
h news article announced the sup
posed engagement of Aurelie Lind
strom. Of the Cohan & Snitz combin-
alton. to a young man whom all the
west knew for his plunging on the
board of trade, his motor racing. his
divorce proceedings and his affairs
with women OF the underworld.
II presume you know who Benham
is?"
Curran's voice came in a whisper.
He lies! All. God, it's not so."
II dares publish it as SO. And 1
came to see 1 came to saw her, and
you-to amuse yourself!"
The older man stared at him. His
hand came from his pocket. IL came
to give her this. Her little rosary!"
Harlan's eyes were on 1t. 1t had lain
upon her neck all those nights OF his
he muttered on. given as a former
chorus girl-and coupled with Joe
Benham's! It's horrible!"
It's a lie!"
Harlan sat back cody. His gray
eyes beckoned the waiter. I'll see."
He was writing on q tab Then. to
the waiter: Ring for a messenger.
I'll send for her. 1o meet US here after
the performance"
Curran watched him silently. Har-
Ian had become the man. The touch
of he Viking in his blond strength,
which Wiley had always admired. was
up. young. t%riumphing. primally ruth
less. Curran would not have dared
send that message-curt, direct, de-
handing that she come. He was con
scious now Of fighting against an OBJ
session OF the younger man victor
iousness. He would stop short Of the
gamblers chance. the stalking of his
all on his confidence in his own power.
And in Is minutes the boy am back.
h had written nothing, h had
merely told him she would come.
linen fhav yC0{tnl on {~tOl4~nh1 NJ k~,,.
talking vainly on matters of the town,
politics and business. law and news
papering. Wiley fidgeted: Harlan was
imperturbably serene. The cafe filled
with a crush of after theater feeders,
the hum and motion became livelier as
midnight drew on; And then. when
they were still trying to entertain each
other with commonplace and con-
strained confidence, none of that old
JOY of intercourse between them, there
was a stir chine their table and Aure-
lie was there.
They were both on their feet. Her
amazement was delightful. She had q
hand to each OF them. crying out dis
traction; she was provoked at them why
hadn't they com like gentlemen to
await her at the stage door instead Of
sending for her? She felt as II she had
beer arrested. Harlan looked at Wiley.
and Wiley at him. She was puzzled
Uul SHe HaO come.
Already the cafe people werc look
ing at them. Aurelie was colorful.
aglow with small poses and areless
graces; she smiled i~ngenuously on them
with phrases of her barbarous French
which, h had not been slow to learn.
added to her distinction.
I'm alone. l declined everybody for
you!" And for their lives neither man
knew at which she was looking-it
must be both.
You had an engagement, Aurelie?"
Wiley asked her.
"Oh. just a little one-not enough to
matter, like the Paris lady's baby! I'll
make them all wait-for you. You
know these chappy chaps I've got ac-
qualnted with bother me much"
Wiley looked at Harlan. Plainly Joe
Benham's millions and motors hadn't
dazZled Aurelie.
It's fine to see you-an.'' She per-
sisted in "you-alls," and II reckons."
and "aint's," when she felt like them.
Just fine. l did feel hurt because
none Of my old friends ever looked me
up In Chicago. And me a real lady
now! Mr.. Levy says they're going to
re%organize the New York production
n give me a chance on Broadway
little old New York where Ada Norman
n l nearly starved to death"-she
picked an olive from the dish: "Oh, tell
me how is Uncle Michigan and the
baby?"
Harlan didn't know. 'Tfne!" retorted
Wiley. And knute says there were
never so many rabbits up on Eagle
Point. He's waiting for you to come
back. and he's training old Nellie's pups
to trail EN-"
She was filled with laughter. She
had a u that could beat Nellie's!
Yes. sir! And how is your old shop,
Mr.. Curran, and Aunt Abby and her
Banbury tarts; and which drunk
printer have you got now-Jim Minis or
the Dutch one?" She played her part
before her school-day lover: not for
worlds would she have noticed his silent