The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-25

most shiEering. "I-Mr. Wallace prom
ised to do all that for me-"
She put the statement back into her
desk, a little disappointed. Then he'll
be here this morning.
Yes; he'll be here right away. He
had to go to the barber shop" He
laughed. Il shave myself, thank Cod"
he added fervently.
Her manner now became more seri-
Gus and rather puzzling. 1t was not
as if he had done anything which dis
pleased her, it was not even as If she
thought he might; it was only that OF
the delightful woman who is wonder
ing if, presently, she may not think he
might. She was not suspicious, she
suspected that she might suspect. He
knew it; men always know when WON
en- are beginning to wonder If they had
not better very soon begin to wonder
It's the only intuition mere men have
Presently, while he waited, acutely
conscious that some unpleasant ele-
ment had entered into the situation,
but denseIy ignorant of its character;
and while she calmly went about the
business of her Office management, at
which, it may as we'll be stated now
as ever, she showed unmistakable signs
of perfect competence, she went to
complicated filing cabinet, extracted
from it certain other papers, carried
them across the room to the desk near
which. he had found a seat, laid them
on that desk, then slowly turned and
faced him.
do you know that Mr.. Pembroke, Of
/ the Consolidated, is here in town ?"
To her great satisfaction, which she
would not for the world have admitted.
he did not hesitate before he an
swered; he did not try to beat around
the bush; he INDUCED in no evasions
or delays of any kind whatever.
Yes, I know it." he said promptly.
It may be that some detail in his
tone or manner treasured her, at any
rate her voice, when she spoke next
was free from a certain icy hint Of
criticism which undoubtedly had crept
into it.
Did he come here with you2"
No; he followed me here"
Have you seen him?" She made
no attempt to offer an excuse for
cross-examining him; she evidently
asked the question as an interested
party who has a right to be informed.
Was she not citizen of Jonesville and
an employee Of the Jones Pepsin Gum
Company"
No; I have not seen him, but MI
Wallace saw him last night and turned
down his offer, too
Instantly the reserve, which, fntangi-
bic but perceptible, had affected her,
dropped from her. She was no longer
in the least suspicious.
ooh, I'm so glad!" she exclaimed
cordially.
But he failed to note this circum-
stance; he failed to ward against on
coming danger. AS matter of fact he
was not thinking of her as az employs
of the Jones company, he was not
thinking about Jonesyille, he was con-
sidering his own pressing need for
money and the delightful possibility
that through Pembroke, in one way or
another, that need must be relieved.
He rose and paced the floor with light
and hopeful tread, wholly without ap-
prehension.
I'VE gave him to understand that we
wouldn't sell for less than a million
and a half" He said this half proudly.
Then, with the accents Of a hopper:
Eve expect him here at eleven o'clock
with his answer"
Her face took on puzzled and dis
approving frown. But you just gave
your word to the men that
Now he spoke definitely and crisply.
No one listening to him could imagine
that he did not mean exactly what he
said; that he had not carefully consid-
cred every meaning of each syllable
that he was uttering
CTO BE CONTINUED)
.HEEO