The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-06-17
A NOVEL
A w EEK
Next Week, "CAB NO. a.
BY II. +. Foster

eyes with her cold fingers, seek
ing the dark, mute under torture.
Suddenly Isabel, the self
assured, was on the floor at her
cousins knees. burying her face
in Flavia's pale yellow dress and
sobbing in frantic hysteria.
"Flavia, Flavia, l cant bear
it! | am afraid, I am afraid-if
he should die"
Shocked back into strength.
Flavia bent over her.
Dear. you loved him." escap-
ed her, in her double compassion
for the woman who Gerard had
not chosen.
Isabel jumped to her feet.
mo- HATE hint" she flared
viciously. "Corrie. poor Cor
Flavia shrank.
What of Corrie? Isabel.
what?"
You will hear soon enough, :"
she assured bitterly. I've said all
can. No-don't ask me, don't
follow me. They will tell you
downstairs. I'm going.
Downstairs. meant the ser
wants. Flavia Rose was, above all
things, maiden-proud; as Gerard
fianee, as Gerard's wife, no cost
of pain or humiliation would
have kept her from him. But she
was neither. She had only her
own Interpretation of his grace
full speech, only few yellow
roses to hint that he did not re-
gard her as the most casual of
friends.
1t was half an hour later before
Flavia trusted herself to descend
the stairs.
The Rose house was too near
the race course for the informa-
ton she sought not to be already
rife gossip there. When Mr.. Rose
came home, near noon, he had
little left to tell his daughter ex-
cept Gerard's condition and his
defense of Corrie.
Then Corrie did not hurt
him." she grasped the exquisite
relief.
There was the wrench" he
reminded her. And where has
he sent Dean. who must have
seen all that happened and could
have given Gerard's mechanician
the lie?''"
The autumn dusk had fallen
and the lamps were lit, when
Corrie came home. Flavia and
Mr.. Rose were in the drawing
room.
Corrie came quietly between
the velvet curtains. That one day
had drawn white lines about his
boyish mouth and set black cir
cles under his blue eyes.
"First-Gerard?" required Mr..
Rose hardly.
"They say he will live"
"Livei what"
They say he will never drive
again"
FIavia cried out family, and
there was a pause.
1--WE heard Rupert's story, and
I've heard Gerard's," slowly pro-
nouneed Mr.. Rose. Il haven I
heard yours, yet. What wrecked
Gerard's carr"
There was no answer.
Rupert isn't lying" Mr.. Rose
asserted after a moment. He
might be crazy. IL he is, say so.
Where is your mechanician,
Dean? What has he got to say?
1t looks bad, your hiding him."
HE was not with me-" Corrie
replied.
Not with you? Rupert talks
of seeing him beside you in the
car.
Rupert is mistaken. Dean was
not yet out at the course and l
started alone"
Then Rupert is crazy? Gerard
told the truth? Speak out! Are
you afraid or sulky7"
The lash took effect. Corie
moved sharply and spoke.
IL am not going to talk" he
declared definitely. "If you don't
know how l loved Allan Gerard,
If you can't feel that would
rather have killed myself than
hurt him, there is no use of my
saying IL. I'm going to my room !;
you needn't fear I'll run away"
Mr.. Rose was across the room
before his son could leave it.
You'll keep what Gerard lied
to give you" he promised with in
exorable menace. And that s
what is left of your reputation.
You'll neither run nor skulk in
your room; you'll go dress for
dinner and come down here and
eat it. Well have no scenes. The
medicine you have got to take is