The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1914-01-10
CHAPTER XXI.

ria called for the Banner as soon as
she wakened The headlines told her
at once that her father had been de-
feated. She searched carefully
through the paper for some reference
to Joe Wright. but no mention was
made OF him. Naturally enough, the
Banner was not in jubilant mood
II predicted dire things in store for
Belmont. but Gloria. remembering
what she had learned at SO bitter a
( cost, felt that any change must be for
the better
. The girl had now recovered from
the first severity OF the shock, and was
/ anxious TO know for a certainty what
had become OF Wright She knew that
! he lived and was not seriously injured,
/ else there would have been some men
I ton OF him in the paper. The day pre-
/ vious she had thought much Of him.
/ bat there had been much else for her
To think OF. Now with a return to
/ what was to be for her the normal.
/ she wanted to know how he Jared
All the morning Gloria spent in re-
I volving in her mind just what she
ought to do. She knew that her father
/ meant Wright harm. Pride and maid
enly reserve wrestled with what she
considered her duty. Her conscience
1 told her that before she left Belmont
/ forever she should warn this man who
f once had owed her He must be placed
on his suard against her own father.
I II cut her like a knife to think that
T the attack on the editor had really
been made at her command. Now she
could do no less than tell him how
affairs stood
! DR. Hayes could scarcely conceal his
surprise when Gloria followed him
/ into the hall after luncheon and asked
about Mr.. Wright's condition. He told
her that he still kept to his room, but
was reported as improving Before
/ he could frame a question, Gloria
thanked him and fed up the stairs.
her room, dressed for the street. and
announced to Mrs. Hayes that she was
| going for short walk alone.
| What the daughter of David Kerr
| told her hostess was the truth. She
| did go for a short walk. a walk that
took her in the most direct way to the
| house where Joe Wright resided. The
door was opened for her by little girl
/ who invited her to enter.
Il wish to see Mr.. Wright" Gloria
| explained to the child
| ''I'll take you to his sitting room. He
| told me to bring anybody in that came
| to see him. and to tell 'em he'd be
| back in minute"
| cil ir - 40
the little girl threw wide the door and
| bade her enter
Then he's not in the house, you
say"
No. he's gone TO get baggageman.
but he said to wait" Patty insisted.
Whom did he wish TO waltz"
"Oh. anybody. He said somebody's
| coming to pack his books. He hurt
himself and can't bend over the box. ;"
oh" cried Gloria. with little gasp
OF pain. She remembered all too we'll
the hurt of which he complained. Then
at the same time came a new thought.
why was he packing his books? A
more critical look showed her many
evidences that he was giving up his
apartment She could not understand.
rs Mr. Wright moving everything? ?"
| she ventured
| Yes. he's going away"
| Gloria gazed at the child in surprise.
not quite graspng what she said. A
smothered exclamation caused her to
look up quickly. There, staring at her
from the doorway in honest amaze
ment, stood Joe Wright. She felt her
cheeks crimson.
Miss Kerr. You heref' he gasped,
before he could master his surprise.
| Then in an instant he went on in an
even. conventional tone. Il beg your
pardon, ! scarcely expected to find you
here"
No. Ill scarcely expected to
find myself here. but here l am" AZ
she said this she extended her hands,
then dropped them. q gesture which
seemed to typify the simplicity with
which the visit had been accomplished.
Wright readily recognized that there
was some motive in the call. and dis
missed Patty with instructions to Let
him know il anyone asked for him.
Wont you sit DOWN." he begged,
remembering his duty a. host.
Thank you, haven't . moment td
stay"
Wright looked about for . chair. tc
find them filled with odds and ends of
things intended to be packed. The girl
insisted that she preferred to stand
and listened to his apology for the
appearance Of the room and the expla
uation that he was moving.
II learned at luncheon that you wers
going away" she acknowledged
"Since you would not come to see me
l had to come to see you"
! cTo BE CONTINUED)
grandfather, and at 40 the politics Of