The Dermott news., 1914-09-17
CHAPTER xi-ConsInued.

strate with you for living In this
house" Slade blurted out. after a
pause. 'but-I've sort of changed
my mind" and he reached for the
pickle jar. These pickles fairly
make my mouth water They're very
good" he went on. approximately.
Well what's changed you7" Mary
refused to be diverted by the subject
of dinner at noon or the allimpor
tAnt matter OF pickles.
you know I'm kind of glad to see
the place again, and you know,
like this stew" and he proceeded to
busy himself with the matter of eat
ing-anything to gain time under
Mays merciless. persistent question
Ing
Have a biscuit" suggested Mary.
"and-tell me why you came out
here"
Slade looked longingly toward the
window. as II he expected to find an
inspiration for a suitable answer
there
Why. the old rosebush out there
yet, holding the fort" he exclaimed.
nave Il lOOh III IL. huu iedN-
ting his dinner he went over to the
window.
Mary hurriedly reftlled his plate
with stew the moment his back was
turned
II declare" He WAS still enthusing
over the rosebush. Quite bush"
He was beginning to feel more at
Io Ind tha anffGfah faaitDo
that comes to every man when his
stomach is full. He felt very benign
toward Mary. sven toward katherine
and Hayes. ~
I'll tell you what am going to do.
Mary he began. You like this
house-always did Well you can
stay here. wont oppose 1t There's
nothing IN the world you want
wouldn't give you-nothing. Now,
what can l do for you, What can
Nary shook her head and laughed
quietly.
Why. Mary" Slade was distressed
ut having his patronizing advances
treated IN such a manner
oh. Dan. Dam" Mary laughed.
mockingiy. unable longer TO conceal
her feelings. Slade realized in an In
slant that Mary knew everything
We'll. III tell you one thing" he
blurted out Il never cared button
for that giri-it that's what you
mean, swear l didn't"
Who said you did. Dan ?" Mary's
manner was provokingly calm.
y never did I'm not that kind OF
man. and you know it, he pro
tested.
WHO'S accusing you never men
toned her name. But. Dan. she's very
young and very pretty. and l don't
blame you as long as you were going
to try another wife. You might as
we'll have had one who was young
and pretty"
Slade pooh-poohed vigorously
81 hope the next one you get will
be Just as pretty. for your sake
There isn't going to be a next
ner OF all men.
"Oh, yes there Is: you've got the
idea now. The mere fact that you
missed this time will keep you at It"
I've got enough" Slade saw that
frankness was the only way out OF
II. I'm not going to make a devilish
foo1 of myself again"
Don't let your coffee get cold" re-
minded Mary, tantalizingly. Now,
Dan. you wanted me TO go away. and
will. I've made UP my mind"
But don't want you to go away"
Slade demonstrated I'VE can arrange
everything right here and now. This
determination of yours is pretty sud
den. isn't it,
Not as sudden as your change OF
mind when you first came into this
room today"
We'll, where are you going7"
''oh. don't know" Mary replied.
indinerently. What does become OF
divorced women
Now. Mary. don't talk like that:
IT amt natural from you" This time
Slade was doing the pleading. You
can't go OF alone like this
"Oh. cant I? could a week ago.
or an hour ago, Why can't nowY l
can't wait to pack my things"
Slade gaxed at his wife in amaze
ment. II the patient rug on which
he had thoughtlessiy trampled 80 long
had suddenly been transformed into
a snariing animal. Slade could not
have been any more surprised
why Mary. see here" he began.
then stopped. "Oh. hi, what's the
use7 You meet me half way In the
way l want to live, and you'd better
come home Well open the house In
town again. and we'll make the best
of things. There! Wen make the
best OF things"
How can we?" argued Mary. IF
was old-fashioned and behind the
times and held you back a week ago.
why wouldn't now? Try as hard as
] might. you said couldn't help you.
I'm just the same today as | was a
week ago. | haven't changed a bit
I'm just the plain little dud always