The Dermott news., 1914-07-23

ing a time OF II IL. there. Good eve
ming, Mrs. Merritt, your husband is
certainly making it warm for Mr.,
Slade."
Indeed" laughed Mrs. Merritt. graf.
flied for the moment.
Dear. dear!" she exclaimed as she
watched Hayes gazing wistfully at
Katherine and looking very handsome
and manly in his well-made evening
clothes. It's quite like old times to
see you together" Unhappy herself,
it gave her a certain pleasure to make
other people unhappy. The jealousy
she had long felt for the younger and
more beautiful woman found express
sion now in her purring tones, as. with
amiahle cruelty, she reminded them
Of their earlier intimacy. She took
delight In making Bob writhe and
Katherine whiten as she recalled their
passionate young love when only the
senator's stern Interference had kept
them from wedding.
Let me see. she re~collected, when
| was your ~conhdante. you were
twenty-one. Katherine. and YOU. Rob.
were twenty-four. | can feel Robs
hands gripping mine yet. o, Fannie
please see her tor me-the senator
doesn't approve OF IT,. And the tears
you shed on my shoulder, Katherine
why. II feels wet TO think OF it."
20 Fannie" Katherine's voice WAS
not as firm as usual
4 always said" the woman per
sisted. Rob. she'll come home to you
In the end
Il think I'll go back and listen to
the discussion" and Bob flung dis
gustedly cut OF the room. At the door
he almost collided with Merritt. Kath-
crime had hurried out to see a reporter
who wanted the wherefores and the
why's OF the dinner party to Slade.
Il cant possibly get away. dear"
Merritt explained TO his wife. I've
been buttonholed by some men from
up the state. Shall you wait or so
home-frst9"
Mrs. Merritt refused to be dis
missed In that peremptory fashion.
IN wait she returned With acid
sweetness. Then II you are not ready
I'll run along"
SHADES had an ovation tonight"
Merritt informed her, nodding toward
the smoking room. The big out-ot-
town men are all here. Some OF EN-
in there yet. Hes big. Fannie. He's
big. We can't deny that. The brute
attacks his point with all the force OF
a sledge hammer
Yes, that's what YOU lack
punch" his wife turned on him petu-
lantly.
You're showed under" she com
planned, bitterly. II you'd taken my
advice you wouldn't have come to this
Slade feed tonight What's your pa
per for she demanded. II you can't
attack YOU rival candidate In its col
umns9 Anyone would think you want.
ed to make him goveruor-tnstead OF
yourself"
L cant attack him publicly" Mere
ritt retorted. He'd put up glue fac
toriee facing our property and. with
a lake breeze blowing our way
phew' Ny position is very difficult.
OF course, elections a long way ahead.
but I'm the only stick in his puddle"
Yes, you're a big stick" she
tainted. Why don't you do some
thing
What can | do ?" he eroaned. I've
been told tonight by no less than four
men that they won't support me again
And Striekland's speech introducing
Slade was a ~masterpiecct
"Yes-Strickland.s masterpieces are
%coueocted by his daughter. We all
know that, Just as | write your stun"
she finished with hateful emphasis on
the posseseive.
My dear, | wish you'd be more
careful" warned Merritt, making
sure that The door leading into the
smoking room was closed
Your Message TO the Farmer'-that
made you famous What did | ever
get for writing it," and with selfsatis-
fed deliberateuess she arranged her
self carefully in a low-seated chair
near the fireplace
Il never denied that you had .
mans brain. plaeatingly. drawlinsly.
me darling
w The family mosquito that
buzze> bettnd Your ears. God help
US II Il wasn't for me. Did you ask
the senator for the $4,000 | want"
she demanded.
He cant" Merritt was huddled In
the nearest chair. The subject had
been causing him Rppetiteless days
and ~sleepless nights, When a woman
OF Fannie Merritt's persistency and
tenacity wants something a a can't
get then that man Is very likely to be
nagged into desperation.
You look out. Wesley" she an
swered, alarm breaking the careful
meditation OF her voice. That's the
first time he ever refused us"
He's broke-dead broke. | don't
know how he can keep this up, The
senator's nearly out. That's why
he's sticking TO Slade,"
CTO BID CONTINUED)