Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-06-11


instant turmoil. Kirk felt hunds upol
him, and then went blind with fury
struggling in passion too strong fol
coherent speech. He was engulfcd IL
chaos He felt things break beneath
his touch. felt bodies give way befor.
him.
How or when Kirk left the room he
never knew. Eventually he found him
self pinned In his chair, with Kunnels
white face close against his own nnG
other hands upon his arms. His first
frenzy quickly gave way to sickenint
horror.
Its lie! The mans crazy" he
cried hoarsely; then, as his compan
ions drew away from him, he rose tc
his feet why are you looking ut me
like. that? tell you it's ID lie!
never
Runnels turned to the table and
with shaking hand put glass to his
lips and gulped its contents. Wade
and Kimble exchanged glances. then
avoiding each others eyes. took their
hnts from the hooks behind them.
Walt! Bring him back" Kirk
mumbled. "I'll get him and make him
say it's lie" But still no one an
swered. no one looked at him. God.
You don't believe it?"
''l'm going home. fellows. I'm kind
Of sick" Klmble said. One of the
others murmured unlnteligibly. and.
wetting napkin. bound up his hand,
which was bleeding They continued
to watch Kirk as II fearful of some In
sane action. yet they refused to meet
his eyes squarely. There was no SYM
patty In their faces
The knowledge of what these actions
meant came to him slowly. Was it
possible that his friends believed this
incredible accusation? AS he began to
collect himself he saw his plight more
clearly. His first thought had been
that Coftlandt was insane. but the
mans actions were not those OF a
maniac. No! He actually believed
and these fellows also. He wanted to
shout his innocence at them. to beat
It into their heads.
One by one they took their hats and
went out, mumbling goodnight to one
another, as II intending to go home
singly In order to avoid all discussion
OF this thing that had fallen among
them. Runnels alone remained.
You don't believe did-thatY' An
thony asked in strained voice
Ill think I do" There was mis-
ernble silence. and then: "lt isn't the
thing itself. you know. so much as the
Observation-Disclosures advantage you
took. II he'd been stranger. now
Honestly. isn't 1t true?"
Kirk shook his head listlessly. 81
wouldn't lie to you"
Runnels drew deep breath. ooh.
what he was saying. Men don't do
things like that on suspicion"
HE misunderstood our friendship"
said Kirk heavily, then reused himself
for last plea. Look here" he cried.
You know Cortlandt. and you know
me The man was insanely Jealous
l know 1t sounds weak but its the
truth. and it's all can say. Ill go
mad II you doubt ME. And tonight of
ALL he broke off sharply. My
God! I'd forgotten that I'm married
Suppose Gertrudis hears of this" An
thony seized his temples in despair,
Runnels took sudden Illogical deci-
sion. He never knew exactly what
had Influenced him, but his whole past
knowledge surged up in him With 4
force that he could not resist He laid
his hand on Kinks shoulder Take
II easy, old man" he said II believe
you. I've always known that they
didn't get along together. although
we'll, won't try to understand it, He
may not do ANYTHING further. and
these fellows won't mention what hap
pened here. They can't"
Women are apt to be Jealous. aren't
they, tunnels? What do you suppose
she'd do.'
Don't worry about that I'm think
ing about Cortlandt II he finds out
he's mistaken what will he dog"
He'll have to find out I'm going to
tell him. His wife will tell him Good
God. Do you see what an awful light
It puts mo Int You don't doubt me.
do you really. old man?"
"Eo, but what night this has been.
1t seems year old Come along now.
You must get out Of here You must
turn In. The walters are wondering
what this row Is about. think we'd
better take walk
In passing through the deserted lob.
by Of the hotel they saw Clifford idling
about But they were too much alb
sorbed to wonder what had kept him
up so late BY the clock across the
plaza they saw 1t was two hours after
midnight as they stepped into the
street Then. finding no coaches in
sight, they set out to walk toward An
con. both badly in need Of the open
air.
A moment later Clifford followed
them, taking pains to keep at dis
lance
Now that the full import Of Cort
iandt's accusation had sunk into his
mind. Kirk lapsed into mood Of sui
len bitterness. He said little, but his
set face worried his companion. who
was loath to bid him good night even
when they were close to the Tivoli.
After they had parted Runnels was
upon the point Of going back and offer.
ing to spend the night with him. but
thought better Of It
Instead OF passing through the office
Kirk mounted to the porch of the I'll.
yoh and entered his room from the
outside. as he and Chiquita had done
earlier that evening. He found Allan