Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-06-04

1A speaking Win MS VIE, Tor
after the dance she was
Isl whisked away. leaving him
nothing but the memory of an adoring,
blissful glance as she passed. With
Runnels and Cortlandt and the rest he
was driven to the Hotel Central, where
| they found very attractive table set
In private dining room. 1t was
lively party, and Kinks secret citation
enabled him to play the part Of host
with enforced geniality. The others
! Joined him in hearty effort to show
their guest the high regard in which
! they held him. and If Cortlandt did
not enjoy himself it was entirely his
own fault.
Toward Kirk. however. he preserved
a peculiar attitude, which only the
young mans self absorption prevented
him from noticing. II he had been
i less jubilant he must have felt the I'M
. natural aloofness Of the other mans
bearing. But even had he done so he
:, would doubtless have attributed 1t to
Cortlandt's well recognized frigldity.
At the propitious moment Runnels,
who had reluctantly agreed to share
the social responsibility. made little
speech, explaining that he and his
boys had been sensible from the first
Of their guests interest In them and
were deeply grateful for 1t. They now
rendered him token of their regard
In form which he could preserve.
He handed handsome loving cup
to Cortlandt. who thanked him appro-
priately. then waited courteously for
the party to break up. But Anthony
rose. saying:
II simply have to say word on my
own account. fellows, for owe Mr..
Cortlandt more than any of you"
The object Of these remarks shot
swift, questioning glance from his
stony eyes and raised hand as If to
check him. But Kirk ran on unheed-
ing:
II want to thank him before all OF
you for what he has done for me per-
got into trouble Of the worst sort, and
MIR. Cortlandt got me out. He was my
bail bond, he put me up at his hotel,
gave ME clothes and paid my way until
i got started. was stranger, mind
you. but he's been just like one of my
own people. and IL l ever succeed in
doing anything really worth while 1t
will be due to the start he gave me-"
Though the words We're common
place enough. they carried sincere
message. and Cortlandt saw by the
faces about him that the others were
pleased. His own gannt features
turned more sallow than ever The
memory Of what he had heard on the
porch Of his own house few after
Moons ago. OF what he had seen at
other times, of his wife's teltae be-
havtor on this very evening. swept
over him. flaming anew the sullcn
emotions he had cherished all these
months. How fur would this fellow
dare to go, he wondered? He dropped
his eyes to hide the fury in them.
II want to give you u little remem-
brance of my own" Anthony wns
speaking directly to him ut isn't
much. but 1t means a good deal to me.
and hope 1t will have some sort OF
personal association for you. MIR.
Cortlandt" He drew from his pocket
a plush case and took from II a very
handsome thin Swiss watch with the
letters "s. c." artfully enamelcd upon
the back.
Cortlandt accepted the gift mechan-
ically: then. as it touched his flesh. u
sudden color mounted to Ills checks,
only to recede. leaving them bloodless
again.
II really didn't expect this" lie be-
gan slowly ns he rose "Anthony ex-
aggeratcs; he is too kind. But since
he has chosen to publicly call attention
to our relations, will confess that
what he tells you Is nll true Through
my partly. at any rnte- he
has made man OF himself. He has
been welcome at my house. mt my
table: he has come and gone as he
pleased. like one of the family. you
might say. But those are little things;
they count for nothing" His tone
gripped his hearers. and Anthony
stirred uneasily. thinking this an odd
|
Unclasping his long, white fingers,
Cortlandt held up the watch to public
view.
''In payment for my poor friendship
he has given me this magnificent thing
Of gold and Jewels. the finest ! ever
saw. | never counted upon such graft
tude. 1t is too much. and yet man
cannot refuse the gift OF his friend
and not seem ungrncious. can he?
Somewhere In the orient they have a
custom Of exchanging gifts. No man
may accept n thing Of value without
making adequate return and It has al
ways struck me aa wise practice"
He turned full upon Kirk for the first
time since he had begun speaking. and
his voice rose tone as he said Il
!, cant let the obligation rest entirely
upon me We have been friends. An
thony. and ! am going to give you
something In return which ! have
, priced highly. 1t would be counted of
great value by some" Once more he
paused and drew his lips back In that
grimace Of mockery. 1t could no long
er be termed smile "It is this-I am
going to give you--my WIFE You have
had her from the first. and now she is
yours"
For one frightful moment there was
} no sound: even the mems breathing
was Iushed, and they sat slack jawed
stunned. half minded to believe this