The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-18

1890
She snuggled closer to him and want
ed to cry. She didn't know why.
II was only about a three hours ride
to the city, and she grew more and
more nervous as they approached II.
When they had alighted from the train
a young man, though considerably
older than Hal, came toward them. He
was not a very prepossessing young
man. There were pouches beneath
his eyes and his lips were thick and
wide. He wore a loud tie, and a suit
and oYercoat Of wondrously checked
pattern. Alice saw him first, and she
gripped Halls arm more tightly. She
did not experience the bounding Joy
to which she had so long looked for
ward when she should greet this
Prince of the World. She had 1t upon
the tip of her tongue to cry out to Hal
that she did not want to elope, that
she wanted to go back home, but the
pride which had made her keep up the
romance she had builded, even after
it hadelost its interest to her, and
which had made her plunge into this
| udIllb III Hppllb vi DONh hCA
judgment and her inclination, now
held her silent to meet her %devouring
fate.
She glanced half in terror from the
approaching young man to Hal. She
was startled at the change in her
quasi-brother. He had stiffened him
self to his full ive-foot-seven of ath-
letic height. His nostrils were dilated
and his eyes were glaring, but he
smiled, actually smiled, as if. in the
glee of coming battle. The approach
ing young man suddenly caught sight
of young Gilman and stopped short, as
II startled. Then he came on slowly,
hesitatingly, looking from n to the
other.
why didn't you tell me this fellows
name? Why didn't l ask" demanded
Hal; but he really was pleased.
There was no time for reply. The
young man had come up to them. Hal
turned on him savagely.
well Peyson?" he inquired.
How do, Gilman" said Mr.. Peyson
with a jerky nod, and then held out
his hands to Alice, with an evident in
tention to ignore her escort from that
moment on.
Hal stepped between them.
"Peyson, I'll give you just two min
utes to get out of sight" he pleasantly
observed. "If you'll remember, we
gave you "a hours at college. You
had things to pack up there. You
haven't herei"
Mr.. Peyson looked at him curiously
for an instant and moistened his lips
then he suddenly wheeled, and a mo
ment later they saw him worming his
way through the crowd.
I'm sorry, Alice, that I can't tel
you the details about him." Hal said
She was standing very stiff and
straight herself.
81 don't care to hear. I know
enough. / am just praying my graft
tude that l am not to be linked fol
life to any man whom another mar
could make run without an explain
ton"
Hal scarcely heard her. Already he
was consulting a timetable. 1t had
taken them three hours to make the
trip. They had started at $50, ant
it was now 1890. There was not an
other train back until three o'clock IL
the morning, and it would not land hel
in Oakdale until daylight. She hal
not comprehended to the full phase o
1t as yet. But Hal swiftly decided tina
whatever they did and wherever the!
went they could not stand there, ant
he bundled her into a cab.
It was not until they were rolling
away from the depot that she though
with a gasp of the possible conse
quences of her act, and cried: VIVA
are we to do?"
81 pass" replied the young man, sud
denly and briskly losing all the dignit,
that had weighted him down when h,
got his sheepskin, and reverting ono,
more to the slang of early college days
at looks to me as If we were in a jam
Never you mind, though. Rely on you
Uncle Dudley. He'll put rouge an
cold cream and violet talcum on tn
face of this thing, and don't forget Il
! Do you know anybody here that yo
l could visit?"
I mot a SOUL" she walled. IT onl
know one family, and they are abroad.
+ Never mind" he said, patting he
hand where 1t lay trembling on hi
d arm. you just keep your eye on Lii
+ tie Willie. First of all we are drivin
over to my hotel, where I shall leav
. my suitcase and send a couple of tell
grams. Then wen do a real quicl
thinking stunt. Did you ever see m
think? 1t will be a positive joy
y you"
d She nestled confidently up to hin
His voice sounded so good and stronj
and she liked him so much better sine
he had dropped his age. She wa
d glad, oh! SO glad, that he had hal
pened to come with her!
d At the hotel Hal jumped out wit
8 his suitcase. He left her in the ca
but presently he came out, chucklin
10 He had two kilograms in his han
o One of them he had not opened, b'
h. the other he read and re-read wit
evident appreciation.
You'd better open this one befol
ID l show you mine," he said, handir
is the unopened telegram to her.
She looked at the inscription.
t. was addressed to Mrs. Hatred joy
n. Gilman. She handed it back demurel
If ut certainly isn't for me-" she sa
r. with a laugh that had a suspicion