Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-09-04

Don't bring in whys-now. We are
SO comfortable. l don't ask for an ex.
planation-I don't want to give any.
Can't you see I'm in Happy Valley for
a little while? / am so glad to have
you here again."
Merry smiled into her eyes. I'll
obey you, bless your gentle heart!"
The girl rose and reached to a shelf
behind her for a box of cigars. Merry
lit one, lounged back in a cushioned
chair, and pulled rings of smoke
towards the red fire. They sat in
silence after Jason had carried away
the dishes. Their quiet was broken
when the clock struck one. The man
started.
Miss Dorcas, you wanted me here
to talk. l cannot rob you of a sights
Sleep"
Il am as wide awake as a cricket. /
slept all the afternoon"
First of ALL" Merry asked gravely.
"how did you find me? Scores of men
and ome passed me day after day,
people l have known for years. Not
one of them recognized me-"
"They were not searching for you."
"You were?"
Dorcas nodded.
How did you find me?" he per-
sisted.
Last night on my way home from
the theater with MI. Oswald our cab
| stopped in a block, and 1t was opposite
where-that line of men stood. / was
looking at them when l saw you pull
down your hat. When Mr.. Oswald left
me here I drove back to Tenth street,
but the line had dispersed. ] went
again tonight-just hoping"
"Who is Mr.. Oswald?" asked Merry
abruptly.
Don't you know? Haven't you been
reading the papers? MT. Oswald is the
man who is putting on your play"
MY play?" Andrew dropped his
half-smoked cigar on the table.
Your play" repeated Dorcas in a
quiet tone. "They have been search
ing everywhere for you to play John
Esterbrook.' Enoch is in Montreal
now, looking IOT you.
Merry laughed harshly.
The girl clasped her hands together.
Mr.. Merry, tell me, are you and
Enoch no longer friends?"
Andrew picked up his cigar and
pulled it until the rec spark revived.
Then he laughed again. I'VE are not
exactly friends. Has he told you any
thing?"
"Yes, he told me-only it seemed
| so strange, SO hard to believe after
our talk that day at the point, that
somehow / cannot understand it"
Merry watched her keenly. He was
throttling a temptation to tell every
thing that had come between him and
the sunshine of existence. He felt
IRE Of the girls sympathy; he knew
she would understand. He had begun
to realize his own dependent nature.
First there had been his mother, then
for years he had leaned upon Enoch's
strength and friendship. When he was
left alone it was outer darkness. Every
fiber of his being longed not SO much
for redress as for understanding and
sympathy
Miss Dorcas, ] will begin at the
day when l left you and" Suddenly
he realized be could not tell the story
of Enoch's ~disloyalty to her. Miss
Dorcas, l need your help-terribly."
81 am ready to help you in any way
l can" she answered quietly. She
knew he was nerving himself to a con-
fession. and she understood what an
ordeal Il was to the man. She crossed
the room and laid a paper before him.
pointing to the bold headlines
stretched across the top of a page. The
words fairly leaped at Merry.
TREMENDOUS SURPRISE
Enoch Wentworth the Coming Drama-
tist.
He read on down through the col
umn. Fellow journalists had banded
| together to give Enoch a royal intro
duction. Merry's name was not men
toned, though there was frequent ref
erence to a famous star, who had the
leading part in consideration. Oswald
was referred to as a in the
ranks of New York managers. His
lavish production of Wentworth's