The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-04

nayes continued to converse with
Slade. mo, she says not" he was
saying. mo, am not out here wind
ing her up or advising her." and he
banged up the receiver.
"What'd he say?" Mary was wiring
ing her hands In her uncomfortable ex-
element.
ooh, he Just called me a skunk and
cut off," answered Hayes. as he nom
chalantly lighted cigarette. He paced
up and down the room for a moment
and then turned on her:
God I'd like to haul him through
t every court in the country. The scoun-
dreIi''
II don't like to hear you talk like
/ that about him, Rob-" Mary remon-
/ strated. He's been pretty good
friend to you"
We'll, perhaps.I Hayes tried to
/ calm herself for her sake. He's all
i right, / suppose"
] Il dunno that he is" Mary's mood
! was variable. when / think of that
i divorce
i SHADES coming down here today,
aunty. He declares you're here under
| his very eyes, and he's determined
that you shall go away, and desert
him and give him the opportunity to
divorce you. He says the whole coun-
try will know of the trouble unless
you go away. That's what he said
over the phone"
We'll. I'll stay right here. I can't
get over it, Rob- and her voice quiv-
cred in spite of herself. II can't get
over the suddenness of it; his want
ing that divorce happened just like
that" and she snapped her fingers to
! illustrate her meaning. Before that
he never thought of it. It's curious"
she paused. thoughtfully: do you
know that sometimes when I get to
thinking about it-I-something comes
/ over me, an idea that-shut that out
| side door, Rob-, she commanded be-.
fore she would continue. II wonder
lie there isn't declare I'm ashamed
to say it-but wonder If ii could be
/ possible that there's-some woman"
she finally managed to get the word
Tout
"Auntiei" 1t was not necessary for
Hayes to feign surprise, for, although
he knew the situation, he had been
confident that such thought had
never entered Mary SHADES pure-mind-
! ed thoughts.
The pent-up emotion of days broke,
and Mary sank sobbing into chair,
burying her face lin her hands. With
the expression of the thought that
heretofore she had never admitted
even to herself, her self-control van
ished and she cried out desperately:
We'll, what do you think he wanted
that divorce for SO sudden1y?"
People usually do get divorced
when they can't get on. don't they 2"
Hayes was willing to lie to shield her
from the knowledge that he knew
would be the bitterest part of all the
NORWOOD that she had already tasted
Sometimes l wonder" Mary con
tinued, refectively, sometimes I'm
almost positive that-No! Slade isn't
that sort of a man. My husband isn't
that sort Of a man, Rob-
mo, of course he isn't
you didn't know what was going
to say" she objected.
yes, / did. About women
lie ACNCA AOllCC0 oily OIIC1 WO1u~
an, she told herself positively.
NO. Hayes agreed
"You haven't heard of anything like
that, have your" she questioned
mo, no, haven't" Hayes was find
ing the cross-examination extremely
trying, convinced as he was that Mary
must be saved from the knowledge of
Katherine at any cost IF there were
anything, you'd hear it. Don't worry .
Robert" and she looked at him in
tently. Would you tell me if"
mo. I would mott" asserted Hayes
vigorously. Haven't you got enough
trouble now?"
but, Robert, you are my friend,
aren't you? You ought to-"
He was saved from any further
questions along that unwelcome line
by the sound of the doorbell and a
moment later Merritt opened the door
4 without ceremony.
5 "Wel1!p Hayes was far from cor
| dial.
Il beg your pardon for entering sc
5 abruptly Merritt was the same old
Y talkative. suave, good-fellow, Pm-your
riend-Merritt, "but was bound to see
/ Mrs. Slade I'm for the Slade family
: but I'm for all the Slade family, SO
: hope you won't make a stranger OF
e me-"
y Mary was politely Indifferent and
Hayes, with back turned, was tapping
his foot uneasily on the floor. Alto
& gether not the warmest welcome 6
e man ever received.
This man is likely to publish any
/. thing you may say, auntie," Hayes
/ CHI