University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1915-07-12

Three-thirty! Well, Thacker an,
Jephson had asked the impossible
that was all. Minot felt he had don
his best. No man could do more. HI
was very sorry for Jephson, but
golden before him opened the posi-
bility of Miss Cynthia Meyrick free t,
be wooed.
Yet he must be faithful to the last
Al quarter to four he read Jephson'.
cablegram again. AS he read. a plaI
ridiculous in its ineffectiveness Oc
Cured to him. And since no othel
came in the interval before four. he
walked into Miss Roses presence de-
termined to try out his weak little
bluff.
The Gaiety lady was playing on the
Diano-a whispering, seductive little
tune. AS MinOt stepped to her side
she glanced up at him with coy in
viting smile. But she. drew back a
little at his determined glare.
Miss Rose" he said sharply, at
have discovered that you can not sue
Lord Harrowby for breach of con-
tract to marry you"
"Why-why not?" she stammere,l.
Because" said Minot, with a
triumphant smile-though it was a
shot in the dark-'you already had
husband when those letters were
written to you"
Well, he had done his best. A rather
childish effort, but what else was
there to attempt? Poor old Jephson! /!
Nonsense" said the Gaiety lady.
and continued to play.
Nothing of the Sort" Minot re-
piled. "Why, can produce the man
himself"
Might as well go the limit while he
was about it. That should be his con-
ISOLATION when Jephson lost Might as
well-but what was this?
Gabrielle Rose had turned livid
with anger. Her lips twitched, her
china-blue eyes flashed fire. If only
her lawyer had been by her side thea.
But he wasn't. And so she cried hot
ly:
He's told. The little brute's told,'
Good lord, Minot felt his knees
weaken. A shot in the dark-had it hit
the target after all?
IF you refer to your husband" said
Minot, "he has done just that"
Hes not my husband" she snap
ped.
Oh, what was the use? Providence
was with JephsOn.
mo, of course not-not since the
divorce Minot answered. But be
was when those letters were written.
The Gaiety lady's chin began to
tremble.
And he promised ME. on his word
of honor, that he wouldn't tell. But
suppose you found him easy. What
honor could one expect in a Persian
carpet dealer?'
A Persian carpet dealer? Into MI
not's mind fiOated a scrap of CONVEX
sation heard at Mrs. Bruce's table.
But you must remember" he ven
tured, that he is also a prince"
Yes" said the woman, that's what
| thought when | married him. He's /.
the prince of liars-that's as far as
his royal blood goes"
A silence, while Miss Gabrielle Rose
felt in her sleeve for her handker-
chief.
81 suppose" Minot suggested, "you
will abandon the suit"
She looked at him. Oh, the pathos
Of that baby stare!
you are acting in this matter sim
ply as HarrOwby's friend?" she
asked.
Simply as his friend"
"And-sO far-Only you know of my
only | know of him." smiled Mi
not. The smile died from his face. For
lie saw bright tears on the long lash
IS of the Gaiety lady. She leaned
lose.
'Alr. Minot," she said, "it is who
iced friend. Not Harrowby. l am
lere in strange CONTRIBUTIONS
Helpless. Mr. MinOr.
You could not be so cruel"
"I-I-I'm sorry" said MinOt un-
The lady was an actress, and she
cted now, beautifully.
II feel SO desolate," she mOaned.
Iabbing daintily at her eyes. "You
will help me. 1t can not be am mis-