The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1915-06-05

was 1t possible that she would have
the temerity to seize on Myra's pres
ence In the cottage az a justification
Of . suspicion she knew to be false?
He cursed himself for his vile suspi
cions. But she had gone to the beach
If not for that. then for what?
Tho thought Of Fall then entered
his mind and took his whole attention.
and he glanced hastily, searchingly
across the court to see whether he
was in his office. II this frightful
thing were true His lips met in a
long. hard seam as he unlocked the
r bottom drawer OF his desk and with
out looking hastily withdrew some
thing and slipped 1t into his pocket.
He rose. desperate. and leaving his Of
fee. crossed to Falls.
Fall was not there. He questioned
the porter.
When will Fall be in?"
u don't know, Mr.. Fall left word he
had gone to the beach, but didn't leave
no message when he'd be back again"
Ray started, shocked at the advice
that Fall had gone to the beach. He
said all right" in a preoccupied voice
that seemed even to him not to have
emanated from his own throat, and
walked unsteadily away. "a sorta
quiet. wild look" as the porter after
wards told. "on his face" 1t was all
very clear to him now-her subtle
trickery under the mask Of injured
innocence"-Fall with his unspeakable
reputation-their discovery In a COM
promising position by Mrs. Fall, and
the resultant divorce suit-and now
both of them together at the beach!
Had the insanity which now
possessed him take. violent form he
might have tesn apprehended and pre-.
vexseu from doing any harm; but 1t
was visible only In his crafty eyes and
unnaturally quiet bearing as he
Jumped into his auto and started for
the coast
Fall had seen the extra" befor,
Norris, and his wife's drastic actio
had made him suddenly afraid He
slipped from every flower" and recxeu
not the cost; but this thing, copied by
all the papers throughout the land.
might. and very probably would, ruin
him.
He took an early train for the beach,
where he endeavored to placate his
wife and make her withdraw her
charge; but she had ceased to think OF
him as a positive quantity, and was
unmoved by his appeals.
When Ethel arrived she went
straight to her cottage. which she
found deserted. Myra and her father
had gone to the shore. She drew in
her breath sharply as her anxious
eyes. after searching the living room
for signs of It's new occupant. fell on
large. hoppy straw hat flung care
lessly on a chair She picked 1t up
and examined 1t eagerly, her essential
feminine binding her for the moment
to its indication. and causing her to
wonder what he could see In that;
then realizing its significance she
dashed It iercely to the ground and
started for the beach. She walked
quickly, tirelessly in the soft sand. and
WAS startled when, after sharp turn
round ledge of rock. she came upon
Willard Fall. He was sobered by his
wife's refusal to listen to his entreat-
les, and was as detected as his trivial
nature would allow. He lifted his hat
Good afternoon, Mrs. Norris
Thought you didn't like the seashore"
"Howdyedo. Mr.. Fall. oh. come
down occasionally"
1--WE wanted ever since that fright
full day, to let you know how sorry
am that you should have been placed
in such an unfortunate position"
He said nothing. however. of the
divorce suit, thinking she must already
know. She wanted to be rid of him
wanted to fly on widly-wanted to
find them-wanted and feared to
feared every step that took her eager,
urgent feet further and further along
the limitless stretch OF beach. He
kept on talking. solicitously trying his
utmost to assure her Of his regret
Racing. careening madly down the
beach came Norris auto. its flying
wheels sending up a swish OF sand In
their wake. It stopped within a few
yards Of them, and Norris, strange,
wild expression on his face, jumped
out. He had seen them half a mile
on. and the sight Of them together
changed his crafty. quiet look to one
Of terrible rage. Dashlng wildly up