The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-23
CHAPTER xxvI-continued.

3D.
Il must be going" she said, rising.
IF you will give me my envelope?"
He crossed to the safe and got it for
her. His curiosity was still keen
edged. but he beat it back manfuIly.
Il wish you wouldn't hurry he said
Hospitality. He was searching the
changeful eyes for the warrant to say
more, but he could not find it.
He was obliged to let it go at that;
but when they reached the phaeton
and the horse-holding clerk had been
relieved. he spoke of another matter.
I'm a little worried about Ken
neth," he told her. "He came down
this morning looking positively
Wretehed, but he wouldn't admit that
he was sick. Have you seen much of
him lateIy?"
mot very much"-guardedly
you say he had gone homer"
I don't know where he has gone.
He left here about half an hour before
you came, and I haven't seen him
since"
"And you are worried because he
Doesn't look weIl?"
Not altogether on that account I'm
afraid he is in deep water of some
kind. / never saw a person change as
he has in the past week or so. You
know him pretty well, and what a big
heart he has?''
She nodded, half mechanically.
We'll, there have been times lately
when I've been afraid he'd kill some
body-in this squabble of ours, you
know. He has been going armed
which was excusable enough, under the
circumstances night before last,
when we were walking uptown togeth-
er, had all 1 could do to keep him
from taking pot-shot at a fellow
who, he thought, was following US. I
don't know but I'm taking all sorts
OF unfair advantage of him, telling you
this behind his back, but
No; I'm glad you have told me.
Maybe / can help"
He put her into the low basket seat,
and tucked the dust-robe around her
carefully. While he was doing it he
looked up into her face and said: I'D
love you awfully hard for what you
have done today-if you'd let me-"
1t was like her to smile straight
into his eyes when she answered him.
When you can say that-in just
that way-to the right woman, you'll
lind great happiness lying in wait
for you, Edward. dear" And then she
spoke to the Morgan mare and dis.
lance came between
AS once before, in the earlier hours
OF the same day, Miss Grierson took
the roundabout way between the Ray
mer plant and Mereside, making the
circuit which took her through the
college grounds and brought her. out
at the head Of upper Shawnee street.
The Widow Holcomb was sitting on
her front porch. pIacidly crocheting.
when the phaeton drew up at the
curb.
Mr.. Griswold," said the phaeton's
occupant. May 1 trouble you to tell
him that I'd like to speak to him a
moment"
Mrs. Holcomb, friend of the Ray
mers. the Farnhams. and the OswaIds,
and own cousin to the Bars, was of
the perverse minority; and, apart
from this, she had her own opinion of
door of a young mans boarding house
and take him off for a night drive to
goodness only knew where, and from
which he did not return until good
ness only knew when. So there was no
stitch missed in the crocheting when
she said, stiff1y: "Mr. Griswold isn't
In. He hasn't been home since morn
ing"
Miss Grierson drove on, and the
most casual observer might have re-
marked the strained Tightening of the
lips and the two red spots which came
and went in the damask-peach cheeks.
But it was not until she had reached
Mereside, and had gained the shelter
of the deserted library. that speech
came.
20 pitifu1 Christi" she sobbed, drop
ping into a chair and hiding her face
in the crook Of her arm; hes done it
at last!-he's trying to hide, and that's
what they've been waiting fort And
l don't know where to look!"
But Matthew Broffin, fitting lazily
in his chair on the downtown hotel
porch, knew very well where to look,
and he was watching the one outlet
of the hiding place as an alert, though
outwardly disregardful. house cat
watches a houses hole