The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-03-17
CHAPTER n.

IA HERE was a consultation In
Mrs. Sillard's room. Tommy
Thomas sat at the head of
u Mrs. Wizards bed T. j. Ed
wards. the heavy man with the thick
iidded eyes. sat on the other side In
stolid silence. Cunningham leaned neg
hgently on the foot of the bed. Before
Mrs. Willard lay a picture of June clip
ped from Brynport paper on the day
Of her marriage to Ned Warner. Tom
my Thomas had just found It and had
brought 1t with her. Cunningham
picked up the picture and looked at 1t
with twinkling eyes. smoothing his
white mustache complacently. Gilbert
Blye. sitting In the far corner on the
window sill. with his Vandyke I'm his
long, lean white hand. suddenly rose
and, walking over to Cunningham. took
the picture from him and laid Il on the
bed.
The pretty nurse with the pink
cheeks opened the door presently and
heard these words In Blye's suave but
forceful tones:
'"The thing to do is to gain her conf
dence. There must be a complete
change of method"
The voice stopped abruptly. Ed
wards. Cunningham. Tommy Thomas
and Mrs. Willard were all listening in
tentfy. Mrs. Willard seemed troubled.
Tommy Thomas. with deviItry In her
eyes, was laughing at Cunningham.
who seemed uncomfortable. The round
headed Edwards sat slowly nodding as
he looked at Blye. Mrs. Willard reach
ed quietly forward and turned the
piece of paper on the bed face down.
ward. She seemed even sad.
BEG pardon" said the pretty nurse
Noting the sudden silence and slipping
in. she put her hand under the sheet
and felt of Mrs. Wizards ankle. The
entire group was motiOnless, and there
was a strained tension in the room IN
I'll the nurse went out. She saw Mrs.
Willard reaching forward for the piece
of paper as she closed the door. and as
she walked away she heard Blye's
smooth. even voice again.
When June came into Mrs. Wizards
room the conversation again stopped
abruptly. but the group moved imme-
diately.
"Oh. see the pretty nursie!' hailed
Cunningham. And June glanced down
in embarrassment.
In that moment of her downcast eyes
Tommy Thomas and Mrs. Willard. Blye
and Edwards. all glared at Cunning
ham, he flushed and walked nervonsly
over to the window.
Really. the costume Is quite becom-
ing to you" he added in a tone he had
travagant respect.
Indeed II is. dear" said Tommy
Thomas. She slipped an arm around
June's waist prOtectingly. and Mrs.
| Willard glanced up at her companion
with moist eyes.
well. we'll see you later" said T. J.
Edwards, with clumsy attempt at
heartiness. and, rising. he bowed to
the ladies. IF there's anything can
| do. let me know" His small eyes row
ed to June. but there was no patroniz-
ingly fatherly glance in them and nc
disposition to pat her on the shoulder.
June was puzzled. There seemed to
be distinct change in the attitude OF
all these people toward her. Yester.
day they had pursued her with a mock
ing certainty. In which there was an
underlying insolence. but now they
seemed to have lost that note Of over
familiarity, and she liked the change
Only Biye was the same. His black
eyes glowed when they rested upon
her. and he still wore his suave smile
though somehow he seemed more
frank. June found herself suddenly
liking this black Vandyked man. Al
she turned to smooth Mrs. Wizards
pillows the three men exchanged
glances. and the suavely smiling GIL
bert Blye stroked his black Vandyke
They turned their eyes as by one &C
cord OF the beautiful runaway bride.
| Ned Warner at the very moment II
which Blye and his crowd had change(
their tactics toward June was, aftel
interminable red tape. securing the al
dress OF the owner OF car No. M6o7707
and. that secured. he hurried out {,
the beautiful home OF Mrs. Willard III
the Hudson. He came TO 1t by tn,
lower road. and as he approached thu
| hauoo ho on NJ Maria a., tho claiming hill