The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-06-05


ness for the two figures that he knew
were somewhere in the big, tense
throng.
The lights went up and the house
was bright Men began scurrying up
the aisIes. He moved up to the railing
again and resumed his eager scrutiny
of the throng- He could not find them
At first he was conscious of disap-
pointment, then he gave way to an
absurd rage. Yvonne had misIed him,
she had deceived him-ay, she had
lied to him. They were not in the
audience, they had not even contem-
plated coming to this theater. He had
been tricked, deliberately tricked. No
doubt they were seated in some other
place Of amusement, serenely enjoying
themselves. The thought OF it mad
dened him. And then, just as he was
on the point Of tearing out Of the
house, he saw them, and the blood
rushed to his head so violently that
he was almost blinded.
He caught sight Of his father far
down in front, and then the dark, half
obscured head Of YVonne. He could
not see their faces, but there was no
mistaking them for anyone else. He
only marvelIed that he had not seen
them before, even in the semidarkness-
They now appeared to be the only
people in the theater; he could see no
one else.
James Brood's fine, aristocratic head
was turned slightly toward his wife,
who, as Frederic observed after chang
ing his position to one of better ad-
vantage, apparently was relating some
| thing amusing to him. They undoubt-
eddy were enjoying themselves Once
| more the great, almost suffocating
wave of tenderness for his father
swept over him, mysteriously as be
fore and as convincing. He expert
enced a sudden, inexplicable feeling
of pity for the strong, virile man who
| had never revealed the slightest symp-
tom of pity for him. The same curl
| Gus desire to put his hands on his
/ fathers shoulders and tell him that
all was well with them came over him
| again.
Involuntarily he glanced over his
shoulder, and the fear was in his heart
| that somewhere in the shifting throng
his gaze would light upon the face
Of Raniabl
Long and intently his searching
| gaze went through the crowd, seeking
| the remote corners and shadows Of the
! foyer, and a deep breath Of relief
| escaped him when it became evident
| that the Hindu was not there. He had
in measure, proved his own cause;
| his emotions were genuinely his own
and not the outgrowth of an influence
| for good exercised over him by the
Brahmin.
| He began what he was pleased to
term a systematic analysis of his enc
lions covering the entire evening. all
/ the while regarding the couple in the
orchestra chairs with a gaze unswerv
ing in its fidelity to the sensation that
| now controlled him-a sensation Of
impending peril
| All at once he skunk farther back
into the shadow, a guilty flush mount
| ing to his cheek. Yvonne had turned
and was staring rather fxedly in his
direction. Despite the knowledge that
he was quite completely concealed b.
| the intervening group Of loungers, he
| sustained a distinct shock. He had
the uneanny feeling that she was look
| ing directly into his eyes. She had
turned abruptly, as if some one had
called out to attract her attention and
she had obeyed the sudden impulse
| A moment later her calmly impersOna
gaze swept on, taking in the sections
to her right and the balcony, and ther
went back to her husbands face.
Frederic was many minutes in re
covering from the effects Of the queer
shock he had received. He could no
get It out Of his head that she knew
he was there, that she actually turneC
In answer to the call of his mind Sh'
had not searched for him; on the con
trary, she directed her gaze instantl!
to the spot where he stood concealed
Actuated by a certain sense Of guilt
he decided to leave the theater a.
.sWbar do you mean2' inquired TIT