The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-09-05
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ment Of admiring scrutiny, "weu unswaliow
the story about your being reporter.
You're a friend of Tommy BARCLAY and you
belong in the same walks of life that he
does
Mary nodded.
well, I'm Mrs. Gunsdorf. I'm the woman
that tried to put him in Dutch"
Miss Blackstono's eyes blazed with sudden
interest.
"But you-you don't hate him any more?"
Me hate him just the same way you
do. Neither more nor less. But I'll tell who
we de hate. il you don't Know . we d ION
up. We're in the same boat. We hate her.
I'VE have good cause to-"
Mrs. Gunsdorfs shapely hand shot across
the table and Mary Blackstone clasped 1t. for
a moment in hers.
i "pve told you my name" said Mrs. Guns
dorf.
II am Mary Blackstone"
"Gee!" exclaimed Mrs. Gunsdorf, "But I
thought she'd be dressed different. How do
know you're not strfnging me again?
These are my maids clothes" said Mary,
Il didn't want to be recognized"
Mrs. Gunsdorf still looked little doubt
full. And Mary. smiling a little touched the
neck Of her dress and disclosed string of
pearls, each pearl perfect and not much
smaller than a cherry.
II believe YOU" SAID Mrs. Gunsdorf But
cover that thing up. You don't want any
body in Bitumen to know you've got that"
IF I lost it," said Mary, and the right
person found it, wouldn't care"
She spoke in cold, defiant sort Of way. and
then fastened her dress once more over the
necklace.
'.You think" said Mrs Gunsdorf, that if it
want for her-you'd stand chance?"
Don't you feel little that way too. Mrs.
Gunsdorf You are wonderfully good look
ing, you know, and Mr. Barclay seems to
have cast in his lot with labor It looks as if
you'd stand the better chance OF us two
doesn't it?"
Mrs. Gunsdorf shrugged her shoulders
I'VE couldn't stand any less chance than
we do now And the oftener he sees her, the
less that chance gets"
IF she really comes from Heaven
1.-THE quicker she goes back the betterT
Mary laughed a cold little laugh.
I'D not be the to hold her back by
the skirts"
'Nor r.
But" said Mrs. Gunsdorf, IF she went to
Heaven and anyone in this town had a hand
in sending her, and got found out" she
shuddered, that person would be torn to rib
bons"
Where does she live?"
They've fixed tents for her and her party
just outside the town" They call it, Head
quarters of Celestia-the girl from Heaven"
who is her party?'
There's Professor Stilliter-I guess she goes
to him when she's in q fix for what to say
next. There's kind of half-witted fellow.
named Douglas. She keeps a couple of Sec
retaries going day and night There's cook
and servants. lots of people Wouldn't be
Have you any idea," asked Miss Black
stone. "how much these pearls showed you
are worth? No idea? A woman could live
on the income. She could wear pretty clothes,
and have servants. If she had husband she
didn't like, she could afford to divorce him.
Do you know what I'd do If anyone should
come to me and tell me that a certain per-
son was never going to get in anybody's way
again? I'd give these pearls to that person.
gladly or I'd lose them where that person
could find them"
Whats the use Of wishes when your
hearts sore"
mo use at ALL" admitted Miss Blackstone,
,"and still I'd rather be rich and heart broken,
than poor and heart broken, wouldn't you ~
Yes" said Mrs. Gunsdorf, thoughtfully, II
would"
Miss Blackstone rose, her hand at her
throat where the pearls lay.
II hope" she said, ''that shall have the
pleasure Of seeing you again-soon. What
do you Think"
"oh," said Mrs. Gunsdorf, 'T shouldn't Won
der"
And she too rose from the table with look
in her eyes at once and resolved
And the town of Btumen became as
one paper put it. the center Of new world