Meade County news., 1915-11-11

fares into the street upon which the
Raymer property fronted Smoke was
pouring from the tall central stack of
the plant, and 1t had evidently pro-
voked sudden and wrathful gather
Ing Of the clans. The sidewalks were
filled with angry workmen, and an ex-
cited argument was going forward at
one Of the barred gates between the
locked-out men and q watchman inside
Of the yard.
The crowd let the trap pass without
hindrance. Though 1t was the first
time she had been in the new Offices,
she seemed to know where to find
what she sought; and when Raymer
took his face out of his desk, she was
standing on the threshold of the open
door and smiling across at him.
May / come in?" she asked; and
when he fairly bubbled over in the ef-
fort to make her understand how well
come she was: mo; l mustn't sit
down, because If do, shall stay too
long-and this is a business call.
Where is Mr.. Griswold?"
He went up town little while ago,
and l wish to goodness he'd come
back"
you have been having a great deal
of trouble, haven't you?" she said,
sympathetically. I'm sorry, and I've
come to help you cure it."
Raymer shook his head despond-
emily.
"I'm afraid 1t has gone past the cur
ing point" he said.
"Oh, no, 1t hasn't. I have discov-
cred the remedy and I've brought 1t
with me-" She took a sealed envelope
from the inside pocket of her driving
coat and laid 1t on the desk before him
"I'm going to ask you to lock that up
in your Office safe for a little while,
Just as 1t is" she went on. "If there
are no signs of improvement in the
sick situation by three o'clock, you are
to open it-you and Mr. Griswold-and
read the contents. Then you will know
exactly what to do, and how to go
about It,"
Her lips were trembling when she
got through, and he saw it. She was
going then, but he got before her and
shut the door and put his back against
1t.
Il don't know what you have done
but can guess" he said, lost now to
everything save the Intoxicating joy of
the barrier-breakers. You have a
heart of gold, Margery, and /"
please don't" she said, trying to
stop him; but he would not listen.
mo; before that envelope is opened
before can possibly know what 1t con-
tains, I'm going to ask you one ques-
ton In spite Of your prohibition; and
I'm going to ask 1t now because, after
ward, l may not-you may not-that
is, perhaps 1t won't be possible for me
to ask, or for you to listen. love
you, Margery; L"
She was looking up at him with the
faintest shadow of a smile lurking in
the depths Of the alluring eyes. And
her lips were no longer tremulous
when she said: "Oh, no, you don't.
If were as mean as some people think
l am, | might take advantage of all
this, mightn't I? But l sha'nt. Won't
you open the door and let me go? 1t
is very important"
Heavens, Margery! Don't make a
joke of it!" he burst out Cant you
see that l mean it2 Girl, girl, want
you-I need you'll"
This time she laughed outright. Then
she grew suddenly grave.
my dear friend, you don't know
what you are saying. The gate that
you are trying to break down opens
upon nothing but misery and wretched-
ness. If loved you as a woman ought
to love her lover, for your sake and
for my own l should still say no-a
thousand times no! Now will you
open the door and let me go?"
He opened the door and she slipped
past him. But in the corridor she
turned and laughed at him again.
II am going to cure you-you, per-
sonally, as we'll as the sick situation
Mr.. Raymer," she said f1ippantly
Then. mimicking him as a spoiled
child might have done: Il might pos
sibly learn to-think Of you-in that
way-after while. But could never,
never, never learn to love your mother
and your sister,"
And with that spiteful thrust she left
him.
CHAPTER XVI,