The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-16

fares into the street upon which the
Raymer property fronted. Smoke was
pouring from the tall central stack Of
the plant, and it had evidently pro-
voked a sudden and wrathful gather
ing OF the clans The sidewalks were
filed with angry workmen, and an ex-
cited argument was going forward at
one Of the barred gates between the
locked-out men and Waterman inside
of the yard
The crowd let the trap pass without
hindrance. Though it 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 I come in?" she asked; and
when he fairly dubbed over in the eff
fort to make her understand how vel
come she was: No; 1 mustn't sit
down, because if do. shall stay too
long-and this is business call
Where is Mr.. Griswold?"
He went up town a little while ago,
and 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.
Pm afraid it has gone past the cur
ing point" he said.
''Oh, no, it hasn't 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 it on the desk before him
I'm going to ask you to lock that up
in your Office safe for q little while.
just as it 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 MI Griswold-and
read the contents. Then you will know
exactly what to do, and how to go
about it."
Her lips we're 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
it.
i don't know what you have done.
but 1 can guess" he said, lost now to
everything save the intoxicating joy of
the barrier-breakers. You have a
heart Of gold, A1argery, and L"
please don't" she said, trying to
stop him; but he would not listen.
No; before that envelope is opened,
| before can possibly know what il con-
ta1ns, I'm going to ask you one Ques-
ton in spite of your prohibition; and
I'm going to ask it now because, after
ward, 1 may not-you may not-that
Is, perhaps it won't be possible for me
to ask, or for you to listen 1 love
you, Margery; Il
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
II were as mean as some people think
1 am, l might take advantage of all
this, mightn't I? But 1 sha'nt. Won't
you open the door and let me go? 1t
is very important"
Heavens. MargeryI Don't maize a
joke of It'll" he burst out Cant you
see that 1 mean it? Girl, girl. want
you-I need you!"
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 woman ought
| to love her lover. for your sake and
for my own 1 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 ard laughed at him again.
81 am going to cure you-you, per
sonally, as well as the sick situation
Mr.. Raymer," she said fippantly
| Then, mimicking him as a spoiled
child might have done: q might pos
sibly learn to-think of you-in that
way-after while But 1 could never,
never, never learn to love|your mother
| and your sister"
And with that spiteful thrust she left
| him.