Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-09-18


after he had taken the flushed face be-
tween his hands and kissed her: broke
away to drop into the chair at the
other side of the table. hiding the
flashing eyes and the burning cheeks
and the Quivering lips in the crook of
a round arm which made room for 1T
self on the narrow table by pushing
the Japanned money-box on the oppo-
site edge.
1t was the normal Griswold who
picked up the box and put 1t on the
other chair. gravely and methodically-
Then he stood before her again with
his back to the wall. waiting for what
every gentle drop of blood in his veins
was telling him he richly deserved
His punishment was long in coming:
SO long that when he made sure she
was crying. he began to invite it
Say it." he suggested gently, you
needn't spare me at all. The only ex-
cuse l could OFFER would only make the
offense still greater"
She looked up quickly and the dark
eyes were swimming But whether the
tears were of anger or only of outraged
generosity he could not tell
Then there was an excuse?" she
flashed up at him.
NO." he denied. as one who finds
the second thought the worthier;
there was no excuse"
She had found a filmy bit of lace
bordered linen at her belt and was
furtively wiping her lips with it,
II thought perhaps you might be
able TOTO invent one of some sort"
she said, and her tone was as colorless
as the gray skies of an autumn night
fall. And then, with a childlike appeal
in the wonderful eyes: II think you
will have to help me little-out of
your broader experience. you know.
What ought to do?"
His reply came hot from the refining
fire of establishment
You should write me down as one
who wasn't worthy of your loving-kind-
ness and compassion, Miss Grierson.
Then you should call the custodian
and turn me out"
But afterward," she persisted
pathetically. There must be an after
ward"
Il am leaving Mereside this eve
ming" he reminded her. TT will be
for you to say whether its doors shall
ever open to me again"
She took the thin safety-deposit key
from her glove and laid it on the ia
BILE
You have made me wish there
hadn't been any money" she lamented.
with a sorrowful little catch in her
voice that stabbed him like knife. 81
haven't so many friends that can af-
ford to lose them recklessly, Mr.. Girls
void"
Damn the money!" he exploded;
and the malediction came out of a full
heart.
Her fingers had found the bell-push
and were pressing it. When the Gus
todian opened the door. Miss Grierson
was her poisefu1 self again
Number three-forty-five-A is Mr..
Kenneth Griswold's box, now" she an
nounced briefly. please register it in
his name, and then help him to put it
away and lock 1t up"
GriswoId went through the motions
with the key-bearing young woman
half-absently. Man-like. he was ready
to be forgiven and comforted; and
there was at least oblivion in her
charming little shudder as the custo-
dian shot the bolts of the gate to let
them out.
--Br-r-ri" she shivered, ct can never
stand here and look at the free people
out there without fancying myself in
a prison. 1t must be a dreadful thing
to be shut away behind bolts and bars,
forgotten by everybody. and yet your
self unable to forget. Do you ever
have such foolish thoughts, Mr.. Girls
wold?"
For one poignant second fear leaped
alive again and he called himself no
better than a lost man. But the eyes
that we're lifted to his were the eyes
of questioning child, SO guilelessly In
nocent that he Immediately suffered
another relapse into the pit of self-de-
spisings
You have made me your prisoner,
Miss Grierson,' he said. speaking to
his own thought rather than to her
question And when they reached the
sidewalk and the trap: May l bid you
good-by here and go to my own placer"
"Of course mott" she protested. Mr..
Raymer is coming to dinner tonight
and he will drive you over TO Mrs Hol-
combs afterward, if you really think
you must CO."
And for the first time in their COM
ings and goings she let him lift her to
the high driving-seat.