Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1915-01-08

ing a time Of 1t in there. Good eve
ming, Mrs. Merritt. your husband il
certainly making 1t warm for Mr..
Slade."
Indeed" laughed Mrs. Merritt, graf,
flied for the moment.
Dear, dearI" she exclaimed as she
watched Hayes gazing v~istfully at
Katherine and looking very handsome
and manly in his well-made evening
clothes. Its quite like old times to
see you together" Unhappy herself,
it gave her a certain pleasure to make
other people unhappy. The jealousy
she had long felt for the younger and
more beautiful woman found expires
sion now In her purring tones, as, with
amiable cruelty, she reminded them
of their earlier intimacy. She took
delight In making Bob writhe and
Katherine whiten as she recalled their
passionate young love when only the
senator's stern interference had kept
them from wedding.
LET me see" she recollected, when
| was your confidante, you were
twenty-one. Katherine, and you, Rob,
were tw~enty-four. / can feel Rob'a
hands gripping mine yet: %, Fannie
please see her for me-the senator
doesn't approve of It, And the teari
you shed on my shoulder, Katherine
why, 1t feels wet to think of it."
20! Fannie!" Katherine's voice was
not as firm as usual.
II always said," the woman per
sisted, Rob, she'll come home to you
in the end"
Il think I'll go back and listen to
the discussion" and Bob flung dis.
gustedly out of the room. At the door
he almost collided with Merritt. Kath-
crime had hurried out to see a reporter
who wanted the ~wherefores and the
why's of the dinner party to Slade.
Il can't possibly get away, dear"
Merritt explained to his wife. 1--WE
been buttonholed by some men from
up the state. Shall you wait or go
home-first?"
Mrs. Merritt refused to be dis
missed in that peremptory fashion.
It'll wait" she returned with acid
sweetness. Then if you are not ready
I'll run along"
SHADES had an ovation tonight
Merritt informed her, nodding toward
the smoking-room. "The big out-of-
town men are all here. Some of 'em
in there yet. He's big, Fannie. He's
big. We can't deny that. The brute
attacks his point with ali the force OF
a sledge hammer"
Eyes, that's what you lack
punchi" his wife turned on him petu'
lantly.
You're showed under" she com.
planned, bitterly. eff you'd taken my
advice you wouldn't have come to this
Slade feed tonight. What's your pa,
per for" she demanded, eff you can't
attack your rival candidate in it's col
umns? Anyone would think you want
ed to make him governor-instead Of
yourself"
Il can't attack him publicly" Mer
rift retorted. He'd put up glue fac
tories facing our property and, with
a lake breeze blowing u way
phew! My position is very difficult
or course, elections a long way ahead
but I'm the only stick in his puddle.
Yes, you're q big stick!" she
tainted. why don't you do some
thing?"
What can l dol" he groaned. 'Tvt
been told tonight by no less than foul
men that they won't support me again
And Strickland's speech introducing
Slade was a masterpiece"
"Yes-Strickland's masterpieces ar,
c~oncocted by his daughter. we al
know that. Just as / write your stuff,
she finished with hateful emphasis OF
the pos~sessive.
MY dear, / wish you'd be NOR
CAREFUL" warned Merritt, makinl
sure that the door leading into tn
smoking-room was closed.
your Message to the Farnaer-tha
made you famous! What did l eve
get for writing it," and with self-satis
fed deliberateness she arranged hei
self carefully in a low-seated chat
near the fireplace.
II never denied that you had
mans BRAIN" placatingly, drawlingly
mockingly, darling
"Yes-I'm the family mosquito tina
buzzes behind your ears. God hel
us II 1t wasn't for me. Did you as
the senator for the $4,000 I wantf
she demanded.
He can't" Merritt was huddled
} the nearest chair. The subject ha
/ been. causing him appetiteless day
! and sleepless nights. When a woma
of Fannie Merritt's persistency an
tenacity wants something a man can
get then that nan is very likely to /
: nagged into desperation.
"You look out, Wesley" she a.
swered, alarm breaking the Garrett
incubation of her voice. That's tt
first time he ever refused US"
He's broke-dead broke. l don
know how he can keep this up. TT
senator's nearly out. That's WI
he's sticking to Slade."
d CTo BE C~ONTINUED.)