East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-04-21

listening intently. Mrs Willard seemed troubled
Tommy Thomas. with deviltry in her eyes, was
laughing at Cunningham who seemed uncomforta-
BILE The round headed Edwards sat slowly nodding
as be looked at Blye. Mrs Willard reached quietly
forward and turned the piece Of paper on the bed
face downward. She seemed even sad.
beg pardon" said the pretty nurse, noting the
sudden silence. and. slipping in she put her hand
under the sheet and felt OF Mrs. Wizards ankle
The entire group was motionless, and there was q
strained tension In the room until the nurse went
out She saw Mrs Willard reaching forward for
the piece Of paper as she closed the door, and as
she walked away she heard Blyes smooth. even
voice again
When June came into Mrs. Wizards room the con
versation again stopped abruptly. but the group
moved Immediately.
"Oh. see the pretty nurse" hailed Cunningham
And June glanced down In embarrassment
In that moment OF her downcast eyes Tommy
Thomas and Mrs. Willard, BIye and Edwards all
glared at Cunningham lie flushed and walked
nervously over to the window.
Really the costume is quite becoming to you," be
added In a tone he had never used to her before.
one Of extravagant respect.
Indeed It s dear" said Tommy Thomas She
slipped around June's waist proectingiy.
and Mrs. Willard glanced up at her companion With
moist eyes.
hell VIZ ~ set yVu idttIt Nhiu a ~ LhNdhHt
with a clumsy attempt at heartiness, and rising. be
bowed to the ladies' "If there's anything do
let me know" His small eyes roved TO June but
there was no patronizingy fatherly glance 10 them
and no disposition to pat her on the shoulder
June was puzzled. There seemed TO be distinct
change in the attitude OF all these people toward
ber. Yesterday they had pursued her with a mock.
ing certainty In which there underlying 10.
science but now they seemed to have lost that
nofa of mil rifv nj Sho nA fha chm
Only Blye was the same His black eyes glowed
when they rested upon her. aud be still wore hts
suave smile though somehow he seemed
frank June found herself suddenly liking this
black Vandyked man As she turned to smooth
Mrs. Wizards pillows the three men exchanged
glances and the suavey smiling Gilbert Blye stroked
his black yandyke. They turned their eyes as by
one accord TO the beautiful runaway bride
Ned Warner at the very moment in which Blye
and his crowd had changed their tactics toward
June was, after nterminabe red tape securing the
address Of the owner Of car No. M6O7T07 and. that
secured, be hurried out to the beautiful home OF
Mrs. Willard up the Hudson. He came to 1t by the
lower road, and as he approached the house be saw
Marie in the sloping hillside garden. He stepped In
the shelter Of the wall to consider A few days ago
his first impulse would have been to rush up to
Marie and seize her and compel her to tell what
she knew, but Marie had proved herself to be
slippery customer. She had denied knowing Ned
his first meeting with her after the runaway:
she had denied knowing earnest and eager and
black Aunt Debby when that faithful servant OF
Junes mother had happened upon Marie in the mar
ket and only yesterday Marie had run away from
the entire family taking Junes collie Bouncer with
her There little to be gained from Marie II
Ned were able to force himself In and search the
house June would be hidden by some one or be
helped to escape, as had happened yesterday at the
Widow 0'Keefes and also at the Bond Securities
building and everywhere else So there was but
one thing to do-to conceal himself about the grounds
until June herself should appear He adopted that
course, and the weary hours dragged on, noon aft.
eTnOon, evening
With the dusk the luxurious Limousine OF Gilbert
Blye left the hospital and 10 its brilliantly lighted
comfort sat the precious June and Mrs Willard
Tommy Thomas Orin Cunningham and Gilbert Bye
Strange what a difference this day had made in
JuneS feeling toward these people. They liked her
II their views OF life were not her views she could
keep her own. They seemed to have discovered that
she meant to retain her ways Of thinking and living
and il much nicer since they had apparently
acknowledged this. Now her work as companion to
Mrs. Willard would be much more pleasant They
were chatting in gay comndeshlp As they drew
near the Willard home
Ned Warner as the shades Of night drew In ven
tured into the Willard garden and nearer the house
As he crept Up toward the back porch the door
opened, and June's collie came bounding out forsan
evening run. Bouncer had no sooner bit the open
than he gave loud yelp and came tearing straight
In Neds direction He jumped mad circles around
Ned, Ieaped upon him, barking his loudest welcome.
ran halfway up to the house ran back to bark his
Joy at Ned again and started to bring Marle
He had no need to 20 an the way Marie had
come out on the rear porch to see what was the
matter with Miss Jures pet and the lights from the
house gli>eued on her high cheek bones and her
liberal supply Of gums
Ned had stepped back among The bushes With the
hope Of edginc himself to the wall before Ma.
RTE could arrive To his surprise however. Marie
though she looked down IN that direction ala not
come She called Bouncer and together they went
into the house. Ned took advantage OF Marle's in.
difference and Of Bouucer's confinement to slip clos
er aud look In at the windows 'front.' side and rear
The lower door was brightly Illuminated and the
front porch light was IT, as II some one were er
pected June! Some Instinct told Ned that she was
coming. lie concealed himself behind the shrubbsry
near the portecochere and waited
Suddenly he uvountarly ensed himself whesh
were approaching Then a brilliantly lighted llrnon
sine sped into sight, and as Il turned the curve HsA
saw In It his beautiful runaway bride Over has
was bending the dark. handsome face OF the black
Nandyked Gilbert Blye. his eyes glowing and on bic
lips that desplrable smile.
With an oath Ned stepped forward At last his
moment had arrived within another Instant a.