The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-10-26

plunged into a hot bath, treated hi
wounds as best he could, shaved, ant
put on fresh clothes.
Then he strolled out to order q new
evening dress in hurry from q Palm
Beach tailor. He met Freneau, carry
ing his honors jauntily. Royce went
to him and held him skewered with
his eyes as he said:
Look here, Freneau, haven't YOU
little something to say to me?"
Freneau colored a trifle, but he
stared back at Royce without discom
fort and he laughed no less easily
than usual:
why, no, old man; nothing that
know of-except that 1 suppose !
ought to feel sorry that you arrived
too late. But / can't feel sorry. I
didn't even know you were there"
Royce glared at him, then laughed
harshly and said:
"The diagnosis in your case IS clear.
You are hopelessly infected with yell
low fever; but you are immune to all
honorable sentiments. Don't lose your
head, though; and don't try any of
your tricks on little Gloria Stafford
Freneau laughed again, more ugly
laugh this time. THAT seems to me to
be Miss Stafford's business, and GER
! tainly none Of yours
I'm going to make it mine," said
Royce.
|
After Gloria had enjoyed all the
redeeming influences Of a tub, and a
shampoo and fine linen and a silk
frock, she found that her interest in
Mr.. Freneau was as keen as ever. She
even felt grateful to Lois Freeman for
| flirting with David. She sat out on
the ledge of the veranda and day.
dreamed
When her father sauntered by and
asked her what she was up to she
answered:
20, nothing! I'm just basking in
the SUM-
But when Pierpont came by that
way little later he found Dick FIRE.
neau basking in Gloria's most be-
witching smile. They were Romeo
and Juliet at Palm Beach, separated
only by low wall and clump of
rhododendrons. And Romeo was
reaching across that with his walking
stick.
1t was the first time Pierpont had
seen his child in Irritation. He did
not like her in that employment. He
took her by the ear and led her away.
She protested at the indignity.
Pierpont let go her ear. He had al
ways been afraid of her and unable
to manage her. He was not afraid of
Freneau, however. He went for him
at once He was about to begin with
stout, How dare you speak to my
daughter" He paused, feeling that
without Freneau's help he might have
no daughter to be spoken to.
Pierpont was used to accomplishing
his ends with the weapon OF the check
book. He drew the weapon now and
. fountain pen and said:
"By the way, there's that reward.
It will give me great pleasure to pay
It over"
He wrote after PAY to the order or
the name Richard Freneau" and the
Give thousand and no-hun-
dredths dollars-$5,0 00." Freneau's
fingers twitched to clutch the fortune,
but his brain advised him to play for
higher stakes. He put away the temp
.ation with a proud smile.
1T is reward enough to have been
.ble to be OF service to Miss Stafford"
II Gloria had not adored him be-
lore, that chivalrous speech would
lave won her It quite disarmed Pier
,ont. With his check book ruled out,
lis best weapon was gone. But he
clustered all the harder. my daugh-
er is little girl l won't have her
boiling time away with you. She must
let her education first. She is hard
y more than child"
"Oh, papai" Gloria cried.
Pierpont went on: "And she's go
ng to school at once We start north
n the next train"
"Then Mr.. Freneau will coms north,
90, and we shall see each other all
We want to. For we love each other,
ont we, Mr.. Freneau? Desperately!
)on't we, Mr. Freneau?'
Mr.. Freneau's answer was blurred.
Pierpont studied the two young peo-
lie. He had his own opinion Of Ere
eau. It was formed on brief ac-
uaintance, but he was judge of
len.
"You love each other, Ell? Desper
tely, too? Well, we'll! Now, look
ere he said, after a quick balanc-
1g of his mind, "of course you both
now that Gloria Is too young for
marriage She must prepare herself
Or the solemn responsibilities of life !
nd graduate at good finishing
chooI. Now, if you will wait, and
OF see each other or write to each
Their, till then, and If you still love
ach other then. / will not oppose {