The Washburn leader., 1916-02-04
Her lADYsHIp DECIDES
BY ,zoLA FoRhEsrER.

It would be dull for Wanda back In
London. She had worked hard through
the winter and needed . change.
Ostensibly she came AZ the guest OF
Mrs. Towne. his mother. but 1t wss
Courtney who shouldered the full r.
sponsibility.
Il haven't seen Peggy since she WAS
married. She says they are going to
put in at Pinehurst pier tomorrow at
ten and am to motor over with you.
She would love to have Mrs. Towno
and you come, too, Courtney"
"My mother doesn't approve of Peg.
"No!" With lifted brows. she's
perfectly dear. and now she's married
she's settled down wonderfully. I
think I shall go, Courtney" w.
Courtney said nothing. He agreed
quite pleasantly to drive her over tho
next morning. Mrs. Towne was indis-
posed and some way Wanda managed
to coax her into acQuiescence.
It was q cool, windy morning the
next day, when they started for Pine
hurst. Courtney had chosen his own
car, low. two-seated French machine.
He seemed rather silent as they swung
out along the shore road.
1T isn't far, is it," Wanda asked
lightly.
About eighteen miles. I'm going to
take the short cut"
Once outside the little seaside VII
lage. he turned of the main road and
took the one through the pines inland.
Wanda stole glance at him again.
at the clean.cut, almost stern profile
beside her, and then at his hands and
the way they gripped the wheel.
"You don't really mind my going.
do you, Courtney?' she asked tentar
lively.
"Not at all now," Courtney returned
cordially.
"Halbert's very fond of Peggy. ]
think he might have married her him.
self some time II she hadn't chosen
Captain Minturn."
Courtney smiled at the ribbon OF
road unwinding before them. His eyes
were half closed. He knew every inch
of this road. And every mile was TAX
ing them from Pinehurst and the boat
landing. Yet he waited to make sure.
1t was at the fourteenth mile that he
slipped Q lever wrong and the machine
stopped.
With q quick apology he sprang Out
and started to tinker away at the car:
Her ladyship chatted for few min
utes. waiting expectantly, but as the
minutes few by she glanced around
c1riously at the enfolding hills.
Courtney. are you really trying ia
fix tho car or just"
He sat up in the road. his cap on the
back of his head, and smiled at her.
YOU'RE not fixing it at all. are you1
That's what you call 1t over here. isn't
it, fixing instead Of repairing? Won't
it 60 at all?"
He shook his head contentedly. She
stepped from the car with dignity. de-
lightful dignity he thought, consider
ing.
Il think l shall walk until find
some sort of q conveyance"
you can't, because we're about
seven miles at least from the last
house. I'm going to stay here until"
he glanced at his watch thoughtfully-
until 1O:3O. They will have sailed By
then, don't you think so?"
Wanda's dark eyes were bright with
anger.
II don't see how you dare to do this.
Courtney Towne. They are my friends
and IL 1 choose to go with them 1t 70
absolutely my own affair"
Dear, you arc not quite nineteen,
said Courtney gently. "Halbert put you
in my care and can't conscientiously
let you chase down the coast with Peg
gy and have her marry you OF to any
other crowd" .':l.s.
"You mean Kent7" The color rosa
In her face quickly. rms.
Courtney nodded. .,..... :.
II know the whole thing. Wanda
I heard Kent bet that he would marry
you before you returned to England.
You know % we'll % do that old
Halbert is in debt to him badly. n
was part Of his game to mako him %
It gave him . surety Of his consent
to his winning you. and I couldnN
stand that sort Of thing" -a
Wanda stood before him, white now.
her hands clenched at her sides. u
had oil been Q lark, her wanting %
10 with Peg. She had not really
cared. but when he had made an g.
sue Of it, 1t had amused her to win
the point over him. Even though she
knew Kent Paxton was going, she had
not realized what It might mean.
"You see, DEAR" he went on sloR.
ly, 1T isn't Just for Halbert's sake.
either. It's for your own. You know
that, don't you, Wanda? I haven't
been able to get word out to your
brother yet, but there's been q little
run Of luck for him. some money out
Of . Mexican deal that has seemed
dead. We are both In on It.; and sold
out our interest last week. There's
enough to pay up Kent. You needn't
catch the boat"
She caught the underlying bitterness
beneath his words and stretched out