The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-07-08


son to hope that he would move. and /
Lamhorn found himself in danger Of |
looking silly.
Il was just going" he said. rising
"Oh nor Edith cried, sharply.
Yes Good night l think L"
TOO bad said Bibbs, genially, |
walking to the door with the visitor,
while Edith stood staring as the two
disappeared in the hall. She heard
Bibbs offering TO help" Lamhorn with
his overcOat. and the latter rather curt
" declining assistance, these episodes
Of departure being followed by the
closing of the outer door. She ran into
the hall.
What's the matter with your she
cried, furiously. What do you mean?
How did you dare come in here when
you knew
Her voice broke; she made a gesture
of rage and despair. and ran up the
stairs, sobbing She fed to her moth
er's room, and when Bibbs came up.
few minutes later. Mrs. Sheridan met
him at his door.
"Oh, Bibbs." she said. shaking her
head woefully, you'd oughtn't to dis
)
that young man out of the house. You'd
| ought to been more considerate-"
Bibbs smiled family, noting that
Edith's door was open, with Edith's
naive shadow motionless across its
threshold. Yes he said. He doesn't
appear to be much OF a mans man.
He ran at just glimpse of one"
Edith's shadow moved; her voice
came Quayering: You call yourself
one?'
mo, no." he answered. 81 said just
a glimpse Of one didn't claim"
| But her door slammed angrily; and he
turned to his mother.
There" he said. signing That's
almost the first time in my life 1 ever
tried to be a man of action, mother.
and 1 succeeded perfectly in what
tried to do. AS a consequence ! feel
like a horse thiefy''
You hurt her feeIin's," she groaned.
You must "a gone at it too rough,
Bibbs.''
He looked upon her wanly. That's
my trouble, mother" he murmured.
I'm a plain, blunt fellow. 1 have
rough ways, and I'm a rough man."
For once she perceived some mean
ing in his queerness. Hush your nom
senseP' she said, good-naturedIy, the
astral of a troubled smile appearing.
You go to bed"
He kissed her and obeyed
Edith gave him a cold greeting the
next morning at the breakfast table.
You mustn't do that under a mis-
apprehension" he warned her. when
they were alone in the dining room.
do what under what?" she asked
speak to me. 1 came into the
; smoking room last night on purpose "
he told her. gravely. Il have a preju-
dice against that young man."
She laughed. 81 guess you think ii
means a great deal who you have
prejudices against!' In mOckery she
adopted the manner of one who i'm
plores. "Bibbs, for PHYS sake promise
me, don't use your influence with papa
against him." And she laughed louder.
Listen he said, with peculiar earn
estness- 'Tn tell you now, because
because I've decided I'm one of the
! family And then, as If the earnest
ness were too heavy for him to carry
it further, he continued. in his usua
, tone, I'm drunk with power, Edith
f What do you want to tell me?" she
! demanded, brusquely.
f "Lamhorn made love to Sibyl," ht
/ said.
Edith booted "She did to him.
: NO." he said, gravely. Il know"
''How?"
. 81 was there, one day a week ago
: with Roscoe, and / heard Sibyl anC
/ Lamhorn-"
f Edith screamed with laughter. "Yol
2 were with Roscoe-and you heard
e Lamhorn making love to Sibylp
mo. I heard them quarreIing."
/, You're funnier than ever, Bibbsr
she cried. you say he made love t,
t her because you heard them quarrel
, ingr
s That's it. If you want to know
, what's between people, you can-b.
the way they quarrel"
n you'll kill me, Bibbs! What wer
n they quarreling about?"
n Nothing. That's how l know. Pee
II pie who quarrel over nothingLit'
II always certain"
II Edith stopped laughing abruptly, bu
II continued her mockeFy. You ougt
Y to know. You've had so much exper
ence. yOuTselfP'
81 haven't any, Edith" he said. M
life has been about as exciting as a
incubator chickens. But l look OF
! through the glass at things"
n well, them she said. eff you loo
4 out through the glass you must kno
what effect such stuff would have u
81 on me!' She rose, visibly agitate
What If it was trueT' she demande-
i bitterly. What If it was true a hui
Il dred times over? You sit there wit
g your silly face half ready to giggle az
III half ready TO sniff1e. and tell me stori'
ia like that, about Sibyl picking on Bobf
81 Lamhorn and worrying him to deaf
iH Fand you think it matters to me? VIII
III IL already knew all about their qua
II reling'f What If / understood WI
y She She broke or with a vIole
gesture. a sweep Of her arm extends
at. full length. as If she hurled som
I - 1t