The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-22
CHAPTER xxlII-continued.

There was sufficient light to enable
him to see clearly the face of the
passenger-its pale oval and the eyes
whose gaze chung to hi with an effect
OF confused fascination.
She sat quite motionless until one
white-gloved hand moved uncertainty
toward her bosom.
That brought him to; unconsctously
lifting his cap, he stepped back
pace and started to move on.
But at that she bent quickly forward
and Unattached the door. 1t swung wide
TO him.
Hardly knowing what he was doing,
he accepted the mute invitation,
stepped into the cab, took the empty
seat beside her, and closed the door.
Almost at once the block was lift
ed, and the car moved on with jerk,
the girl sinking back into her corner
with a suggestion of breathlessness,
as though the effort she made to seem
composed had been almost too much
for her strength.
Her face. turned to Lanyard in the
half-light, appeared immobile. ex-
pressionless; only. her eyes we're alert
( Will dutlClpdIiOu- DuL SuS SdlU HULL
ing.
On his part, Lanyard felt himself
hopelessly COMPOUNDED, in the grasp
of emotions that would scarcely suffer
him to speak. A great wonder OBJ
sessed his mind that she should have
opened the door to him no less than
that he should have entered through
It. Dimly he understood that both
had acted without generalization, and
he asked himself: WAS she already
regretting that momentary weakness
-or whatever it had been?'
why did you do that?" he heard
himself demand abruptly. and felt that
bis voice sounded harsh, strained, I'M
natural
She stiffened slightly, with nervous
movement of her shoulders.
Because saw you"
did you want to talk to me, per
haps?" he prompted.
81 was surprised; l had hoped-be-
Iieved-you had left Paris
She surveyed his costume with a
curious glance, perplexed.
Why are you dressed that way? Is
1t a disguise?"
"A pretty good one-as a matter OF
fact. the national costume of one in
my present station in life"
But you are wrong. 1 recognized
you Instantly. didn't L? And those 9th.
ers-they're as keen-witted as I-cer
tain1y! Oh. you should not have
stopped in Parish"
81 couldn't go without knowing what
had become of you
81 was afraid of that" she confessed
Then why"
'Oh, / know what you're going tc
sayi Why did l run away from your
Then since he said nothing, she con
tinued unhappily: 81 can't tell you.
mean, don't know how to tell you!"
She kept her face averted. sat gaz
ing blankly out of the window; bui
when he remained mute and unre
sponsive-in point of fact not knowing
what to say-she turned to look in
quiringly at him, and the glare Of {
passing lamp showed him her counte
nence profoundly distressed, he
mouth tense, brows knitted. eyes cloud
ed with perplexity and appeal.
And Of q sudden, seeing her so tor
mented and so piteous, his indigna
ton ehbed. and with it all his doubt
OF her; dfmly he OWNED that Their,
was something behind this dark fabri
of mystery and Inconsistency that
however inexplicable it might seem t
him, excused all her apparent faith
lessness and instability Of characte
and purpose He couldn't look upol
this girl and listen to her voice and be
neve that she wasn't at heart as SCUM
and sweet and tender and loyal as an
that ever breathed!
A wave of tenderness and compa.
sion swept his heart. and he realize
that he didn't matter. that nothin
mattered so long as she was spare
one slightest pang of self-reproach.
He said very gently: Il wouidn
have you distress yourself on my a,
count, Miss Shannon. I quite unde
stand there must be things 1 can't VI
aerstand-that you must have ha
your reasons for acting as you did"
sYes," she said evenly. but agai
with eyes averted-@I had; but they's
not easy. they're impossible to explai
20 you"