The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-10-05

She Saw Him Holding EsteIIe Il
citation with Fleetwood Blair. and this
he played to the limit.
The mining engineer on his return
from Alaska, would. for his own peace
OF mind. have gladly avoided any en-
counter with his old sweetheart.
This. however. Ksndrick would not
allow. Blair had made moro than
good on the Alaska trip and had
shown such . high order Of general
cspsbility that Ksndrick had installei
him O. his personal advisor and chief
lieutenant. Seeking distraction from
his domestic troubles. tho millionaire
had plunged into . gigantic copper
speculation which was. in effect. an at
tempt to oonsr the market. and In
this he leaned heavily upon the clear
vision and valuable counsel Of the
younger maA-
ReasoniaS tAsa that the sight of
Blsir's success and prestige would be
gall and wornweed to Ruth. he had
never rested happily until he had
brought them ilto contact. managing
one day BY . rxss to have them meet
in his once.
Both Of them wtthstood tho ordeal
unhinchingly.
After that hs made It . point to
have Blair frequently At tho house.
30 the situation moved On TO its
inevitable asnouement. One evening
when Blair was there for dinner Ken
drick proved 20 persistsutly offensive
that Ruth In sslf-dsfsnss finally ross
in the middle Of some resnark he was
launching at heY and left the room.
Ksndriek caught up with her half
across M Of the big reception rooms
on her way 70 the stairs. and throw
himself In front Of her 70 bar her
further progress.
by God you'll understand that you
can't tout me IN front OF one OF my
employees no ordered hoarseiy.
You 90 back TO the dining room"
She faced him with q reckless den
ancs and laughing m~ockingly at his
commands, tainted hin with his In
aClkLty 70 HA5tGT uST.
You bought me she ieered, I'm
yours. q slave you bid in on the ouc-
ton block. And yot you can't man
age me. The Thousands Of dollars I
waste for you each year are so much
dead loss. How that must wiring your
soul!"
Cant manage yen, en-! ?" 10 snarled.
his lip drawing back from his teeth.
Can't? so that's what you think, Ia
III Well. I'll show you what I can
do I'll show you'll"
His nst suddenly cIeuched. he saw
rcd. and in q spasm OF blind fury, he
struck at the lovely. haunting face up
raised to him.
She Gwerved. but not enough to
avoid the entire force OF the blow. II
sent her reslins. staggering TO the
foor.
Kendrtck stared q moment ut what
no had done: tAen with q muttered
oath nung himself out into the hall.
and catching up his hat and coat
rushed from the house.
Meanwhile Blair at the table had
waited In vain for the return Of ons
or the other Of them
Finally he pushed back his chair
Nnd started to take his leave.
Az no passed through the hall. how.
ever, he was arrested BY q sound like
q stded sob from the reception room
and glancing In through tho open door
way, wss startled to see his hostess
on her hands and knees On the floor.
She tottNred weakly and would have
faiisn IL Blair had not been in time
to catch her md case her gently down
upon q sofa
Mrs Kendrick! Ruth" gasped
Blair. What on earth has happenedf"
: "He-hs struck mel" she explained
brokeniy.
Struck your Blair sprang to his
feet.
Ruth caught at his hand.
you cannot DO anything now" she
said. he has gone away"
Blair turned at her touch. q food OF
old emotions pouring back upon him.
and ninginx himself down upon his
knees beside her caught hsr In his
anna
~Oh. my dortinG!" he groaned.
"Why-why did yea svsr marry himr'
There had never been any chance
for explanations between these two
before: but new that the opportunity
had come and thsis li1s wssaled. It
did not take tAsa eag to piece out
the conspiracy which Mad wrecked
their happiness. o
A the fun import OF the willy gam
which her mother and Ksndrick had
played broke upon Ruth. shs started
mp. her fAes grown vengsful and re-
lentiess.
He shah lot 20 unpunished!" she
declared passionateIy.
She clutched Blair's arm. you
know his business secrets. DO you
not?" she questioned you know sAs
weak Joints In his armor, how hs en-
- most snccsssfu1s sttAcksdr.