Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-06-30
CHAPTER XVII XVII Mg1E
The Abyss

tho evening OF the day OF renewed and
unbridled speculation in Mirapolis
front feet" that Brouillard, riding the
piebald range pony on which he had
been making an inspection round Of
the nearer Buckskin ditchers.. camps.
topped the hill in the new. high.pitched
road over the Chisringo shoulder and
looked down upon the valley electrics.
Brouillard let the pony set its own
pace on the down-hili lap TO the finish,
freshened himself ut his rooms In the
Niquoia building. and went to tho
Metropole to eat his dinner with Muir
ray Grislow - his vis-a.vis. The bug
zing throngs In the Metropole cafe and
lobby annoyed him, and even 0rislow's
quiet sarcasm as applied to the days
bubblebiowing failed to clear the air.
At the club there was the same atmos-
phere Of unrast; an exacerbating over
charge of the suppressed activities i'm
patiently waiting Tor another day Of
excitement and opportunity. Corner
lots and the astounding prices they
had commanded filled the air In the
lounge. the billiard room and the buf-
fet, and after few minutes Brouiliard
turned his back on the hubbub and
sought the quiet Of the darkened build
Ing on the opposite side OF the street.
He was alone in his Office on the
sixth door and was trying, half absent
ly, to submerge himself in . sea OF
desk work when ss distinctly as II she
were present and ut his elbow, he
heard, or seemed to hear. Amy Mas
singaie say: Victor. you said you
would come If I needed you. l need
you now" Without . moments hesita-
ton he got up and made ready to 90
out.
Tho Massingale town house was one
Of row Of succeed villas fronting on
the main residence street, which be-
yond the city limits became the high
road to the Quadjenai bend and the
upper valley. Brouillard took cab 1t
tho Metropole, dismissed 1t at the villa
gate. and walked briskly UP the path
to the house, which was dark save for
one lighted room on the second floor
the room in which Stephen Massingale
was recovering from the effects of Van
Bruce Cortwright's pistol shot.
Amy Massingale was on the porch
waiting for him, 90 he fully believed
until her greeting sufficiently proved
her surprise Ut seeing him.
you. victori" she said, coming
quickly to meet him. Murray Girls.
low said you had gone down to the
Buckskin camps and wouldn't be back
Tor two or three days."
Il changed my mind and came back.
How 10 Steve this evening""
HE 10 quite comfortable, more COM
Portable than he has been at all since
the wound began to heal. have been
reading him to sleep, and when the
night nurse came ran down to get
breath Of fresh air in the open.'
mo, you didn't come down for that
reason" Brouillard amended gravely.
You came to meet me-"
did II" she asked. what makes
you think that?"
Il know what happened" said Brou-
lizard, speaking ~ soberly az II he
were stating . mathematical certainty.
You left that room upstairs and came
to me. didn't see you. but l heard
you - plainly as can hear you now.
You spoke to me and called me by
name"
She shook her head, laughing lightly.
"You have been overweight about
something. or maybe you are Just plain
tired"
you are standing me or" he de-
clared. You are in trouble Of some
sort, aud you are trying to hide 1t from
me-"
No, not exactly trouble; only lit
tie worry"
"All right, call It worry II you like
and share II with me. What Is it?'
Il think you know without being
told. am afraid We have finally lost
the Little Susan That II one Of the