Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-11-16

80 IuT us tuty Wcrc W ~ wv 49,.
enough to let him see on the brink OF
what misery he stood.
He could not go away. He had prom
ised her to stay: he was needed. He
thought he could have endured seeing
her marry Joe, had she cared for the
boy. That way, at least, lay safety for
her. The boy had fidelity and devotion
written large over him. But this new
complicatlon-her romantic interest In
Wilson, the surgeons reciprocal inter-
est In her, with what he knew OF the
man-made him quail.
From the top of the narrow stair
case to the foot. and he had lived q
years torment! At the foot, however,
he was startled out of his reverie. Joe
Drummond stood there waiting for
him, his blue eyes recklessly alight.
"You-you dogw said Joe.
There were people in the hotel par
lor. lie Moyne took the frenzied boy
BY the elbow and led him past the
door to the empty porch.
"Now," he said, III you will keep
your voice down, I'll listen to what
you have to say"
"You know what I've got to say
This failing to draw from X. LIE
Moyne anything but his steady glance,
Joe jerked his arm free and clenched
his fist.
what did you bring her out here
fort?
81 do not know that owe you any
explanation, but I am willing to give
you one. brought her out here for
trolley ride and a picnic luncheon
He was sorry for the boy. Life not
having been all beer and skittles TO
him, he knew that Joe was suffering,
and was marvelously patient with him.
"Where is she nowT
"She had the misfortune to fall In
the river. She is upstairs" And, see
Ing the light of unbelief In Joe's eyes:
III you care to make tour of investi-
CATION, you will find that am entire
ly truthful. In the laundry a maid"
"She is engaged to me"-doggedly.
Everybody In the neighborhood knows
It, and yet you bring her out here for a
picnic! LISTS damned rotten treat
ment."
His fist had unclenched. Before X.
lie Moyne's eyes his own fell. He felt
suddenly young and futile; his just
rage turned to clustering In his ears.
81 don't know where you came
FROM" he said, "but around here de-
cent men cut out when a girls en-
gagged"
IL seel"
"what's more, what do we know
about you? You may be all right, but
how do know It? You get her into
trouble and I'll kill you"
1t took courage, that speech, with X.
lie Moyne towering five inches above
him and growing a little white about
the lips.
"Are you going to say all these things
to Sldneyf"
IL am. And an going to find out
why you were upstairs just now"
Perhaps never In his twenty-five
years had young Drunmond been so
near a thrashiEg. Fury that he was
ashamed Of shock lie Moyne. For
very fear OF himself, he thrust his
. hands In the pockets OF his Norfolk
, coat.
] Every WELL" he said. "You so to her
, with Just one of these ugly insinua
tlons, and I'll take mighty good care
. that you are sorry for II. II you are
going 10 behave like a bad child, yor
, deserve a licking, and I'll give 1t Il
" you"
An overflow from the parlor pouret
a out on the porch. lie Moyne had go
himself In hand somewhat. He WA
a still angry. but the look In Joe's ey'
= startled him. He put hand on tn,
a boys shoulder.
You're wrong. old man." he said
you're insulting the girl you care 70
' by the things you are thinking. And
II It's any comfort to you, l have n
!" intention OF interfering In any way
You can count me out. It's bctwee
% you and her"
Joe picked his straw hat from
y chair and stood turning II In his hand
Even II you don't care for her, ho'
"a do know she isn't crazy about you'll
81 MY word OF honor. she Isn't"
- "She sends you notes 10 Mckees'.
10 "Just TO clear the air, I'll show II
u you. It's no breach Of confidence. II
VI about the hospital"
Into the breast pocket OF his coat J
e, dlvcd and brought up wallet. IT
ri wallet had had name on II In gilt IL
or tcrs that had been carefully scrap'
n, oir. hut Joe did not walt to see q
u" note.
N "Oh, damn the hospitals" he said
- aud went swiftly down the steps ri
'e' into the gathering twilight OF the Ju
" aight.
ITO he CONTINUED