The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-08-05
The Turmoil
i
BOOTH HARRINGTON
CCOpyright l9lb. By Harper 8 Brothersl

"oh. yes. Yes. I went to churchP'
"What was the sermon about?"
what, mother?"
Cant you hear me:' she cried. "I
asked you what the sermon was
about"
He reused himself 81 think if was
about" He frowTIed. seeming to con-
centrate his will to reco1lect. 81 think
it was about something in the Bible"
White-jacket George was glad of an
opportunity TO leave the room and lean
upon Mist JacksOn's shoulder in the
pantry. HE don't know they was
any suhmOnr' he concluded. having
narrated the dining-roOm dialogue
''All he know is be was with at lady
lives mex dO'p' George was right.
did you go to church ali by your
self, Bibbs?' Sibyl asked
NO" he answered. mo, didn't go
alone"
"Oh?" Sibyl gave the ejaculation
an upward twist, as of hooking in
quiry, and followed it by another, ex-
pressiYe of hilarious comprehension.
"Ohw
Bibbs looked at her studiously, bat
| she spoke no further. And that COM
pleted the conversation at the lugu-
brious feast.
Coffee came finally, was disposed
Of quickly, and the party dispersed to
other parts of the house. Bibbs fol-
lowed his father and Roscoe into the
library, but was not we'll received
"You go and listen to the phono-
graph with the Women-foIkS" Sheri
dan commanded.
Bibbs retreated Sometimes you do
seem to be hard sort Of manP' he
said.
However. he went obediently into
the gilt-and- brocade room TO which his
! mother and his sister and his sister
| in-law had helpIessly withdrawn, &C
| eording to their Sabbatical custom.
Mrs. Sheridan was looking over a col
| lection of records consisting exclu-
sively of Caruso and ragtime. She
| selected one Of the latter, remarking
that she thought it fright pretty" and
| followed it with one Of the former and
| the same remark.
AS the second reached its conclusion,
George appeared In the broad door
way, but he did not speak. Instead
he favored Edith with a benevolent
smile, and she Immediately left the
room, George disappearing after her
| in the hall with an air of successful
| diplomacy. He made 1t perfectly clear
that Edith had given him secret In
structions and that it had been his
pride and pleasure to fulfill them to
| the letter.
L fFxyl Still In hot f7ar. Hr1e
parted, and she watched with curious
eyes the vanishing back Of the white
jacket
"What's that2'' she asked, in a low
voice. but sharply.
| Here's another right pretty record, >
said Mrs. Sheridan. affecting-witt
patent nervOusnesS-not to hear. And
she Embossed the music.
Sibyl bit her lip and began to tar
her chin with the brooch. After little
| while she turned to Bibbs, who reposed
at half length in a gold chair, with his
eyes closed.
where did Edith go?" she asked
curiously.
"Edith?'' he repeated. opening hi:
eyes blankiy. els she gomez"
| SADJ4 SOt Op anu SlOOu III Inc uOOL
| way. She leaned against the casing
still tapping her chin with the brooch
Her eyes were dilating; she was sud
denly at high tension, and her expires
sion had become one of sharp excite
ment. She listened intentiy.
When the record was spun out sht
could hear Sheridan rumbIing in TIT
library, during the ensuing silence
and Roscoe's voice, querulous anC
husky: 81 won't say anything at all
tell you, you might just as well lie
me alone!"
But there were other sounds: rus
thing and murmur, whispering. low
protesting cadences in a male voice