New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1916-12-29

TWO small white shoes. stuffed with pa
per so that they might dry in shape.
Back in Il detached laundry, Il sympa-
thetic maid was ironing various soft
white garments, and singing as she
worked.
Sidney sat In n rocking chair in n
hot bedroom. She was carefully
swathed in IL sheet from neck to toes,
except for her arms, and she was being
as pllilosophic rs possible.
Someone tapped lightly at the door.
ITS lie Moyne. Are you all right? %
"Perfectly. How stupid it must be
for you"
I'm doing very well. The maid will
soon be ready. What shall | order for
suppcr?"
"Anything. I'm starving"
i thlnk your shoes have shrunk."
"Flatterer" She laughed. $50 away
ana order supper. And | cnn see fresh
lettuce. Shall we have a salad?'
IL. lie Moyne stood for IA moment in
front of the closed door, for the mere
sound of her moving. beyond it. Things
had gone very far with the Pages
rooIner that day in the country; not
$" far rs they were to go, but far
enough to let him see on the brink of
what misery he stood.
lie could not go away He had prom
lsed her to stay: he was needed. lie
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
compllcation-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 a
years torment! At the foot, however,
he was startled out of his ~reverie. Joe
Drummond stood there waiting for
him, his blue eyes reckIessly alight.
"Iou-you dog" 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, "if 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 H.. lie
Moyne anything but his steady glance,
Joe jerked his arm free and clenched
his fist.
what did you bring her out here
for?'
Il do not know that | owe you any
explanation, but | am willing to give
you me. l brought her out here for a
trolley ride and II picnic luncheon"
lie 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 nOw?"
"She had the misfortune to fall in
the river. She is upstairs" And, see
ing tbs light of unbelief in Joe's eyes:
IF you care to make a tour of investi-
cation, you will find that | AM entire
ly truthful. In the laundry II maid"
"She is engaged to me"-doggedly. |
Everybody in the neighborhoOd knows
1t, and yet you bring her out here for a
picnic! lists damned rotten treat
ment.'
His fist had u%nclenched. 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 o came
FROM he said, but around here de-
men cut out when n girls en-
81 seer"
whats more, what do we know
about you? You may be all right, but
how do | know it? You get her into
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 Sidney?"
Il am. And / am going to find out
why you were upstairs just now"
Perhaps never in his twenty-five
years had young Drummond been SO
a thrashing. Fury that he was
ashamed of shook lie Moyne. For
very fear of himself, he thrust his
hands in the pockets of his Norfolk
,oat.
Very WELL" he said. "You go to her
With just one of these ugly insinua-
ions, and I'll take mighty good care
hat you are sorry for it. If you are
going TO behave like a bad child. Won
a licking, and I'll give it to
An overflow from the parlor poured
tut on the porch. lie Moyne had got
himself in hand somewhat. He was
till angry. but the look In Joe's eye
him. He put a hand on the
'oy's shoulder.
you're wrong, old man." he said
You're insulting the girl you care for
y the things you are thinking. And,
f it's any comfort t. you, / have no
intention of interfering in any way.
can count me out. It's between .
GU and her" a..
Joe picked his straw hat from a f.
hair and stood turning it In his hands. l
Even If you don't care for her, how ]
l know she isn't crazy about your"
NJ - 49, l.