The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-26

Shat CoulQ give ner Cause Tor anger
or for reproof. Yet always he woys
about her q subtle web Of attentions
that was daily becoming stronger and
less easy to escape from.
Vaguely she felt this. But she could
do nothing until some overt word o,
deed should bring the man within
reach of her scorn.
As for writing a word of all this to
Tom she was far too sensible to do
such q fatal thing. She knew his
Jealousy and that q mere hint was
enough to fan It into murderous flame,
So sorely puzzled as to what she
ought to do. she kept her own counsel
and waited.
ITS that chuckle!headed husband
OF hers who keeps US apart" Legrand
once told his chum. the manager, III
could get him to give her up she'd
marry me In O minute. l know she
would. I don't believe she loves him.
Tho tour was nearing an end. On
the morning after the first concert in
Boston, Lesrand sent for Laura and
the contralto to come to his suite Of
rooms in the hotel at which the com
pany was staying. He wished, he said,
to go over new songs with each OF
them.
did you see the papers1" he asked
them as they came into his sittinA
room. They've given US the best
notices we've had yet. At this rate
we'll carry New York by storm. Az
usual. Mrs. Price, the critics are Graz,
over your singing. And by the way.
would you a r to glance over these
press notices for the New York en-.
gagement while Mrs. Mcdonald and ]
run over this encore song of hers?.
In remarkably short time the con.
tralto had sung the encore song to the
composer.accompanist's satisfaction,
Pleading a shopping appointment she
went out, leaving Legrand and Laura
together.
As soon as the contralto had gone
Legrand arranged a sheet Of manu-
script music on the piano.
"1t's q forid, melodramatic thing"
he told her. II call it the Dagger
Song picked up a queer old dirk
at a curio shop the other day. And Il
suddenly occurred to me that. though
there are dozens Of Sword Songs no
one ever wrote q Dagger Song So
I wrote this. Here" picking up an
antique knife from the table, as the
dagger that inspired It,"
He handed her the weapon. She
looked shudderingly at its rusty blade.
II like to think those dark stains
on the hilt are Of blood" he said.
"Ugh!" she shivered, dropping the
dagger on the piano top and rubbing
her fingers with her handkerchief.
She tossed the handkerchief down
on the piano, and bent over to read
the music. as Legrand began to play
the prelude.
After a time she departed to her
own rooms. taking the song with her.
She had not been gone two minutes
when the outer door of Legrand's
sitting room was flung violently open.
Tom Price stood on the threshold.
Where is my wife," he demanded,
without other form Of greeting, his
angry eyes searching the sitting room.
"At the office desk they said she
wasn't in her rooms. I met your man
ager In the lobby. He told me l would
probably find her in your suite"
"she tust stepped OUT answered
Legrand, a sudden idea flashing into
his mind. "But II you care to wait,
| she'll be back again in o few min
utes."
"You seer pretty sure Of It." said
Tom, pugnaciously.
why shouldn't I BET" was the care
less rejoinder. q ought to be by this
time"
A false note in the elaborate care
lessness caught Toms attention,
though he only in part translated It.
Il don't believe you" he declared.
II don't believe my wife comes to
your suite at all. I believe you're ly.
ing. l."
when I talk to a drunkard or q
crazy man." scoffed Legrand. II don't
resent things he says. But, II you
want my proof" his insolent gaze
roved over the room, that's a handker.
chief Of hers lying on the piano yon.
der"
Tom swooped down upon the hand.
kerchief, shaking It out and holding It
TO the light. In one corner 1t bore
Laura's familiar monogram. The hus-
band let It futter to the floor. His
head sank on his breast All at once
the youth and hope and energy
seemed to be stricken from him.
What n you doing here anyway"
asked LegTand, we'll pleased with the
impression he had created. "she told
me you were still too lame to walk"
1.-THE doctor told me my leg was
sound again three days ago" said
Tom, II didn't write her about 1t. I
ran on here instead to surprise her.
She"
'It1l surprise her" hssented lie.
grand with a sneering grin, though
maybe not quite in the way you were
fool enough to hope She counted on
your being tied by the leg. in your
own little rube town for another two