The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-12-23
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A Novel
A Week
Ii;l.IiiiilI.I.Ii!M
Continued From Our Last issus)

our Eatne OF blillnfUs ne huhk III
his cue. and then he turned around
like lightning. and faced the boys
that were standing around with
their hands In their pockets.
" iioys,' says he, boys. I'm looh
tn for Job I'm not much Of a
tAlker. and my game OF billiards Is
ragged Hut there's one thing
can do. fellows. from abe up "a
x.y.x. and that's write. don,
promise To stick. As soon "a | get
on my feet again I'm COINS back "a
New York But not just yet. Mean
while. I'm going TO the highest bid
der
Well. you know since Merklc
left us We haven't had day when
We wasn't seooped on some politi'
cal guff. 4 guess We can use you
some place. | says. N your Ideas
on salary can take slump between
New York and Milwaukee. What's
your name. Bo7'
Name1 says he. smiling again.
Maybe it'll be familiar { you. That
Is. Il will n my wife IL uHin' H.
I Osmes my name Peter Orme.
Know lady of that name7 Good.
Il hadn't said did. but those
eyes OF his had seen tho look on
my face.
Friends IN New YORK told me
she was here. he says. Where Is
sho now Got her addreas" he
SAYS.
She expectln' YOU asked.
'N.not exactly he says, With
that crooked grin.
Thought not ! answered. be
fore knew what was aayin'.
she's up north With her folks ON a
vacation.
Blackio came over 90 me as sat
covering In my chair Hs paued
my shoulder with one lean brown
hand. Now. hid. you dig. seef 90
home for a week. I'll n, Il up With
Norberg. No tellln what a guy
like that's goin 90 do Send your
brother.in.i Law down here II you
want 10 make Il 4 family affair. and
between va we'll see this thing
thru"
looked up at Won Gerhard. lie
was nodding approval Il all seem
"a so easy. so tompiingiy easy
TO run away Not 20 face him
until I vas safe in the shelter q
NoFah's arms
We did not hear the front ioor
alan, or tho sound Of fvots' cps In
the hall. was the first TO see
him. And a, tho sight OF tho
cmaeia,ed figure. with Its hollow
checks and its uunken eyes. all
terror and hatred left me. and
/ felt only a great pity for THIS
wreck OF manhood Slowly went
up 20 him there In the doorway.
Well. Peter" | said.
Well. Dawn. old girl said he.
YOU'RE looking wonderfully III.
Grass nidowhood seems To sgrcc
with you. ehT''
And knew then that my dread
dream had come true.
Peter advanced into tho room
with his odd easy grace OF man.
ncr. His eyes Elowsd a. he
looked nj Biackie. why. you
little liar," he said. In his crisp.
clear English. I've a notion 10
thwack you. What q you mean
! by trllin' me my wifo's gone
You're not sweet on her your
self. ehT"
Won Gerhard stifled an eKcia.
nation. and Orme TUNED quickly
in his direction. "Nho are your
he asked. san another admir-.
err lie stared At Won Gerhard
Do .beratsly aud ooolly. \ little
.rowr OF disit;,r cam9 into his
face. You're a doctor. aren't ron
I tnew T.. can tell b. tho hands
thns tre eye md the akin. and
Tho smell Lived with EN- for ten
years DaWa. tell these follows
they're excused. viii YOU? And. by
the way. YOU don't seem very hap.
py 10 see me-"
went up to him then. ami laid
my hand on his arm. Peter. you
don't understand. These swo gen
tlemen have been all that Is kind
10 me. I'm happy Il know that
you are well again. Surely. YOU
do not expect mo 30 be joyful "a,
seeing you All that prctense was
left out OF our lives long before
your-illness.
"oh. cut on: tho melodraiqa.
Dawn" sneereu Peter. Have
either OF you fellows the makin's
about YOU Thanks. I'm famished
for smoke"
Tho worrying words Of ten
years ago rose automatically %
my lips Aren't YOU smoking toe
much. Peter7" The tone was that
Of a harassed wife.
Peter stared Then he laughed
his short. nirihless little laugh
by Jove. Dawn. believe you're
as much my vife nov as you were
ten years ago always said you
know. that YOU would have he
come first.class nagser II you
hadn't had such n Seen sense OF
humor. That saved you" lie
turned his mocklnE eyes TO Won
Gerhard. Doesn't II beat the
devil how these good women stick
to a man, once they're married :
There's a certain dog.like devo-
ton about II that's touching"
There was y dreadful little
silence. For the first time in nv
knowledge OF him, saw hot
painful red dyolng Black,e's sal.
low face. IIiF eycs had a menace
In their depths.
There came sharp. insistent
ring at the door.bell.
I'm he the Buttons" said
Blackie. and disappeared into The
hallway.
"Oh. yes, I've heard about YOU"
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