Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-02-18
CHAPTER xIII-contlnued.

is II! thought so. rake one OF
those three women you have proposed
to-theyll do for your purpose
they'll help you out, any one of them.
You have only to say the word Whistle
and they'll come to you There's Mrs.
Royalton, now! Marry herl You've
got ten minutes left-go ahead, | don't
care!" She paused on the threshold.
'I'll send her in. She'll make you a
good wife-shes had lot more ex-
perience than | havel Good luckl"
Hail. left alone, walked up and down
the studio angrily. He was so en-
not see Mrs. Royalton, who had en-
tered a moment after Flodie left, until,
turning suddenly, he all but ran into
her. Rena. beaming, ELUSIVE. held out
both her hands, caught his and laid
her dark head against his shoulder.
"Oh, HALL" she breathed.
Hall tried unsuccessfully to free
he asked.
She looked fondly up into his face.
"Oh, Hall, didn't you understand what
said over the phone?"
A sudden thought came to him, a
desperate expedient. Any stick to beat
diculous, would do for a quarrel with
this clinging sickening female. He
must get rid of her. So. quick as a
flash, he took up her words and
plunged into histrionic rage.
"Oh, l understand 1t right enough.
That's the trouble, understand 1t too
well. Well you've put me out of my
misery, all right. Thank Cod you did
1T while there was time for me to es-
cape worse!"
"But | don't mean that, Hall, real
ly-"
mo, you mean you only wanted to
lure me on-get me to propose. and
then throw me down. knowl All a
woman cares for is to fool some man
any man will do, suppose, so long
as her vanity is satisfied, and she can
have his scalp to wear at her beltl
Isn't it shameful what a woman will
do, just for the moments cruel pleas
ure? You have no sympathy, no ten
derness. no heart-you're nothing but
a mass of insane female conceit, that's
what you arel Thank God | found it
out in time. / sayI Oh, did think l
loved you, Rena, admit; but | was a
fool to believe in you. Now, it's all
overl"
He stood before her, shaking his fin
ger savagely. TITS all over, and I'm
glad of It'll I'm we'll rid of you, Rena
Royalton, and it will teach me les
sonl I'd just like to tell you what l
think of you, but you're my guest in
my house, and unfortunately I'm a
gentleman, and so | can't do II. But
there's one thing l can say, and that's
Good EVENING" Mrs. Royalton. and
you'll have to excuse me, for l have
my guests to attend tot
Almost winded with this extrava-
giant fury, he turned to make his exit
as speedily as possible, but she was
too quick for him. SEEKING his arm,
she looked him straight in the face,
her eyes filed with tears.
why, Hall Bonistellel" she ex-
claimed. You're crazy! Why, I'm GO
ing to accept you'll"
He dropped like a log upon a chair,
IN amazement. She had demolished
his whole towering pose at q word.
For q moment he was unable to speak.
Then she looked at him very archly.
Hail." she said, don't you think I'm
prettier than usual tonight? Or do l
imagine II because I'm so awfully
happy?"
The question pricked him into life.
He looked at her coldly, and In des-
perstion made another attempt to goad
her into anger.
by jovc. / didn't think a woman
could-well. a. woman will do any
thing to get what she wants, then,
won't she? She'll pay any price, and
suffer any indignityl Good Lord,
haven't you any pride, Rena, for
heavens sake? Haven't you any sense
of shame7 Tell me; is there anything
you wouldn't do for money. Rena Roy
sltonl Let's have It'll"
why. Hall, searl" she replied, with
big innocent eyes, 81 don't know what
in the world you're talking about; but
I'll tell you one thing that / wouldn't
dol wouldn't give you up for all the
money in the world"
We'll, can you beat It'll" he gasped
addressing Spanish chair
"Ah, Hail." she continued, when !
once consent, ] go fast Really, I'd
like to be married to you this very
night, II you only had a marriage IL
cense."
"A what?" he cried, thunderstruck
"A marriage license, you know. OF
course that's always necessary be-
fore"
by Jimmy Christmas!" he thun.
dered. staring in front of him. Rena
was forgotten, everything was forgot
ten except that, through his stupidity
ali. now, was lost A marriage Ii
oensel Not once had it occurred to
him-the whole sublime comedy had
been played out in vain. The four
mfilions-Jonas Hassingbury had won
after ALI