Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-11-23
CHAPTER XIII.
Il
The Flesh-Pots of Egypt

camp that ne stood In no Immediate
danger, Smith spent the heel of the af-
ternoon in the High Line offices, keep
ing In wire touch with Stillings, whom
ne had sent on a secret mission to Red
Butte, and with Williams et the dam.
The High Line enterprise was on the
knees of the gods. If Williams could
pull through In time, If the river-swell-
ing storms should hold off, if Stanton
should delay his final raid past the
critical hour-and there was now good
reason to hope that all of these con-
tingencies were probable-the victory
was practically won.
Smith closed his desk at six o'clock
and went across to the hotel to dress
for dinner. The day of suspense was
practically at an end and disaster still
held aloof; was fairly outdiStanced in
the race, as 1t seemed. Williams final
report had been to the effect that the
concrete-pouring was completed, and
the long strain was off, Smith went
to his rooms, and, as once before and
for a similar reason, he laid his dress
clothes out on the bed. He made sure
that he would be required to dine with
Verda HIGHLANDER, and he was strip
ping his coat when he heard q tap at
the door and Jibbey came in.
"Glad rags, eh?" said the blase one,
with glance at the array ON the bed.
'Tve just run up to tell you that you
needn't. Verda's dining with the
StantOns, and she wants me to keep
you out of sight ninth afterward BY
and by, when she's foOt-loose, she
wants to see you in the mezzanine.
Isn't there some quiet little joint
where we two can go for bite? You
know the town, and / don't"
Smith put his coat on, and together
they circled the square TO Frascati's,
taking a table in the main cafe.
While they were giving their dinner
order Starbuck came in and joined
them, and Smith was glad. For rea
sons which he could scarcely have de-
fined he was relieved not to have to
talk to Jibbey alone, and Starbuck
played third hand admirably, taking
kindly to the sham black sheep and
filling him up, in quiet, straight-faced
humor. with many and most marvel
GUS tales of the earlier frontier.
At the end of the meal, while Jib-
bey was still content to linger, listen
ing open-mouthed to Starbuck's ro-
mancings. Smith excused himself and
returned to the hotel. He had scarce
ly chosen his lOunging chair in a
quiet corner of the meZZanine before
Miss HIGHLANDER came to join him.
ut has been long day, hasn't it,"
slln began evenly. "You have been
busy with your dam, 1 suppose, but
IL have had nothing to do but to
think, and that is something that /
don't often allow myself to do. You
have gone far since that night last
May when you telephoned me that you
would come up to the house later-and
then broke your promise, Montague"
'In a way, / suppose 1 have" he
admitted.
You have. indeed. You are d to-
tally different man.
'In what way, particularly"
"Ih every conceivable way. II one
could believe in transmigratiOn, one
would say that you had changed souls
with some old, hard-hitting, rough
riding ancestor. Have your ambitions
changed, too?"
1 am not sure now that l had any
ambitions in that other life"
"Oh, yes, you had" she went on
smoothly. SIN the other life as you
call 1t, you would have been quite
willing to marry a woman who could
assure you a firm social standing and
money enough to put you on footing
with other men of your capabilities.
You wouldn't be willing to do that
now, would you?-leaving the senti-
ment out as you used to leave it out
then?"
mo. hardly think should"
Her laugh was unsteady low and
sweet, and only mildly derisive.
You are thinking that it is change
OF environment, wider horizons, and
all that, which has changed you, Mon
tague; buc j know better. 1t is
woman, and, as you may remember,
nave net her-twice." Then, with
faint glow of spiteful fire in the
magnificent eyes: allow can you make
yourself believe that she is pretty?
de shrugged one shoulder in token
OF the utter uselessness of discussion
In that direction.
"Sentlment?" he querled. ST think
we needn't GO into that, at this late
Qay Verda. It is q field that neither
OF US entered, or cared to enter, IL
tae days that are gone. If I say that
corona Baldwin has-quite uncOn-
saously on her part, l must ask you
70 believe - taught me what love
means, that ought to be enough"
again she was laughing softly.