The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-09-21
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

my Uc0r. 1uc cnClre village Is Tying
to marry him. There is talk Of the
doctors daughter, a common little
When she had gone, Elinor, a little
faint and dizzy, went out on the ter
race. She realized that the barrier be-
tween Ward and herself was not only
Of his faith against her unbelief. There
the insurmountable gulf between
his world and her world. She did not
fit into his life. Into his arm, perhaps;
into his life-never.
Walter would try to get the money.
She, must get word to him somehow,
for II the Bryant pearl was recovered
and Boroday given his freedom. mon
ey would not be an immediate neces-
sity.
She paced the terrace and tried to
think It out. For Talbot to 60 back
to the city, an hour ; for the delivery Of
the special delivery, another hour.
Then the police would have to come
out by train or motor. With the best
Of luck, 1t would be four o'clock before
the pearl could be recovered.
There were q dozen possibilities (;
the chief might be out of town; the
pearl might be recovered from the
box without his assistance. In that
case he would not hold to his agree
ment with Boroday.
She tried to head Walter Of, but she
could not locate him. At none Of HIS
various haunts could she find him by
telephone he vas not at the Dago's;
ut the taxicab Office he was said to
be laid OF FOR the day. AS the white
clouds Of the afternoon turned to
flame In the sunset, Elinor's face grew
set and hard.
I'm not blind. I'll get him for
this"
That was what he had said. He
would 60 after the money that night,
and there was murder In his heart.
Old Henriette, watching Elinor's set
face, grew fretful. She sQuealed II
a door slammed; brought food that
Elinor could not eat, and finally, divin-
ing q crisis, tried stealthily by tele-
phone to locate Talbot or Lethbridge
and failed.
"You'd better eat q bite or two"
she entreated.
Elinor'A nerves. too, were IN edge.
Il don't want It." she said.
"Just q little SOUP"
"If you bring that tray here again
I shall throw it out Of the window"
Henriette was cheered. Elinor,
whitelipped and speeches.. WIS alarm
Ing. Elinor In one Of her rare RACES
was r~eassuring.
BY seven o'clock Elinor knew what
she must do; 60 to Ward, tell him
what she feared. and how she knew.
She was not craven, but her very soul
was sick. She sought about for some
way to evade the issue or to postpone
It, and finally she struck on one. On
plain note paper she scrawled o little
note In q felgned hand:
IAN attempt will be made tonight to
secure the fund raised at the morning
service. Be advised and give 1t to
someone else to keep overnight"
But she realized before she had an
ished It the ~uselcssness OF such an at
tempt. Ward would not transfer q
danger.
The night had fallen. A line Of cars
from the country club was carrying
town people and villagers home to the
late dinners Of the golf season. Groups
Of girls and men In summer garments,
chatting gayly, passed under the wall
Of her garden. Down IN the valley
.strageling lines Of evening church
'goers moved decorously toward the
churches. A ragged child stood In the
road below her garden and wspt.
Nlinor ran down to him, and took him
up In her arms, When she had soothed
him ehe felt auieter. She went into
the house and nut on her hat. There
was no message from Talbot, no word
o8 Hun.
| Evening service waa over when she
reached Saint Jude's. The last stray
,gler had gone. and Ward was not In
lsight.. She avoided tke street lights.
Iehe felt quite sure that Walter was
- tho vicinity. hiS keen eyes missing
nothing.
He had put his hand on her before
knew 10 vas neal.
"Worshlping again r 10 jsered.
Il have not been II the church"
Ho Qaick mind ms schenlnG desper.
ately khead. II have been alone this
-~-a~a. WNSAn Wna AaA noe NnwNA