Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-06-26
II should say not. They were at lunch
con together in the ladies' ordinary as

-.- ---.- ~ -7--'--.7,7 .4-E.llslT aN8s s- "A
II should say not. They were at lunch
con together in the ladies' ordinary as
I came down few minutes ago."
Thus the partner of Crawford Stan
tons joys and sorrows. But an invis-
ible onlooker in the small dining room
above-stairs might have drawn other
conclusions. Smith and the daughter
of the LawrenceNille magnate had II
small table to themselves, and If the
talk were not precisely quarrelsome,
1t leaned that way at times.
II have never seen you quite so bru-
tai and impossible as you are today,
Montague. You don't seem like the
same man. Are you going to reconsider
and take me out to the Baldwin ranch
this afternoon?"
"And let you parade me there as
your latest acquisition ?-never in this
world r
"More brutality. Positively you are
getting me into frame of mind in
which Tucker Jibbey will seem like a
blessed relief. Whatever do you sup
pose has become of Tucker?"
GLOW, should know?"
IF he had come in last night and
you had met him-as asked you to
In any such heavenly temper as you
are indulging now, l might think you
had murdered him."
1t was doubtless by sheer accident
that Smith, reaching at the moment
for the salad oil, overturned his water
glass. But the small accident by no
means accounted for the sudden gray
ing of his face under the Timanyoni
wind tan-for that or for the shaking
hands with which he seconded the wait
er's anxious efforts to repair the dam
age. When they were alone again, the
monetary trepidation had given place
to a renewed hardness that lent a
biting rasp to his voice.
"Kinzie, the suspicious old banker
that I've been telling you about, is de-
termined to run me down." he said,
changing the subject abruptly. "Ive
got it pretty straight that he is plan
ming to send one Of his clerks to the
Topaz district to try and find your ia
ther, in the hope that he will tell what
he knows about me-"
"Does this Mr.. Kinzie know where
father Is to be found?'
'tHe doesn't; that's the only hitch"
Miss Verda's smile across the little
table was level-eyed.
II could be lots Of help to you, Mon
tague, in this fight you are making, If
you'd only let me-" she suggested.
''I'll fight for my own hand" was the
grating rejoinder. II can assure you,
right now, that Kinzie's messenger will
never reach your father-alive."
"Ooh !" shuddered the beauty, with a
little lift Of the rounded shoulders.
"How utterly and hopelessly primitive
Let me show you much simpler alter
native. I have map Of the mining
district, you know. Father left it with
me-in case I should want to commu-
nicate with him."
Smith looked up with smile which
was mere barring Of the teeth.
"You wouldn't get in mans way
with any flne-spun theories of the ulti-
mate right and wrong, would you? You
wouldn't say that the only great man
is the man who loves his fellow men,
and all that?'
Again the handsome shoulders were
lifted, this time In cool scorn.
"Are you quoting the little ranch per
son7" she inquired. Then she answered
his query: '"The only great men worth
speaking Of are the men who win. Fol
the lack of something better to do, Tn
willing to help you win. Montague
Most naturally, am the one who
would know where my father is to be
found. And I have changed my mind
about wanting to drive to the Bald
wins. Wen compromise on the play
II there Is play"
There is play, and I have the
SEATS" he announced briefly.
'Merci!' she flung back. "Smal
favors thankfully received, and large
ones in proportion; though it's hardl,
favor, this timA because have pai
for 1t in advance. Mr.. Kinzie's youn
man came to see me this morning..
"What did you dor
II gave him tracing Of my mar
and he was 50 grateful it made m
want to tell him that it was al
wrong; that he wouldn't find fathe
in a month II he followed the diree
TONS"
"But you didn't"
"No; can play the game, when I
seems worth WHILE"
Smith was frowning thoughtful
when he led her to the elevator alcove
my way would have been the surer,
he muttered, half to himself.
barbarian she laughed; an
then: ITO think that you were one
'debutantes' dariingr Oh, yes;
know 1t was Carter Westfall who SAT-
it first, but it was true enough to nam
you instantly for all Lawrenceville."
fTo Be Continued)
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