The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-02-01


the expenses of the house on the Street
Sorry. old man I've made another
arrangement"
They left the hospital together
Everywhere the younger man received
the homage of success. The elevator
man bowed and flung the doors o. en-,
with SMILE the pharmacy clerk. the
doorkeeper. even the convalescent pa
tient who WAS polishing the great brass
doorplate, rendered their tribute. Doc
tor Ed looked neither to right nor left.
Sidney, after her involuntary bath in
the river, had gone into temporary
eclipse at the White Springs hotel In
the oven of the kitchen stove sat her
Two small white shoes, stuffed with pa
pcr 50 that they might dry i'll shape.
Back in a detached laundry, sympa-
fhetie maid MAS ironing various soft
White garments, and singing rs she
worked.
Sidney sat in rocking chair in
/ hot bedroom. She was carefully
swathed In Il sheet from neck to toes,
except for her arms and she was being
as phiIosophie as possible.
Someone tapped lightly NJ the door.
ITS lie Moyne. Are you all right?"
"Perfeetly. How stupid 1t must be
for you"
I'm doing very well. The maid will
soon be ready. What shall l order for
support"
Anything. Tr, starving"
Il think your shoes have shrunk."
'flatterer,' She laughed. TO away
and order supper. And | can SEE fresh
lettuce. Shall We have salad:9
X. lie Moyne stood for moment In
/ front of the closed door, for the mere
sound of her moving beyond 1t. Things
/ had gone very far with the Pages
rnemer that day in the country: not
81 far as they We're to 20. but far
enough to let him see on the brink of
what misery he stood
He could not go away. He had prom
ised her To stay: he was needed. lie
thought he could have endured seeing
her marry Joe. had she cared for the
boy. That way. ut least. lay safety for
her. The boy had fidelity aud devotion
written large over him. But this new
eomplication-her romantic interest in
Wilson, the surgeons reciprocal inter
est in her. with what he knew of the
| man-made him quail.
From the top of the narrow stair
ease To the foot, and he had lived a
years torment! AT the foot. however.
he was startled out of his reyerie. Joe
! Drummond stood there waiting for
him, his blue eyes reckleSSly alight.
"lou-you dog" said Joe.
There were people In the hotel par
Tor. lie Moyne took the frenzied boy
by the elbow and led him past the
door to the empty porch.
Now" he said. If you will keep
Your voice down. I'll listen to what
you have To say
You know what I've got to say"
This failing Ia draw from X. lie
MQyne anything but his steady glance,
joe jerkcd his arm free and clenched
his fist.
What did you bring her out here
for?"
II do not Know that | owe you any
explanation. but l am willing TO give
you one l brought her out here for
trolley ride and picnic luncheon"
lie was sorry for the boy. Life not
having been all beer and skittles TO
him, he knew that Joe was suffering,
and was maryelously patient with him.
where is she now
she had the misfortune to fall In
the river. She is UPSTAIRS And. see
| ing the light of unbelief in Joe's eyes
III YOU care To make tour OF inyesti-
CATION, you will find that | am entire
| ly truthful. In the laundry a maid"
"She IS engaged To me'-doggedly.
Everybody in the neighborhood knows
it. and yet you bring her out here for
picnic. lists damned rotten treat
ment.'
Ills fist had unclenched. Before X.
lie Moyne's eyes his own fell. He felt
suddenly young and futile; his just
rage turned 10 clustering In his ears
Il don't know where you came
from" he said. but around here de-
cent men cut out when girls ell
gagged"
IL sect"
whats more. what do we know
about you? You may be all right. but
how do | know 1t? You get her into
trouble and I'll kill you!'
1t took courage, that speech. with ia
lie Moyne towering Ave inches above
him and growing little white about
the lips.
Are you going TO say all these things
| to Sidney?"
II am. And l am going to find out