The Ozark spectator., 1917-08-29
CHAPTER lx-continued.

he's single and very attractive, my dpuf. The entire village is trying to marry him. There is talk of the doctors daughter. = common little thing"
 ], When che had gone. Elinor, a little @alnt and dizzy, went out on the ter {ace. She realized that the barrier be- tween Ward and herself was not only bf his faith against her unbelief. There Was the insurmountable gulf between hin world and her world. She did not 1t into his life. Into his arm, perhaps {; into his life
 Walter would try to get the money. She must get word to him somehow. for If the Bryant pearl was recovered spd Bcroday given his freedom, mon- , Nxwould not be m immediate neces-
 She paced the terrace and tried to thir' t out. For Talbot to go back tot ity. m hour; for the delivery of tho 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.
 "here were . dozen possibilities 1; ,.n~-.- -..-,ef 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 tnlephone; he was not at the Dago's q the taxicab oflice he was said to ,Ae laid off for the day. As the white e, louds of the afternoon turned to Name in the sunset, Elinor's face grew ret and hard.
 .Tm not blind. I'll get him for this!"
 That was what he had said. He would go after the money that night, and there was murder in his heart.
 Old Henriette. watching Elinor's set face, grew fretful. She squealed if . door slammed; brought food that Elinor could not eat, and finally, divin- ing . crisis. tried stealthily by tele- phone to locate Talbot or Lethbridge and failed.
 You'd better eat a bite or two" shd entreated.
 llinor's nerves, too. were on edge.
 don't want it," she said.
 Just . little soup"
 | If you bring that tray here again
 shall throw 1t out of the window" e,' Henriette was cheered. Elinor. whitelipped and speeches., was alarm ing. Elinor in one of her rare rages was reassuring.
 By seven o'clock Elinor knew what she must do: go to Ward. tell him what she feared. and how she knew. She was not craven. but her very soul vas sick. She sought about for some vSy to evade the issue or to postpone it, and finally she struck on one. On plain note paper she scrawled little note in a feigned hand:
 "An 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 fin. ished 1t the uselessness of such an at tempt. Ward would not transfer a 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 ~hatting -ayly. passed under the wall
 her garden. Down in the valley
 ggling lines of evening church ,sers moved decorously toward the Churches. A ragged child stood in the road below her garden and wept Elinor ran down to him, and took him up in her arms. When she had soothed him she felt quieter. She went into the house and put on her hat. There was no message from Talbot, no word of Hun.
 Evening service was over when she reached Saint Jude's. The last strag gler had gone. and Ward was not ir sight. She avoided the street lights She felt quite sure that Walter was in the vicinity. his keen eyes missing nothingJ
 He had put lA hand on her before she knew he was near.
 "Vorshiping again '" he jeered.
 sI have not been in the church. Her quick mind was scheming desper
 sely ahead. "I have been alone thi'
 jening. When you did not come H."
 He swung her around.
 You were looking for mel" \ "I thought you might be here. You Tsaid last night"
 lt The memory of the night before stung him. He released her wrist.
 s'Waiter. l am afraid! tried tc make you understand last night. but you wouldn't listen. If he were reused he might be dangerous. Don't take chances; don't think. because he is q churchmnn--"
 Che vras ta1kin0 avafnst time Chr