Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-12-20
chAPrER xvm-cenunusd.

Peen hnishing your accounts"
Louise made Q little grimace.
Tell me the worst" she begged.
"You are overdrawn at your bank.
POUR bills r heavier than ever this
month. and there are five or six special
hccounts-0ne for some electric 1T
dngA another for the hire Of q motor
ear-which ought to be paid"
Louise was looking up at the ceiling.
She sighed.
1T would be NICE" she said, ITO
have someone to pay ones bills and
pook after one. and see that one wasn't
boo ex~trnvagant."
well. you need someone badly" So
ply asserted. II suppose you mean
% make up your mind to 1t some day"
u wonder !" Louise murmured. did
you know that that terrible man from
Pie hills-John Strangewey's brother
has been here this morning? lie fright
bned me to DEATH"
"What did he want" Sophy asked
Eurlously.
HE was q trile vague" Louise re-
marked. II gathered that if l don't
BEND John back to ,.C1rberland. he's
going to strange me-"
Sophy leaned across the table.
Are you going to send him back?"
bhe asked.
II am In an uncertain frame OF
mind" Louise confessed. II really
can't decide about anything"
Il want TO tell you this. Louise"
Bophy saA firmly. "John Is getting to
know a great many people. and you
know how men talk at the clubs.
Aren't you sometimes afraid that he
Will hear things and misunderstood"
II am expecting 1t every day." Lou
Dse admitted.
'.Then why don't you end itT
(which way"
There was a silence between the two
women. The mufled street noises
Prom outside became the background
10 a stiffness which grew every mo-
hent more oppressive. Louise returned
10 her former attitude. She looked
~steadfastly before her, her face sup
ported by her hands.
Sophy grew palcr and paler as the
minutes passed. There was something
strange and almost beautiful in Lou
lse's face, something which had come
10 her lately, and which shone from
her eyes only Mt are intervals.
"You care for him. I believed" Sophy
cried ut last. "You care for him"
Louise did not move.
"Why not?" she whispered.
There was a ring Mt the front door,
Louise. from her place, could see the
Tong, gray bonnet Of Johns car. Al
most before she could speak, he was
announced.
'It's an atrocious time to come, l
know" he began apologeticnlIy.
you're In time for some coffee, any
how" Sophy told him %cheerfully. sand
know Louise Is glad to see you, be-
cause IL you hadn't come. I was going
10 make her 60 through some nc
counts"
"You know I am always glad to see
kou," Louise murmured, pointing to a
chair. "Sophy and I have been having
b most interesting discussion, but We
hAve come to a cul de sac"
II really came" John explained. ITO
ask II you cared 10 come and zee n
collection Of pictures. There's m ltal-
lAn--a futurist, Of csurse--just I'M
backed his little lot and set them up
Sver a curiosity shop In Clifford street.
be Ia sending out cards for next week.
but I could take you today--that is,
X you would care about 1t. We can
10 somewhere for sornc tea afterward."
Louise made a little grlmace.
"yVhat bad luck" she exclaimed.
She stopped short. She felt that by
her hesitation she had, In u sense. com.
mitted herself.
II have promised to 60 and have tea
with the prince at Seyre House," she
bald. 1T Is an engagement We made
last week."
John set down his empty coffee cup
with 4 clatter. An inexplicablc but
dominating fury seemed to have sud-
Denly assailed him. He took out a
cigarette and tried to light It, Sophy.
after watching him for a moment In
sstonishment, slipped out Of tho room.
Louise came over to his side.
.Are you really 20 much disnppoint.
kdf" she asked. u am so sorryl II
had known that. you were coming for
me, I would have kept myself free"
1T isn't that exactly" John an.
swercd. ITS something I can't alto.
gether explain. II you don't mind, I
khink I viii be going. There ID some
thing I must put right"
10 left without another word. She
watched him step into bis new motor.
tar and drive away a little rccklessly,
considering the crowded state Of tho
streets. He drew up. Z few minutes
later, outside the club In Pail Mall.
whore. a. II CHANGED, he had lunched
that day. with the prince Of Seyre.
He found the prince still sitting In
ne smoking room. reading a review,
eyer tho top Of which he glanced up
u John approached. and nodded non.
ehalantiy.
Back ngainf" he murmured.
II came back to huve q word will,
you, prince"
The prince laid down the review,
keeping his finger 10 the place.
"Dslishtsdl"
..Not long ago" John went on, "iu
ehls room, suEnoone-l think 1t was Ma.
f - rn,apfara-aak0d q what vn,,