Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-12-27
CHAPTER XVII.

A<Oeano 8AuANC0 Ut ntI WdlCiit SdI I'D
In bed. and turned reproachfully
toward Aline.
"Aline, do you know 1t is only eleven
e'clOck?" she exclaimed.
II am very sorry, madame" the lat
ter fastened to explain, "but there Is a
gentleman downstairs who wishes to
see you. He says he will wait until
you can receive him. l thought you
would like to know"
"A gentleman at this hour of the
morning. Louise yawned. "How abb
surdl Anyhow, you ought to know
better than to wake me up before the
proper time"
II am very sorry, madame" Aline re-
piled. II hesitated for some time. but
thought you would like to know that
the gentleman was here. 1t is Mr.
Stephen Strangewey-Mr. Johns
brother"
Louise clasped her knees with her
fingers and sat thinking. She was wide
awake now.
he has been here some time al
ready. madame" Aline continued. II
did not wish to disturb you, but ]
thought perhaps 1t was better for you
TO know that he was here"
Quite right. Aline." Louise decided.
"Go down 6hd tell him that will BEE
him in half an hour, and get my bath
ready at once"
Louise dressed herself simply but
carefully. She could conceive of but
one reason for Stephens presence In
her house, and 1t rather amused her. 1t
was, of course, no friendly visit. He
had come either to threaten or to
ea3ole. Yet what could he do? What
bad she to feari She went over the In.
terv1ew in her mind, imagining him
crushed and subdued by her superior
subtlety and fnesse.
With q little smile of coming triumph
upon her lips she descended the stairs
and swept into her pleasantly warmed
and perfumed little drawing-room. She
sven held out her hand cordially to the
dark, grim figure whose outline against
the dainty white wall seemed 20 inap-
propriate-
''This 10 very nice of you indeed, Mr..
W. oh8SWCyt ohC OC6hh. DuQ III iNSh
that you had followed your brothers
example and come to town."
She told herself once more that her
slight instinct of uneasiness had been
absurd. Stephens bow. although lit
tie formal and austere, was still an
acknowledgment of her welcome. The
shadows Of the room. perhaps. had pre-
vented him from seeing her out
stretched hand.
fu," he said II had no other reason
Tor coming but to see John and to pay
this call upon you"
Il am greatly flattered," she told
nm. You must please sit down and
make yourself comfortable while we
talk. See, this Is my favorite place."
abe added, dropping into a corner OF
her lounge. "Will you sit beside me3
Or, II you prefer, draw up that chair"
'My preference" he replied, SIS to
remain standing"
She raised her eyebrows. Her tone
altered.
ut must be as you wish, Of course"
she continued; "only have such pleas
ant recollections of your hospitality at
Peak Hall that should like. If there
~aB any possible way In which could
return 1t"
MADAM" he interrupted, you must
admit that the hospitality of Peak Hall
WAS not willingly offered to you. Save
for the force Of circumstances, you
would never have crossed our thresh-
old"
She shrugged her shoulders. She
vas. adapting her tone and manner to
the belligerency of his attitude.
"Wellf"
You want to know why have found
~ way to Londonr he went on. ~
same to ind out q little more about
You."
About mel"
ITO discover II there was anything
about you" he proceeded deliberately,
concerning which report had lied. I
20 not place my faith In newspapers
and gossip. There was always chance
that you might have been an honest
woman. That Is why l came to Lon
don. and why l went to see your play
last night"
She was speechless. 1t was as II he
we're speaking to her In some foreign
tongue.
Il have struggled" he continued, ito
adopt a charitable view of your pro-
fsssi0n. know that the world changes
quickly, while we, who prefer to re-
main outside its orbit, of necessity lose
touch with Its new ideas and new
fashions. So l said to myself that
there should be no mistake. For that
renson I sat In a theater last night al
most for the first time In my life.
cav you act"
"Well?" she asked almost defiantly.
He looked down at her. All splendid
self-assurance seemed ebbing away.
She felt sudden depression of spirit.
= sudden strange sense Of Insigfff-
oance.
II have come" he said, ''if can, to
buy my brothers freedom"