Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-17

power to turn to for help. She had
felt 1t vaguely ut the time Of her ia
TIERS death. Sitting outside Wards
door she had known it. Every breath
had been prayer to something, she
knew not what, to save him.
II thank thee" she said again.
The phlox and larkspur Quiyered
about her as If under the touch of a
gentle hand.
Boroday had been free for three
days, but beyond telephone message
announcing his release she had heard
nothing Of him. Over the wire he had
advised extreme caution. She judged
from that that things were not going
well.
She knew that Huff's reckless crime
would demand scapegoat. There
were bound to be arrests. All this
Ellnor knew quite well. 1t was in such
an atmosphere that she had drawn her
earliest breaths--the play of cunning
against cunning. wit against wit.
She did not send for BOrOday. She
dared not. But because the intimacy
between her and the middle-aged Rus
sian had always been very close, he
seemed to feel her need. And so, on
that Wednesday night, un hour or 50
after midnight. he came,
Old Henriette came down and
tapped softly ut Elinors door.
"Boroday," she whispered. "FIe has
/ rung from the nrbor."
| That was one of old Hilary'S de.
/ vices: a hidden wire from the arbor
+ Ia the house. II prevented collisions
Unless otherwise summoned, no mem.
h'r OF his band ever came directly to
+ The house.
E!lnor went out and found him
| there. He bent over her hand and
kissed it, as was his custom, and then,
realizing that she was crying, he held
out his arms and she went into them.
Very tender was the Russian with her
that night, very fatherly. He put her
into one Of the arbor seats and sat
down beside her.
"N0w tell me-" he commanded,
everything from the start. 1t was
Walter, know. But whyy'
When she did not speak, the Rus
sian nodded
Jealousy, of course but what mad
ness"
There in the arbor, with her hand
between two Of his. ElinOr sObbed out
the story of the pearl and her attempt
to return It. Hun's threat against
Ward. Wards evening visit, and the
scene between them; and last of all,
the shot that had nearly ended every
thinS in this world for Ward and for
her. Boroday listened quietly; better
than old Hilary ever could, he under
stood. He had been reared on an an
Client faith.
"He is recovering?"
"Yes."
"And he cares for you, of course?'
mo. | think, perhaps, before he
knew"
Bah" said the Russian, and rose.
what sort Of love Is that which
changes? | have seen the man. If he
cared at all, he still cares"
He stepped to the door of the arbor
and drew a long breath. Over on the
next hill, sleeping through all this tur-
MOL, lay old Hilary. Under these same
stars Huff fled the law, Ward tossed
on his bed. Elinor sat despairng and
ashamed. What did 1t all mean? What
was the answer?
Perhaps. had he known it, old Hen
riette could have told him-Henrlette.
who had begun to measure her DAYS
from the end and not from the begin
Ming, and who now sat on the edge of
her bed mumblng. Between her fin
gers she ran the beads Of an old
rosary which she had found beneath
carpet.
81 had thought" said Elinor wistful.
ly, shat If could get away somewhere
and start all over again, perhaps some
day ! might be gOod--like other wOm-
en-. can never 20 back to things as
they were before"
"No," said the Russian, II can see
that. But make no mistake. You are
good rs few are good"
~ could sell the house and--and I
do not want the jewels. II only you
and the others would divide them"
But Boroday would not hear of this.
To a certain extent he was reconclled
to her going away. Things were clos
Ing In on the band. Before long they
would probably all have to separate. II
were better that Einor he In safety
SO for long time they discussed