The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-06-16


ringed hand on the table and pushed
her chair back The Major calamity
waddled to withdraw her chair; she rose
with a gesture of thanks, and a glance
which shot the Major through and
through wound he never could ac-
custom himself to receive with stoicism.
Mrs. Sprowl turned carelessly away,
followed by her two Great Danes
superb trio, woman and dogs beautifully
built and groomed, and expensive
enough to please even such an amateur
as Peyster Sprowl, NJ. F. H
"Gad, SprOwll" sputtered the Major
"your wife grows handsomer every min
ute-and you grow fatter."
SprOwl, midway in a glass of claret,
said: This simple backwoods regime
IS what she and l need"
Agatha Sprowl was certainly hand
some, but the Majors eyesight was
none the best. She had not been grow
ing younger; there were lines; also a
discreet employment of tInts on a very
silky skin, which was not quite as fresh
as it had once been.
DR.. Lansing, strolling on the veranda
with his pipe, met her and her big dogs
turning the corner in full sunlight
Coursay was with her, his eager, flushed
face close to hers; but he fell back when
he saw his kinsman Lansing, and present.
ly retired to the lawn to unreel and dry
out a couple of wet silk lines.
Agatha Sprowl sat down on the YER
anda railing, exchanging a gay smile
across the lawn with Coursay; then her
dark eyes met Lansing's steel-gray ones.
Good morning, once more, she
said, mockingly-
He returned her greeting, and began
to change his mist leader for white
"Win you kindly let Jack Coursay
alone?" she said, In low voice.
No" he replied, in the same tone.
''Are YOU serious?" she asked, as
though the idea amused her.
''Of course" he replied, pleasantly.
els it true that you came here because
he came?" she inquired, with faint
sarcasm in her eyes.
good-nature. You see he's my own
kin; you see I'm the old-fashioned sort
"a perfect fool, Mrs. Sprow1.
There was a silence; he unwound the
glistening leader; she flicked at shadows
with her dog-whip; the Great Danes
yawned and laid their heavy heads
against her knees
Then you are fooF' she, conclud-
ed, serenely.
He was young enough to redden.
Three years ago she had thought 1t
time to marry somebody, if she ever in
tended to marry at all; so she threw
over half a dozen young fellows ike
Coursay, and married SprowI. For
two years her beauty, audacity, and
imprudence kept a metropolis and two
capitals In food for scandal. And now
for year gossip was coupling her name
with Coursay's
al warned you at Palm Beach that
I'd stop this" said Lansing, looking
directly into her eyes. You see, L
know his mother"
"Stop WHAT" she asked, eoolly
He went on: Jack Is a euriously de-
cent boy; he views his danger without
panic, but with considerable surprise.
But nobody can tell what he may do.
As for me. I'm Indifferent, liberal, and
reasonable IN any views of - other
peoples conduct But Jack Is not one
of those other people, you see
And 1 ann" she suggested, serenely.
-' Exactly; I'm not your keeper
$50 you eonfne your attention to
Jack and the Decalogue?"
As for the Commandments, OBJ
served Lansing, /" any ass can shatter
them with his hind heels, so why should
hep IF he r0fsSf he an ass LET him ne an