The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-10-06
he Real Man
BY FRANCIS LYNDE
Gy.aFft&fatit ,4ar
Copyright by chas scribner.soaS

| v.
and | know, that there was never an,
question of love involved in our rela
IONS past and gone We might have
married, but in that case neither of IL
would have got or exacted any
thing more than the conventional de
cehcleS ana amenities. We mustn't
try to make believe at this late day
You had no illusions about me when
was WatrOuS Dunham'S hired man
you haven't any illusions about me
now"
Perhaps not" was the calm reioin-
der. "And yet today l have lied to
save You from those who are trying
to crush you"
Il told you not to do that" he re-
joined quickly.
Il know you did; and yet, when YOU
went away this morning you knew
perfectly well that l was going to do
it if l should get the opportunity.
Didn't you, Montague?"
He nodded slowly; common honesty
demanded that much.
VERY well; you accepted the serv-
ice, and | gave it freely. Mr.. KnZie
believes now that you are another
Smith-nOt the one who ran away
from Lawrenceville last May. Tell
me: would the other woman have done
as much If the chance had fallen to
her?'
1t was on the tip Of his tongue to
say, Il hope not" but he did not say
it. Instead, he said but YOU don't
really care, Verda ; in the way you are
trying to make me believe you do"
POSSIBLY not; possibly 1 am wholly
selfish in the matter and am only look
ing for some loophole Of escape"
Escape? From whom?"
She looked away and shook her
head. From Watrous Durham. let
us say. You didn't suspect that, did
you? 1t is so, nevertheless. NV fa-
Their desires it; and suppose Watrous
Durham would like to have my money
you know I have something In nv
own right. Perhaps this may help to
account for some other things-fOr
your trouble, for one. You were in
his way, you see. But never mind
that: there are other matters to be
considered now. Though Mr.. KinZie
has been put off the track, Mr.. Stan |
ton hasn't. | have earned Mr.. Stan |
tons ill-will because / wouldn't tell |
him about you. and this evening, at |
table, he took it out on me-"
in what way?"
He gave me to understand. very |
plainly, that he had done something; |
that there was a sensation in prospect |
for all Brewster. He was so exult-
antly triumphant that it fairly fright I
ened me. The fact that he wasn't !
afraid to show some part of his hand
TO me-knowing that I would be sure
to tell yOu-makes me afraid that the
trap has already been set for you"
"In other words, you think he has
gone over Kinzie's head and has tele-
yraphed to Lawrenceville?'
Montague, I'm almost certain of
t."
Smith stood up and put his hands
behind him.
(Which means that have only few
lOurs, at the longest" he said quietly.
md then: "There is good bit to
'e done, turning over the business Of
he Office, and all that: I've been put
ing 1t off from day to day, saying that
here would be time enough to set my |
louise in order after the trap had Z
cen sprung. Now am like the man
phO puts off the making of his will {
ntil 1t Is too late. VIII you let me '
hank you very heartily and vanish?"
"What shall you do?" she asked. l
'Set my house In order, as l say v
s well as l can in the time that re- E
lains. There are others to be con- I
dered, you know" Q
ooh; the plain-faced little ranch t
irl among them, l SUPPOSE" {
"NO; thank God, she Is out Of it e
the way you mean," he n
roke out fervently.
"You mean that you haven't spoken
her-yet?'
"Of course 1 haven't. Do you sup
)se / would ask any woman to marry
e with the shadow of the peniten-
airy hanging over meT a
''But you are not really guilty" Ii
'That doesn't make any difference: IL
'atrous Durham will see to it that C
get what he has planned to give me-" NJ
She was tapping an impatient tat 81
o on the carpet with one shapely Ct
OF. W
"Why don't you turn this new leaf y
yours back and 60 home and fight III
out with Watrous Durham, once III
r all?,. she suggested. 81
II shall probably go, fast enough, I'll
len Macauley or one of his deputies
is here with the extradition papers," as
returned. But as to fighting
lnham, without money"
She looked up quickly, and this time re
ere was no mistaking the meaning tr'
the glow in the magnificent brown gu
eS. I'M
Your friends have money. Monta- me
e-plenty Of 1t. All you have to IA
is to say that you will defend your tn
f. I am not sure that Watrous a
nham couldn't be made to take your TIL
ce in the prisoners dock, or that I'm