Middletown transcript., 1917-09-22
CHAPTER Discontinued,

hes Single anu very uIIrdCClVe,
my dear. The entire village is trying
to marry him. There is talk of the
doctors daughter, a common little
thing"
When she had gone, Elinor, little
faint and dizzy, went out on the ter
race. She realized that the barrier be-
tween Ward and herself was not only
of his faith against her unbelief. There
was the insurmountable gulf between
his world and her world. She did not
fit into his life. Into his arm, perhaps;
into his life-never.
Walter would try to get the money.
She must get word to him somehow,
for if the Bryant pearl was recovered
and Boroday given his freedom, mon
ey would not be an immediate neces-
sity.
She paced the terrace and tried to
think it out. For Talbot to go back
to the city, an hour; for the delivery of
the special delivery, another hour.
Then the police would have to come
out by train or motor. With the best
of luck, it would be four o'clock before
the pearl could be recovered.
There were dozen possibilities
the chief might be out Of town; the
pearl might be recovered from the
box without his assistance. In that
case he would not hold to his agree
ment with Boroday.
She tried to head Walter off, but she
could not locate him. At none of his
various haunts could she find him by
telephone; he was not at the Dago's;
at the taxicab Office he was said to
be laid off for the day. As the white
clouds Of the afternoon turned to
flame in the sunset, Elinor's face grew
set and hard.
"rm not blind. I'll get him for
this!'
That was what he had said. He
would 60 after the money that night,
and there was murder in his heart.
Old Henriette, watching Elinor's set
face, grew fretful. She squealed If
a door slammed; brought food that
Elinor could not eat, and finally, divin-
ing a crisis, tried stealthily by tele-
phone to locate Talbot or Lethbridge
and failed.
You'd better eat bite or two,"
she entreated.
Elinor's nerves, too, were on edge.
Il don't want It," she said.
"Just little soup!'
eff you bring that tray here again
shall throw it out of the window"
Henriette was cheered. Elinor
whitelipped and speechless, was alarm
ing. Elinor in one Of her rare RACES
was reassuring.
BY seven o'clock Elinor knew what
she must do; go to Ward, tell him
what she feared, and how she knew
She was not craven, but her very sou
was sick. She sought about for some
way to evade the issue or to postpone
it, and finally she struck on one. VI
plain note paper she scrawled little
note in a feigned hand:
"An attempt will be made tonight tt
secure the fund raised at the morning
service. Be advised and give 1t t.
someone else to keep overnight"
But she realized before she had fin
ished it the uselessness of such On at
tempt. Ward would not transfer
danger.
The night had fallen. A line OF car
from the country club was carrying
town people and villagers home to tn
late dinners Of the golf season. Group
OF girls and men in summer garments
chatting gayly, passed under the wal
of her garden. Down in the vale
struggling lines of evening church
goers moved decorously toward tn
churches. A ragged child stood In tn
road below her garden and wep'
Elinor ran down to him, and took hir
up in her arms. When she had soothe
him she felt quieter. She went Int
the house and put on her hat. Their
was no message from Talbot, no Wor
Of Huff.
Evening service was over when sh
reached Saint Jude's. The last strat
gler had gone, and Ward was not
sight. She avoided the street light
She felt quite sure that Walter wa
In the vicinity, his keen eyes missin
nothing.
He had put his hand on her befor
she knew he was near.
"Worshiping again." he jeered.
II have not been in the church
Her quick mind was scheming despe
ately ahead. II have been alone tn
evening. When you did not com
7"
He swung her around.
"You were looking for me?"
81 thought you might Se here. Ye
said last night"
The memory Of the night befo
sturg him. He released her wrist.
"Walter, I am afraid! I tried
make YOU understand last night, b
you wouldn't listen. If ne were rouse
he might be dangerous. Don't tai
chances; don't think, because he Is
churchman-
She was talking against time. 81
had her plan now.
81 can take care of myself" So
Huff sullenly. But he kept his pla
beside her as she started back. ID
solicitude was for him, then. 81
cared, after all. But it wouldn't 90
unbend too much. Elinor had treat
him with q high hand. His very pull
aehed with her nearness, but he q
not touch her.
He left her without even nan
clasp.
"You might wish me luck"
81 wish you safety,"-she replied.