Mexico Missouri message., 1917-10-18
CHAPTER xxIII.
The FIesh.POts Of Egypt.

telephone message to the construction
camp that he stood In no immediate
danger, Smith spent the heel of the af-
ysernOon In the High Line offices, keep
Gng In wire touch with Shllings, whom
ne had sent on a secret mission TO Red
Butte, and with Williams at the dam.
The High Line enterprise was on the
knees of the gods. If Williams could
quill through In time, II the river-swell-
ing storms should hold off, If Stanton
should delay his final raid past the
critical hour-and there was now good
reason TO hope that all Of these con-
tIngencies were probable-the victory
was practically won.
Smith closed his desk at six o'clock
and went across to the hotel to dress
for dinner. The day of suspense was
practically at an end and disaster still
neld alOof; was fAlrly outdlstanced in
the race. as It seemed. Williams final
report had been to the effect that the
Fe0ncrete-pouring was completed, and
the long strain was Off. Smith went
TO his rooms, and, as once before and
Tor similar reason, he laid his dress
clothes out on the bed. He made sure
that he would be required to dine with
Verda Richlander, and he was strip
Ilng his coat when he heard u tap at
the door and Jibbey came in.
''Glad rags, eh?" said the blase one,
with a glance at the array on the bed.
give just run up to tell you that you
needn't. Verda's dining with the
Stantons, and she wants me to keep
6Ou out of sight until afterward BY
and by, when she's foot-loOse, she
wants to see you In the mezzanlne.
Isn't there some quiet little joint
where we two can go for a bite? You
know the town, and / don't"
Smith put his coat on, and together
they ctrcled the square to Frascati's,
taking a table in the main. cafe.
While they were giving their dinner
order, Starbuck came in and Joined
them, and Smith was glad. For rea-
sons which he could scarcely have de-
lined, he was relieved not to have to
faik to Jibbey alone, and Starbuck
played third hand admirably, taking
Kindly to the sham black sheep. and
'-A'Ab ibih up III quiStI SlIdlBuI-RuCSu
humor, with many and most marvel
;ous tales of the earlier frontier.
At the end of the meal, while Jib-
hey was still content to linger, listen
ing Open-mOuthed to Starbuck's ro-
rmancings, Smith excused himself and
returned to the hotel. He had scarce
Hy chosen his lounging chair in
qulet corner of the mezzanine before
Miss Richlander came to join him.
at has been a long day, hasn't it?"
fShe began evenly. "You have been
BUSY with your dam, 1 suppose, but
Il have had nothing to do but to
think, and that Is something that I
don't often allow myself to do. You
have gone far since that night last
May when you telephoned me that you
~Ould come up to the house later-and
chen broke your promise, Montague"
I'm a way, suppose have" he
admitted.
'YOu have, indeed. You are a to-
tally different man."
'FIn what way, particularly"
"LR every conceivable way. If one
could believe in transmigration, one
would say that you had changed souls
with some old, hard-hitting, rough
riding ancestor. Have your ambitions
changed, too?"
II am not sure now that had any
ambitions in that other life"
N'Oh, yes, you had" she went on
1snUothly. SIN the other life,' as you
call 1t, you would have been quite
dVilling TO marry a woman who could
assure you firm social standing and
sUR9aey enough to put you on a footing
with other men of your capabilities.
You wouldn't be willing to do that
NOW, would yOuf-leaving the senti-
Inent out as you used to leave it out
f1henf"
- NO. I hardly think I should"
r Her laugh was muslcally low and
iRWeet, and only mildly derisive.
you are thinking that 1t is change
-Sf environment, wider horizons, and
all that, which has changed you, Mon
atague; but know better. 1t is a
woman, and, as you may remember, 1
have met her-twice." Then, with
n faint glow OF spiteful fire In the
Hnagnlf1cent eyes: "How can you make
yourself believe that she is pretty2"
He shrugged one shoulder in token
-sf the utter uselessness of discussion
aR that direction.
Sentiment he Queried. 81 think
-VEe needn't go into that. at this late
rtzzy, Verda. It is a field that neither
OF as entered, or cnred to enter In
-ehe days that are gone. If say that
Corona Baldwin has-Quite uncon-
SeAOusiy on her part, I must ask you
'GO believe - taught me what love
Eme4ns, that ought to be enough"
Again che was laughing softly.
~KOu seem to have broadly forgot
Sken sEhe old proverb about a woman
s&nOrned, What have you to expect
from me after making such an admis-
a.k... that