The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1917-05-10
Bul she was gone. The hall door
slammed before he could reach 1t.
CHAPTER XIX.
Ore Way Out.

uily-lOIS search through all MS &C
customed haunts, Ember ran Whlta
ker to earth in the dining room of tn,
Primordial. The young man, alone
ut table, was in the act of topping
off an excellent dinner with still
more excellent cordial and a super
excellent cigar.
He wore rough tweeds, and they
were damp and baggy; his boots were
muddy; his hair was trifle disorder.
| ~. The ensemble made figure wildly
incongruOus to the soberIy splendid
| and stately dining hall of the Primer
dial club, with its sparse patronage
of members In evening dress.
Ember, himself as severely beauti-
full in black and white as the ceremo-
NOUS livery of today permits man
to be, was wonder-struck at sight Of
Whitaker in such unconventional
guise, at such time, in such a place.
With neither invitation nor SalutatiOn,
he slipped into chair on the other
side Of the table, and stared.
Whitaker smiled benignantly upon
him, and called n waiter.
Ember, always abstemous. lifted
his hand and smiled negative smile.
Whitaker dismissed the waiter.
"Well 2" he inquired cheer
fully.
what right have you got to look
like that?" Ember demanded.
"The right of every free-born Amer
lean citizen to make an ass of himself
according to the dictates Of his con-
science. I've been exploring the dark
backwards and abysm of the Bronx
afoot. Got caught in the rain on the
way home. Was late getting back,
md dropped In here to celebrate"
Give been looking for you every
where, since morning"
II suspected you would be. THAT'S
Why ! went walking-tO be lonesome
md thoughtful for once in way"
Ember stroked his chin with thought
'ul fingers.
you've heard the news, then"
"In three ways" Whitaker re-
urned, with calm.
"How's that-three waysT
Through the newspapers. the bill
boards, and from the lips Of my
Wife"
Ember opened his eyes wide.
you've been to see herW
"She called this morning"
But Ember interrupted, thrusting
eady and generous hand across the
able:
"My dear man, am gIadw
Whitaker took the proffered hand
eadily and firmly. "Thank you.
was saying: she called this morning
o inform me that, though welded
nee, we must be strangers now-and
vermOre!"
But you-of course-you argued
hat nonsense out of her head"
ITO the contrary-again."
"But-my dear man you said you
'ere celebrating; you permitted me
, congratulate you just now"
1.-THE point is" said Whitaker, with
bland and confident grin; I've sue
eeded in arguing that nonsense out
Ember gave helpless gesture. I'm
fraid this is one of my stupid
lights :"
81 mean that, though Mary ran away
ON me, wouldn't listen to reason, |
ave, in the course of an afternoons
ard tramping, come to the conclu-
on that there is nothing under the
In which binds me to sit back and
'cept whatever treatment she pur-
Uses according me by courtesy of
lies Max"
Whitaker bent forward, his coun-
nance discovering a phase of seri-
sness hitherto masked by his twist
smile.
81 mean I'm tired of all this poppy {,
ok. Unless I'm an infatuated ass, n
lry loves me with all her heart. She q
s made up her mind to renounce me
rtly because Max has worked upon r.
r feelings by painting some lurid o,
,ture of his imminent artistic and n,
ancial damnatiOn if she leaves him,
rtly because she believes, or has a,
IN led to believe, In this destroy 81
angel moOnshine. Now she's got Iv
listen to reason. So. likewise, Max"
You're becoming more human word p,
word" commented Ember with VIC
N approval. Continue; elucidate; Of
IN understand how a fairly resOIute mr.
cr with the gift Of CAB can talk a an
lk-minded. fond female into deny mn
her pet superstition; but how co
re going TO get around Max passes no
comprehension. The man unques- dis
ably has her under contract" an
But you forgot his god is Nam ers