The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-09-28
CHAPTER xXllD.
IL
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
ternoon In the High Line ofices, keep
ing In wire touch with Sullings. whom
Butte, and with Williams at the dam
The High Line enterprise was on the
knees OF the gois. II Williams could
pull through In time. II the river-swell.
Ing storms should hold OF. II Stanton
should delay his nnal raid past the
critical hour-snd 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
held aloof: was fairly outdistanced in
the race, as 1t seemed. Williams final
report had been to the effect that the
concrete-pouring was completed, and
the long strain was of. Smith went
b his rooms, and, as once before and
for similar reason, he laid his dress
clothes out on the bed. He made sure
that he would be required to dine with
Verda HIGHLANDER and he was strip
ping his coat when he heard a tap at
the door and Jlbbey came in.
"Glad rags. chr" said the blase one
with glance at the array on the bed
i've just run up to tell you that you
needn't. verda's dining with the
Stantons, and she wants me to keep
Of oh nFt ~
and by. when she's foot-loose she
wants to see you In the mezzanine.
Isn't there some quiet little joint
where we two can go for bite? You
know the town, and don't"
Smith put his coat on. and together
they circled the square to Frascaus,
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
fined, he was relieved not to have to
talk to Jibbey alone, and Starbuck
played third hand admirably taking
kindly to the sham black sheep, and
filling him up, iu quiet. straight-faced
humor, with many and most marvel
StS tHi'' 'I iII' tfii llti ii'Iliti
At the end OF the meal while Jib-
hey was still content TO llnger. listen
Ing open-mouthed to Starbucks ro-
mancings Smith excused himself and
returned to the hotel. he had scarce
ly chosen his lounging chair in
quiet corner of the mezZanine before
Miss Richlander cAue TO join him.
ut has been a long day hasn't IT."
she began evenly. You have been
busy with your dam. I 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
would come up to the house later-and
then broke your promise. Montague"
In way, l suppose I have" he
admitted.
You have, indeed. You are a to-
tally different man"
In what way. particularlyT
In every conceivable way. II 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, tooT'
Il am not sure now that l had any
ambitions in that other life"
"Oh, yes, you had she went on
smoothly. In the other life as you
call 1t, you would have been quite
willing to marry a woman who could
assure you firm social standing and
money enough to put you on a footing
with other men Of your capabilities.
You wouldn't be willing to do that
now. would you1-leaving the senti-
ment out as you used to leave 1t out
then?"
mo, hardly think l should"
Her laugh was musically low and
sweet, and only mildly derisive.
You are thinking that II is change
OF environment, wider horizons, and
all that which has changed you. Mon
tague; but I know better. 1t is a
woman. and, as you may remember. I
have met her-twice" Then, with
a faint glow Of spiteful nre In the
magnificent eyes: How can you make
yourself believe that she Is pretty?"
He shrugged one shoulder in token
Of the utter uselessness Of discussion
In that direction.
"SentimentT' he Queried. II think
we needn't go into that. at this late
day. Eerda. 1t is a field that neither
of US entered. or cared to enter. in
the days that are gone, II say that
Corona Baldwin has-quite uncon-
sciously on her part. l must ask you
to believe - taught me what love
means. that ought to be enough
Again she was laughing softly.
You seem to have broadly forgot
ten the old proverb about woman
scorned. What have you to expect
from me after making such an admis-