Middletown transcript., 1917-10-13
M1MARY ROBERTS RINEf iAR1
CHAPTER XII.
" THE nan IN LOVER IEN. ETC.
COPYRIGHT
Na2Y ROBERTS RlhehART

dawn when Huff got to the nall. Ihere
were no trains between midnight ana
morning. And Talbot's car, which ne
might have used, had been long de-
laycd by his burst tire. He took
suburban trolley line for perhaps half
the distance and walked the rest.
At four o'clock in the morning he
pressed the arbor button, and old Hem
riette, grumbling at this second dis
turbance of her rest, reused Elinor
again.
Time was precious. Huff, having
rung the announcing bell, made his
way up through the dew to the house.
And SO it was that Elinor, opening the
house door, met him face to face. AS
she recoiIed from him, he closed the
door.
81 have brought you message from
Boroday," he said swiftly. "I've been
fool and scoundrel and-its about
all up
Finor hardly realized what he was
saying. The light Of horror had hardly
died out of her eyes. To her, Walter,
once her lover, now typified all Of suf-
fering and nearness to death that lay
in old Hilary's room upstairs.
''The first train leaves the city ut
six O'clock" he said, trying to keep his
voice steady. "It is hardly likely they
will be out so soon, but under some
pretext or other they will search the
house this morning."
"How can I leave the house now?
Upstairs in fathers room"
Il know" he put in hastily. Il know
all about it. Elinor, am sorry, am
wildly sorry. It's no excuse to say l
was crazy, but was"
"If l go away" Elinor said, with
white lips, show will they manage
about him? The nurseNeeds so many
things, and-I-I see that she has them"
A flame leaped into the boys eyes.
"If you care for him like that
what are you going to do about it?
Even if he cares for you, you cannot
marry him. If he ever found out about
you"
"He will never marry me. And-he
does know"
The fact that Ward knew the truth
about Elinor and the band brought
back to him their common peril. lie
thrust aside for the time at least, his
passion and his despair; and calmly
directed his energies toward preparing
the house for the inevitable search.
So systematic had old Hilary been
that there were few papers to destroy
Such Of the ledgers as were incriminat
ing he burned in the furnace. Elinor's
box Of Jewels he carried upstairs ant
placed on the library table. Such set
tings as had remained from the coun
try club raid, after the gems had beer
taken out, he melted together in ole
Hilarys crucible and placed the gO1t
and platinum nugget in Elinor's box.
He had set the safe to simple com
bination and closed it. Except for it!
size, and for the protective wiring
buried in it's walls. it might have beer
a family safe, built by nervous ant
elderly gentleman living in the coun
try to hold his silver spoons.
It was too late by that time to bur.
the box as Boroday had suggested
Huff did the next best thing. HI
buried 1t carefully in Elinor's garden
under a clump of crimson phlox.
Elinor worked hurriedly, but witt
homeless eyes. Her preparations con
sisted in little more than putting OF
the clothing in which she meant t
travel. In this new life on which sh
was entering she wanted little to re
mind her of the old. A letter to Hen
riette contained enough money to pa
off the servants and the household aC
counts. In another envelope she fold
ed the deed to the house and not
conveying it to Henriette.
"You can sell It," she wrote. "Good
by, dear Henriette. / shall never fol
get you, and if ever it is possible, b
sure I shall see you again.
The time came, just before dawr
when she and Walter stood again fac
to face in the library.
Huff was going at once. 1t was nc
Boroday's plan that any Of ther
should further incriminate Elinor b
accompanying her to the train. At
sound of steps on the stairs HUI
started.
"The nurse going down, probably fo
Ice" she explained.
"IIe is getting better, isn't he?"
"Yes, but he still suffers at times"
When the steps had died away. Ell
nor slowly drew off her engagemer
ring, and held it out to him across til
table. Although he was watching he
he made no move to take it, and 81
laid it down between them on IL
table.
81 don't think we need talk about
Walter" she said simply. There,
nothing to say, Is there?"
81 suppose not" he returned bitterl
He added: IF only you will try n
to hate me, Elinor."
81 do not hate you. But if he h
died"
Huff came swiftly around the tai
and taking both her hands in his. HI
them to his throat with despairi
gesture.
"If didn't know that it would ma
you more unhappy he said slow
"Td kill myself today"
"Walterw
" tell you now. 1t won't chan
matters any, but perhaps 1t "
change your memory Of me. E1
since I've known you I've had o
dream. You were to marry me ano
was going to turn straight. 1 COZ
horo dona tr with yOur help,
now"
He dropped her hands and turn
away Eljnor watched him wistful