Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-11-09
CHAPTER XIII.
The EIesh.Pots of Egypt. .

ing in wire touch with Stillings, whom
he 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
pull through in time, if 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
held aloof; was fairly outdistanced in
the race, as it seemed. Williams final
report had been to the effect that the
concrete-pouring was completed, and
the long strain was off. Smith went
to 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 Richlander, and he was strip
ping his coat when he heard tap at
the door and Jibhey came in.
"Glad rags, eh?" said the blase one,
with glance at the array on the bed.
"Tve just run up to tell you that you
needn't. Verda's dining with the
you out of sight until afterward. By
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 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-
sens which he could scarcely have de-
fined, he was relieved not to have to
talk to Jibbey, alone, and Starbuck
rEayed third hand admirably, taking
k*ndly to the sham black sheep, and
filling him up, in quiet, straight-faced
humor, with many and most marvel
GUS tales of the earlier frontier.
At the end of the meal, while Jib-
boy was still content to linger, listen
ing open-mouthed to Starbuck's ro-
mancings, Smith excused himself and
returned to the hotel. He had scarce
ly chosen his lounging chair in q
quiet corner of the mezzanine before
Miss HIGHLANDER came to join him.
at has been long day, hasn't itT'
she began evenly. "You have been
busy with your dam, suppose, but
II have had nothing to do but to
think, and that is something that
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 l have" he
admitted.
"You have, indeed. You are to-
tally different man."
SIN what way, particularly"
'In 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 l had any
ambitions in that other life."
"Oh, yes, you had" she went OF
| smoothly. SIN the other life,' as yOr
call 1t, you would have been quite
assure you firm social standing ant
money enough to put you on footing
with other men Of your capabilities
You wouldn't be willing to do tina
now, would you?-leaving the senti
ment out as you used to leave it OH
them"
mo, I hardly think I should"
Her laugh was musically low anC
sweet, and only mildly derisive.
"You are thinking that 1t is chang,
Of environment; wider horizons, ant
oil that, which has changed you, Mon
tague; but I know better. 1t is ,
woman, and as you may remember,
have met her-twice." Then, will
faint glow Of spiteful fire in tn,
magnificent eyes: "How can you max,
yourself believe that she is prettyi
He shrugged one shoulder In tolel
of the utter uselessness Of discussion
In that direction.
Sentiment" he queried. 81 thinl
we needn't go into that, at this lat
day, Verda. It Is q field that neithe
Of us entered, or cared to enter, fl
the days that are gone. IF say tina
Corona Baldwin has-quite uncon
sciously on her part, must ask yol
to believe - taught me what low
means, that ought to be enough"
Again she was laughing softly.
"YOu seem to have broadly forgot
ten the old proverb about a woman
scorned. What have you to expec
from me after making such an admis
sion as that?"
Smith pulled himself together an
stood the argument firmly upon it
unquestionable footing.
| Let US put all these indirection