Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-09-14
CHAPTER XIII.
rhe EIesh.Pots Of EaYpt.

teicphOne message TO the construction
camp that he stood in no immediate
danger, Smith spent the heel of the af-
ternoon in the High Line offices, keep
lng In wire touch with Stlllngs, 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, IL 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 Mt 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 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
Nerda Riehlander, and he was strip
ping his coat when he heard q tap at
the door and Jibbey came in.
"Glad rags. ehr' said the blase one,
with glance at the array on the bed.
tive Just run up to tell you that you
needn't. Verda's dining with the
Stantons, and she wants me to keep
you out of sight until nfterward. 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 bitter You
know the town. and / don't"
Smith put his coat on. and together
they circled the square to Frascati's,
taking 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
Milling him up, in quiet stralght-faced
humor, with many and most marvel
GUS tales of the earlier frontier.
At the end of the meal, while Jib-
bey was stlll content to llnger listen
ing open-mouthed to Starbuck's ro-
mnncings, Smith excused himself and
returned to the hotel. He had scarce
~ chosen his Iounging chair in a
quiet corner Of the mezzanine before
Miss Richlander came to Join him.
'It has been a long day, hasn't it7"
she began evenly. "You have been
busy with your dam, 1 suppose, but
I'll hive 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 teIephoned me that you
would come up to the house later-and
then broke your promise, Montague"
"1n way. suppose have" he
admitted.
you have, indeed. You are a to-
kally different man."
'Tn what wny. particularlyr
TN every conceivable way. II one
could believe in transmlgration, 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"
"Oh, yes, you had" she went on
smoothly. I'm the other llfe,' as you
call II, you would have been quite
willing to marry woman who could
assure you firm social standing and
money enough to put you on n footing
with other men of your capabilities.
You wouldn't be willing to do that
now, would you?-leaving the senti-
ment out as you used to leave 1t out
then7"
"No, hardly think l should"
Her laugh was musically low and
sweet, and only mildly derisive.
"Y0u are thinking that 1t is change
of environment. wider horizons, and
all that, which has changed you. Mon
tague; but I know better. 1t is O
woman, and, as you may remember.
have met her-twice." Then, with
n faint glow Of spiteful fire In the
magnificent eyes: "How can you max,
yourself believe that she is pretty z
He shrugged one shoulder In tokeI
Of the utter uselessness of discussion
In that direction.
Sentiment" he queried. 'T thinl
we needn't go into that, at this lat
day, Verda. II Is field that neithe
of us entered, or cared to enter, fl
the days that are gone. II say tina
Corona Baldwin has-quite uncon
sciously on her part, / must ask yOI
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 u woma
scorned. What have you to expec
from me after making such an admi,
sion as that?"
Smith pulled himself together an
stood the argument firmly upon Il
unquestionable footing.
LET us put all these lndlrectIou
aside and be for the moment merel
man and n woman, as God made u
Verda," he said soberly. "You know
and I know, that there was never an
question of love involved in our rel
tiOns past nsd gone. We might ha,
married but In that case neither OF |
wCdld have got or exacted an
thing more than the conventional d
cencles and amenities. We mustr
try TO make believe at this late da
You had no illusions about me when
was Watrous Dunham's hired maj
you. haven't any illusions about d
now"
Perhaps not" was the calm rejol
der. "And yet today I have lied
save you from those who are tryil
10 crush you"
II told you not TO do that" he l
Joined quickly.
Il know you did; and yet, when v
went away this morning you KIN,
perfectly well that l was going to
Il II / should get the opportuni
Didn't you, MontagueT