The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1917-09-13

were bound to be arrests An this
Elinor knew quite well. It was In such
m atmosphere that she had drawn her
earliest breaths-the play Of cunning
against cunning, wit against wit.
She did not send for Boroday. She
dared not. But because the intimacy
between her, and the middle-aged Rus
sian had always been very close, he
seemed to feel her need. And SO, ON
that Wednesday night, an hour or 20
after midnight, he came. e.
Old Henriette came down and
tapped softly at Elinor's door.
"Boroday," she whispered. He has
rung from the arbor."
That was one Of old Hilary's de-
vices: a hidden wire from the arbor
to the house. It prevented collisions.
Unless otherwise summoned, no men,
Der of his band ever came directly to
the house.
Einor went out aud found him
there. He bent over her hand and
kissed It, as was his custom, and then,
realizing that she was crying, he held
out his arms and she went into them.
Very tender was the Russian with her
that night, very fatherly. he put her
into one of the arbor seats and sat
down beside her.
"Now tell me-" he commanded,
Everything from the start. It was
Walter, I know. But why?" 5
When she did not speak, the Rus
sian nodded.
Jealousy, Of course, but what mad
ness"
There in the arbor, with her hand
between two of his, Elinor sobbed out
the story Of the pearl and her attempt
to return 1t, Huf's threat against
Ward, Wards evening visit, and the
scene between them; and last Of all,
the shot that had nearly ended every
thing in this world for Ward and for
her. Boroday listened quietly; better
than old Hilary ever could, he UNDER
stood. He had been reared on an an
cient faith.
"He is recovering?"
EYES," -. ......
"And he cares for you, Of course1"
mo. I think, perhaps, before no
knew"
"Bah!" said the Russian, and rose.
"What sort of love is that which
changes? I have seen the man. If he
cared at all, he still cares" q
He stepped to the door Of the arbor
and drew a long breath. Over on the
next hill, sleeping through all this tur.
MOL, lay old Hilary. Under these same
stars Huff fled the law, Ward tossed
on his bed, Elinor sat despairing and
ashamed. What did it all mean? What
was the answer?
Perhaps, had he known it, old Hen
riette could have told him-Henriette,
who had begun to measure her days
from the end and not from the begin
ming, and who now sat on the edge of
her bed mumbling. Between her fin
gers she a the beads of an old
rosary which she had found beneath
a carpet.
II had thought" said Elinor wistful-
~, "that;if I could get away somewhere
and start all over again, perhaps some
day I might be good-like other wom-
en-. I can lever go back to things as
they were before"
NO." said the Russian, II can see
that. But make no mistake. You are
good as few are good"
II could sell the house and-and I
do not want the jewels. If only you
and the others would divide them"
But Boroday would not hear Of this.
To q certain extent he was reconciled
to her going away. Things were clos
ing in on the band. Before long they
would probably all have to separate. It
were better that Elinor be in safety.
So for a long time they discussed
ways and means, available money, the
question Of q home for old Henriette.
I'm some ways" Elinor said, II feel
as though / am deserving him." She
glanced toward the graveyard where
old Hillary slept. "But all I can think
Of now is to get away, to forget every
thing"
"When will they be able to move Mr..
Ward?"
I'm a week, I should think"
'Then, In a week." said Boroday,
where do you think of going, Elinor2'
II had hardly got SO far. Anywhere
but here"
"We shall have to plan for you"
He picked up his soft hat and Eli
nOr o
"Good night, Elinor."
"Good night. I am always happier
for having seen you"
He watched her back to the house,
then went down the steps into the
road. e
There had been a dinner at the
country club that night. The chief had
attended it, unknown to hostess and
guests. to the extent Of sitting IN Tho