Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-18

marrr h..:;,,. = he ever found out about
yOu--"
"He will never marry me. And-he
does know"
The fact that Ward knSw the truth
about Elnor and the band brought
back to him, their common peril. He
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 and
placed on the library table. Such set
tings as had remained from the coun-
try club raid, after the gems had been
taken out, he melted together in old
Hilarys crucible and placed the gold
and platinum nugget in Elinor's box.
He had set the safe to simple COM
bination and closed it. Except for it's
size, and for the protective wiring
buried in its walls, it might have been
family safe, built by a nervous and
elderly gentleman living in the coun-
try to hold his silver spoons.
1t was too late by that time to bury
the box as Boroday had suggested.
Huff did the next best thing He
buried 1t carefully in Elinor's garden,
under clunp Of crimson phlox.
Elnor worked hurrledly, but with
hopeless eyes. Her preparations con-
sisted in little more than putting on
the clothing in which she meant to
travel In this new life on which she
was entering she wanted little to re-
mind her Of the old A letter to Hem
rlette contained enough money to pay
off the servants and the household ac-
counts. In another envelope she fold
ed the deed to the house and a note
conveying 1t to Henrictte.
"You can sell it," she wrote. "Good-
by, dear Henrietta. shall never for
get you, and If ever it is possible, be
sure shall see you again"
The time came, just before dawn,
when she and Walter stood again face
to face in the library.
Huff was going at once. 1t was not
Boroday's plan that any of them
should further incriminate Elinor by
accompanying her to the train. AT Il
sound Of steps on the stairs, Huff
started.
"The nurse going down, probably for
ice" she explained.
"He is getting better, isn't he?"
"Yes, but he still suffers at times"
When the steps had died away, Eli
nor slowly drew off her engagement
ring and held it out TO him across the
table. Although he was watching her
he made no move to take 1t, and She
laid it down between them on the
table.
81 don't think we need talk about it,
Walter" she said simply. "There, is
nothing to say, is therc?"
Il suppose not" he returned bitterly.
He added: "If only you will try not
to hate me, Elinor."
81 do not hate you. But If he had
died"
Huff came swiftly around the table
and taking both her hands in his, held
them to his throat with despairing
gesture.
''If didn't know that 1t would make
you more unhappy" he said slowly,
ard kill myself today"
"Walter!'
~ tell you now. 1t won't change
matters any, but perhaps it will
change your memory of me. Ever
since I've known you I've had one
dream. You were to marry me and
was going to turn straight. could
have done 1t with your help. But
now"
IJs dropped her hands and turned
away. Elnor watched him wlsifuily.
The one thing he wanted she could not
give. There could be no compromise
between them. 1t must be all or moth.
Ing, and SIZE had given her all to some.
one else
In the doorway he turned and looked
back at her with haggard eyes. ut was
as if he were impressing on his mem
DRY every light and shadow of her
face; every line of her straight young
figure. Then he went out into that
darkest hour Of the night that pre-
cedes the dawn.
For the first time since his injury
Wards mind was quite clear. He had
not been able to sleep, and the nurse
had been reading to him. Strange read
ing, too, for the assistant rector OF
Saint Jude's. The books old Hilary
had kept on his bedside still lay there.
Even the nurse, accustomed tC
many books for many men, was gently
outraged.