The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-10-06
CHAPTER XIII.
~
The Flesh-Pots Of Eovn+

'i"'"li III tle HlSn Line Offices keen
il@ IN wire touch with StilIings. whom
ne had sent on secret mission to RI,
futte. and with Williams at the dam
ne H!gh Line enterprise WAS on tn,
knees of the gods. If Williams couI,
pull through in time, if the river-sweII
ing storms should hold off. if Stonto,
should delay his final raid past tht
critical hour-and there was now qooe
reason to hope that all of these con
tingencies were probable-the victor,
was practically won.
Smith closed his desk at six o'clock
and went across to the hotel to dress
Tor 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
corresponding was completed. and
the long strain was off. Smith wont
10 MS rooms, and, as once before and
Tor similar reason, he laid his dress
Gotnes out on the bed. He made SIRE
that he would be required to dine with
Nerda HIGHLANDER, and he was strip-
ping his coat when he heard q tan at
the door and Jibhey came in.
Giad rags, eh?" said the blase one
with glance at the array on the bed
i've 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 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 I 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
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-
hey 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
quiet corner of the meZzanine before |
Miss Richlander came to join him.
1T has been long day, hasn't it?"
she began evenly. you have been
busy with your dam. I suppose, but
II have had nothing to do but to
hink, and that is something that I
1on't often allow myself to do. You
nave gone far since that night last
Way when you telephoned me that you
would come up to the house later-and
hen broke your promise. Montague"
'In a way, l suppose l have" he
admitted.
You have. indeed. You are to-
ally different man."
TN what way, particularly?
"ln every conceivable way. II one
ould believe in transmigratiOn, one
you'd say that you had changed souls
7ith some old, hard-hitting, rough
lding ancestor. Have your ambitions
hanged, tOoT"
II am not sure now that | had any
mbitions in that other life"
"Oh, yes, you had" she went on .
"In the other life,' as you
all it, you would have been quite
'iIliDg to marry woman who could
ssure you firm social standing and
Ioney enough to put you on footing
18th other men of your capabilities.
GU wouldn't be willing to do that
ow, would you?-leaving the senti- Z
ent out as you used to leave 1t out
len" :,
mo, / hardly think should"
Her laugh was unsteady low and
veet, and only mildly derisive.
"You are thinking that 1t is change
environment, wider horizons, and y
I that, which has changed you, Mon !,
que; but / know better. 1t is a u
oman, and, as you may remember,
ave met her-twice." Then, with
faint glow of spiteful fire in the v
agnificent eyes: "How can you make 1
urself believe that she is pretty"
He shrugged one shoulder In token tt
the utter uselessness of discussion IL
that direction.
Sentiment" he queried. II think OF
, needn't go into that, at this late it
y, verda. 1t Is field that neither fo
us entered, or cared to enter, In
e days that are gone. II say that W
roma Baldwin has-Quite uncon- &c
ously on her part, must ask you he
believe - taught me what love D
.ans, that ought to be enough"
Again she was laughing softly. tn
You seem to have broadly forgot of
! the old proverb about woman ey
,rned. What have you to expect
I'M me after making such an admis- GU
n as that2' do
Smith pulled himself together and Sc
'od the argument firmly upon its d,
footing. pl,
Let us put all these indirectious yo