The Raymer enterprise., 1918-02-07
The Real Man
BY FRANCIS LYNDE =
Copyrsha b. CHA scrhoerssoaD
CHAPTER XIII.
The FIesh.Pots Of Egypt.


telephone message to the construction
lamp that he stood In no immediate
danger. Smith spent the heel Of the af-
ternoon In the High Line Offices, keep
Ing In wire touch with Stillings, whom
be had sent on secret mission to Red
Butte. and with Williams at the dam.
The High Line enterprise was on the
knees Of the g0is. II Williams could
pull through In time, II the river-swell-
ing storms should hold of, II Stanton
should delay his final raid past the
critical hour-and there was now good
reason to hope that all OF these con.
kingencies 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 outdlstanced 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 OF. Smith went
b his rooms, and, as once before and
for a 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 bis coat when he heard a tap at
the door and Jibbey came In.
'Glad rags. ehi" said the blase one,
with a 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 afterward. By
and BY. when she's foot-loose, she
wants to see you in the mezzanlne.
Isn't there some quiet little joint
where we two can 60 for a bitei You
know the town. and I don't"
Smith put his coat on. and together
they circled the square to Frnscati's.
taking q 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 Jlbbey alone. and Starbuck
played third hand admirably. taking
kindly to the sham black sheep, and
filling him up. 10 quiet, straight.fnced
humor, with many and most marvel.
Gus tales of the earlier frontier.
At the end Of the meal, while Jlb-
bey was still content to llnger, 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 Richlander came to join him.
1T has been long day. hasn't itf"
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 I
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"
I'm way, / suppose have" he
admitted.
You have, indeed. You are . to-
6lly different man."
"In what way, particularly
"In every conceivable way. II one
could believe In transmlgration. one
would say that you had changed souls
with some old, hard-hltting, rough
riding ancestor. Have your ambitions
changed, too7
II am not sure now that had any
ambitions in that other life"
"Ok, yes. you had" she went on
smoothly. "In 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 footing
with other men Of your capabilities.
You wouldn't be willing to do that
now, would you7--leavlng the sentl-
ment out az you used to leave II out
then7"
mo, I hardly think should"
Her laugh was muslcally low and
sweet, and only mildly derisive.
you are thinking that 1t Is change
Of environment, wider horizons, and
all that. which has changed you. Mon
tague; but I know better. It is a
woman, and, as you may remember, !
have met her-twice." Then. with
q faint glow Of spiteful IRE In the
magnificent eyes: "How can you make
yourself believe that she is prettyr
He shrugged one shoulder In token
Of the utter uselessness of discussion
in that direction.
"Sentiment?" he queried. IT think
We needn't go into that. at this late
day, verda. It Is field that neither
Of MS entered. or cared to enter, In
the days that are gone. II I say that
Corona Baldwin has-qulte uncon-
sciously on her part, I must ask you
to believe - taught me what love
means. that ought to be enough"
Asain she was laughing softly.
You seem to have broadly forgot.
ben the old proverb about q woman
bcorned. What have ron to expect
from me after makinl such an admis-
slon - thatr
Smith pulled himself together and
stood the argument firmly upon its
snmnv0~fionahlA footing