Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-17

first. But you do, dear" At arms
length he held her off, his hands on
her shoulders. His happy eyes
searching her face saw the dawn OF
the dazed question.
Wouldn't care for you if did for
John Smith! Way. you are John
Smith. What do you mean!" she
demanded, her eyes slowly sweeping
him from head to foot and back
again. What do you rnean?"
Miss Maggiep lnstinctively his
tongue went back to the old manner
of address, but his hands still held
her shoulders. You don't mean
you can't mean that--that you didn't
understand-that you don't under
stand that am--Oh, good heavens!
We'll, | have made Eless OF it this
time" he groaned. Releasing his
hold on her shoulders, he turned and
began to tramp up and down the
room. Nice little John Alden
Miles Standish affair this is now,
upon my word! Miss Maggie. have
| got to-to propose to you all over
again for-for another man, now?"
"For-another man! IL don't
think | understand you" Miss Mag
gle had grown little white.
Then you don't know-you
didn't unders, land, few minutes ago,
when IL spoke hrst, when | ASKED
you about those twenty millions"
She lifted her head quickly,
pleadingly.
Mr.. smith, please, don't let US
bring money INFO it at all. | don't
care-l DON'T care a bit if you
haven't got any money"
Mrs. Smiths jaw cropped.
III i haven't got any money! |
he CALCULATED stuplaiy.
NO! Oh, yes, know, | said | |
loved money The rich red came
back to her face in a flood. But
| didn mean-and it's just as much
of test and an opportunity wnen
you don't have money-mOre so, If
anything. dldn t mean it-tnat
way. / never thought of-of how
you might take it--as if | wanted it.
l don't. lnueed, don't! On, cant
you--understand?"
"UnuerStana! Good heavensY
Mr.. Smith threw up both his hands.
And | thought d given myself
away, Miss Maggie" tie came to
her and STOOD close, but he did not
oAer to touch her. Il thought, alter
Id SAID what | did about those
twenty millions that you understood
that you knew | was-Stanley
tul,on himself
"lnat you were-who?" Miss
Maggie stood motionless, her eyes
LOOKING straight into his, amazed,
lnCreduiouS.
"Stanley Fulton. am Stanley
Futon. My Uou! Maggie, don't
look at ME like that. | thought
mad told you. Inueed | didr'
she was backing away now, slow
ly, step by step. Anger, almost
lOathlng, had taken the place OF the
amazement and lncreuunty in her
eyes.
and you are Mr.. Fulton?"
Yes, yes! Dut---
Ana you have been here all these
montns-yes. years-unuer a 1alse
name, pretending 10 be what you
Weren talking to US, eating at our
tables, winning our connuence, let
ting us talk TO you ABOUT yourself,
even pretending tnat-On, how
cou4d your her voice broke.
Maggie, dearest" he begged,
sprlngmg toward her, if you IL only
Jet me"
But she stopped him peremptori-
ly, drawing helselt to her tuli nelgnt.
i am not your dearest" she
famed angrliy. Il did not give my
.ove-to YOU
"Magg,e!" he implored.
But she drew back still farther.
No! | gave it to John Smith
gentleman, supposed. A man
Joor, yes, | believed him poor; but
man who at least had right to
his name! didn't give it to Mr.. |
Stanley G. Fulton, spy, trickster,
who makes life itself a masquerade
for sport. | do not know Mr.. STAN
ley &. Fulton and I-dq not wish |
to- The words ended in a sound |
very like a sob; but Miss Maggie,
with her head still high, turned her
back and walked to the window.
The man, apparently stunned for
a moment, stood watching her, his
eyes grieved, dismayed, hopeless.
Then, white-faced, he turned and |
walked toward the door, With his
hand almost on the knob he slowly |
wheeled about and faced the woman
again. He hesitated visibly, then in
dull, lifeless voice, he began to
speak.
Miss Maggie, before John Smith
steps entirely out of your life, he
would like to say just this, please,
not in justification, but in explana-
ton of-of Stanley c. Fulton. Full
ton did not intend to be a spy, or
a trickster, or to make life a mas
querade for-sport. He was lone
ly old mamie felt old. He had no
wife or child. True. he had no one
to care for, but--he had no one to
care for him either. Remember
that, please. He did have a great
deal of money-more than he knew
what to do with. Oh, he tried |
various ways OF spending it. Never
mind what they were. They result
ed chiefly in showing him that he
wasn't-as wise as he might be in |
that line, perhaps"
The man paused and wet his lips. |
At the window Miss Maggie still
stood, with her back turned as be- |
fore.
The time came finally" resumed |
the man, when Fulton began to
wonder what would become of his
millions when he was done with
them. He had a feeling that he would |
like to will good share OF them
to some of his own kin; but he had |
no nearer relatives than some cous-