The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-01-05
How Tom Nevins Set
Watch on His Girl
By EDWARD 7. w

considered a desperate fiirt. For quite
awhile the race stood nearly even be-
tween Tom and Phil Hathaway. but
when she decided for Tom she decided
for good, and he had nothing to fear
from his former rival.
But Tom did not have that confidence
in her he should have had, and. al
though she gave him every reason to
trust her, he feared Hathaway. Toms
business called him away a good deal.
and when soon after his engagement
he was about to depart On one of his
trips he called on his best friend, Ned
Stevens, and said to him:
Ned, I've got to go away for q
month and leave Lena. ] have little
doubt that during my absence her old
flame, Hathaway, will make an effort
You 1 know I can trust implicitly. I
wish you would 60 to see Lena occa.
sionally, and IL you see or hear that
Hathaway is trying to rob me do what
you can to circumvent him."
Stevens did not especially relish the
commission and tried to get out Of It,
but his friend was intent upon his act
ing in his behalf, and Ned finally prom.
ised that If he found Hathaway was
interfering, as Tom feared he might be,
Stevens would do what he could to de.
feat him.
Tom went or his trip, and the first
time Stevens called on Lena he found
Hathaway there. When Stevens en-
tered Hathaway gave place to him and
took his leave. Ned showed by his
manner that he did not approve of the
others presence there, and Lena was
not slow in divining the cause. She
knew that Ned was an intimate friend
of her fiance.
Lena was displeased, first that Tom
should doubt her. and, secondly, that
Toms friend should pretend to influ.
ence her to cut off any friend of hers.
No one man is,a match for a
and two men are worse than one.
Three are bound to make a muddle of
anything that concerns her in which
they may take an active part. Lena
was not long In seeing through the
plan. Whether Hathaway was intend
Ing to secure a reversal Of her decision
against him during Toms absence or
not did not interest her, for she had
given her heart and her promise to
Tom, and she knew that no one could
change her mind. AS to Stevens, his
interference made little difference to
her. She wished to show her betrothed
how foolish he had been not to trust
her and to set a mentor over her dur
ing his absence.
Tom, instead Of being away a month.
was absent two months, and Lena had
plenty OF time to work out a little
scheme she had up her sleeve. She
encouraged Mr.. Stevens to visit her
frequently, and, though Hathaway had
no reason to feel encouraged in any ex-
cept a friendly way, he was always
made welcome at her house.
When word was received that Ned
would arrive on a certain evening
Lena sent word to the watcher and the
watched that she would be pleased to
see each at 8 o'clock. Tom arrived at
9 and found an invitation to dine with
his f1ancee. During the dinner Lena
told him that she expected visitors In
the evening and suggested that he
smoke in the library while she enter
tanned her friends. At 8 o'clock there
was a ring at the dOOrbell, and some
one was admitted. Tom was smoking
and reading the evening paper in the
library. He only knew that some one
had come In. Presently there was an
other ring ut the doorbell, and another
visitor came in. Both were shown to
the drawing room and left together till
the hostess should present herself to
them.
Presently Tom heard a voice that
sounded familiar. He could not make
out what the person said, but it was
spoken in a cutting tone. Could that
be Ned Stevens in the drawing room?
Then there "a another voice which he
had also heard before.
"You are' contemplate" said the
first voice, ito show yourself in this
house during the absence of the one
who has the best right here"
mot more to be condemned than one
who constitutes himself his friends
watchdog, with a view to appropriate
ing the guarded one to himself"
you accuse me Of that?"
"NO accusation is necessary; It is q
self evident fact"
Something cracked against the wall.
Nevins rose from his chair.
Biff-the sound of knuckles striking
a cheek.
Tom was about to enter the room
when Lena swooped down the stairs
and caught him in the nick of time.
preventing him from leaving the room.
Stay where you are, Tom" she said.
II don't wish you to be mixed up In
tits matter; I merely wish you to see
the folly of setting a friend of yours
to watch n you fear will take me
away from You. 1 will send them
aWaYO