Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-24


dawn when Hun ct to the hall. There
were no trains between midnight and
morning. And. Calbot's car. which he
might have used, had been long de.
layed by his burst tire. He took a
suburban trolley Hne' for perhaps half
the distance and walked the rest.
At four o'clock in the morning he
pressed the arbor button, and old Hen
riette. grumbling at this second dis
turbance Of her rest, reused Elinor
again.
Time was precious. HUFF, having
rung the announcing bell, made his
way up through the dew to the house.
And so,it was that Elinor, opening the
house door, met him face to face. As
she recoiled from him, he closed the
door.
II have brought you message from
Boroday," he said swiftly. 1--WE been
q fool and scoundrel and--it's about
all up"
,-Eiinor hardly realized what he was
saying. The light Of horror had hardly
died out Of her eyes. To her, Walter,
once her lover, now typified all Of suf-
fering and nearness to death that lay
In old Hilary's room upstairs.
1.-THE first train leaves the city at
six O'Clock" he said, trying to keep his
voice steady. 1T Is hardly likely they
will be out 30 soon, but under some
pretext or other they viii search the
house this morning"
"How can I leave the house now?
Upstairs in fathers room"
II know" he put In hastily. II know
all about it. Elinor, I am sorry, am
wildly sorry. It's no excuse to say
was crazy, but was"
"If I 60 away" Elinor said, with
white lips, ''how will they manage
nbont him? The nurse needs SO many
things, and IL see that she has them"
A flame leaped into the boys eyes.
"If you care for him like that
what are you going to do about it,
Even II he cares for you. you cannot
marry him. II he ever found out about
you"
/. HE VIII never marry me. And-he
does know"
The fact that Ward knew the truth
about Elinor end the band brought
back to him their common peril. He
thrust aside. for the time ut least, his
passion and his despair; ana 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
liilary's crucible and placed the gold
aud platinum nugget in Elinor's box.
He had set the safesto simple COM
bination and closed 1t. Except for it's
size and for the protective wiring
buried in its walls, it might have been
n family safe, built by 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.
Hun did the next best thing. He
buried 1t carefully in Elinor's garden,
under clump Of crimson phlox.
Elinor worked hurriedly, 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 Hen
riette contained enough money to pay
of the servants and the household nc
counts. In another envelope she fold
cd the deed r. the house and note
conveying 1t to Henriette.
'You can sell It," she wrote. "Good-
by, dear Henriette. I shall never for
get you, and II ever It is possible, be
sure shall see you again.
The time came, just before dawn,
when she and Walter stood again face
80 face In the library.
HUFF was going 1t once. It was not
Hproday's plan that any Of them
should further incriminate Elinor by
accompanying her to the train. AT a
sound Of steps on the stairs, HUFF
started.
1.-THE nurse going down. probably for
Zee" she explained.
HE Ii getting better, isn't he?"
Eyes, but he still suffers at times"
] When the steps had died away. Ell
hor slowly drew OF her engagement
hing, and held It ont to him; across the
table. Although he WINS watching her.
he made no move to take, It, and she
bald 1t down between them on the
table.
II don't think We need talk about 1t,
Walter" she said simply. There, is
nothing to say, is thereif'.
4 Il suppose not, he returned bitterly.
He added: III only you Will try not
TO hate me, Elinor."
"I do not hate you. But IL he had
died
!. 4 Hun came swiftly around the table
and taking both her hands in his, held
them to his throat with q despairing
gesture.
III I didn't know that It would make
You more unhappy" ne said slowly,
] F:l Sr .lll myself !. today
II tell you now. It won't change
matters any. but perhaps 1t will
change your memory OF me-. Ever
iuallr u " 49, - :