The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-02-20

an imbecile-Im no ~good-that's ALL"
Those big hands were at her Shout
ders again. That soothing voice was
courage and praise:
"You are not nc good. You shall
succeed! I'll make Reben take you
back. I've helped Reben out when he |
was in trouble. I've Aent him money
and I'll make him give you your
chance. I promise that, on my word!"
She stared at him through her tears.
They blurred him in dancing flashes
of light as if he were a sun god. She
caught his hands from her shoulders,
but she had to hold them in hers. She
was drowning, and she must cling to
whatever arms stretched down to her.
She must not question whose they
were till she was safe again on the
solid earth.
Duane was laughing now and pat
ting her on the back Us If she were a
frightened child. She felt no right
to rebuke his caresses. They were
such as a brother might give a sister.
His arm about her was that of a con
rade, sustaining another in a battle.
He was the only n in the world
who offered her courage and praise
and help in her need.
Duane said, with a matter-of-fact
b%riskness: "Ill call Reben up at once.
No, I'll go see him."
"But you put me under such obliga-
lions. I'm afraid"
"Never be afraid of an obligation"
"I'm afraid 1 can never repay it."
"Then you're one ahead. But you
can repay me and you will"
"How?"
Lets wait and see. Goodby. Don't
worry"
He gave her a hand-grip of perfect
| good fellowship and went into the hall.
She followed him to tell him again
how kind he a AS she YES clasp
ing his hand again Leila opened the
door with her latchkey.
Now there was triple elnbarrass-
ment. Tom Duane had paid ardent
court to Leila before she married Bay
ard. Here he was in Bayard's wife's
home, apparently flirting with Bay
ards young sister.
Leila felt all the outraged senti-
ments Of jealousy and all the indig-
nation of a chnperon who has been cir
cumventcd. Duane retreated in poor
order. Daphne stammered an expla-
nation too brief and muddled to suf-
flee. Then she went to her room.
There her mother found her when
she came in later. Daphne had only a
miracle twice, SO she told her mother
that she had failed as an actress. She
told her bluntly:
Mamma, I've been fired"
To her comfort her mother caught
her to her ample bosom and said: "I'm
glad Of it. I'm much obliged to who.
ever is to blame. Not but what YOU
could have succeeded if you had kept
at it. But you're too good for such
q wicked life. A person couldn't be an
actor without being insincere and &
pretender, and my little girl is too hon
est. So now you come along home
with me-"
1NO, tHuuk you, mdulHld.
Mrs. Kip gathered herself together
for a vigorous assault when the tele
phone rang and the maid brought wore
that a gent'man wished to speak witt
Miss Daphne.
1t was Duane, and she braced her
self for another blow. But his voice
was clarion with success.
1--WE seer Reben. It's all right. He's
promised to keep you or and give yor
Il chance. He says for you to repor
at the theater at seven-thirty tonight
And low again Daphne was more
afraid of her success, such as it was
than of her failure. But it was pleas
ant. to carry the news to her mother
and Leila.
1t disguised them both. They wer.
still trying to dissuade her from con
tinuing on the downward path wher
a telegram from her father came fol
her mother:
"Taking beaver arrive Grand Cen
trail tomorrow don't meet me love.
"WES."
Bayard was late. as usual, ant
Leila's temper had just begun to sim
mer when the door was opened stealth
lily and a hand was thrust in. 1t prof
fered a small box of jewelers. size ant
waved it like a flag Of truce.
Leila rushed forward with q cry o.
delight, seized the packet and ther
the hand, and drew Bayard into the
room and into her arms.
"This is your apology, I suppose
she said.
eyes, the apology for being late, ant
that's what made me late"
Leila was enraptured. She adoret
gifts and she had the knack of inspir
ing them. The little square parce
provoked her curiosity. She opened
it so excitedly that the contents fell
to the floor. She swooped for then
and brought up a platinum chain witt
a delicate plaque Of tiny diamonds ant
pearls on a device Of platinum.
7 D}10 ~ NFuo LT;- n-J Do-L-o