Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-11

There 10 nothing else that really counts
and you've lost none Of these. A for
ruin" He turned his eyes back 10
her and In them was q CLEAN OF quiz
zical challenge. "Shall I define ruin
for your"
J"Please do" said Andrea, unsmlllng.
"Ruin," said the man. els burial.
Whether It's Pompeii or an entire civ.
ilization lying under strata of ten
thousand years stride Of time--or an
individual rotting under the sod Of
conventions. It's all one and the snnc
thing. Routine Is q tomb. and when
you 20 so deep In its foul air that you
can't keep burning the flame Of that
inner lamp I mentioned, why you're
dead to every intent and every pur.
pose. That, Andrea Pellor, is ruin"
He used her name without prefix,
but without familiarity; simply as
corollary to his stark frankness. She
realized this almost subconsciously.
Her thoughts fingered on the substance
of what he had said, but when she
spoke she proved herself woman.
Speaking Of names, what Is yours?"
she asked.
milne? My namei" said the man.
startled out Of his role. Ee stared
absently through and beyond her.
"Why, I haven't anyhow. Not that
amounts to anything" His eyes came
back to her. "Call me Mr.. White Man
as you have begun--just White Man
when you feel genial, II you ever do"
"Well, Mr.. White Man." said Andrea,
with emphasis, awhat you said about
ruin didn't pass quite over my head.
I believe you spoke with genuine SIN.
cerity and that, as you doubtless re-
member, Is conversational bad taste.
Somehow 1t didn't bore me, but do you
really think that women are persuaded
BY words?"
The man dropped his eyes. "No.'
he said listIessfy. II don't. know,
but had forgotten, that women are
persuaded by love alone" -
"WhatY cried Andrea.
"Women," said the man, 'know no
conversion except through love-"
81 have 10 interest whatever In your
distractions" said Andrea angriiy. II
don't care what you think on any sub
ject under the sun. At this moment
there is only one thing that concerns
me-only one" She turned from him,
threw her bare arms across the table
and dropped her face against them.
"What Is TO become Of me? What do
I care about women? I care about
myself, about Andrea Pellor."
II am glad that you do" said the
man, and added grimly, IF you cry,
if you even start to cry, / shall 60
to bed"
Andrea threw back her head and
turned her face toward him. II am
not crying" she said quietly, "and y
will not" 80.
Her anger had died and In It's place
had come into her eyes something ter
ribly potent, the unforgettable look
OF hunted thing at bay.
Il want to ask you" continued An.
drea, "to tmpiore you. to take r1e back.
Ii not tonight, then tomorrow. Flying
or on foot, IL only we could start now.
I will say that 1. has all been my fault,
thet you did nothing beyond what !
asked you to do in bringing me with
you, II only-if ouiy you VIII take mo
back. VIII your - Il
The man clenched his teeth. II
would If could. I've told you that
slready," he said almost in whisper.
Then his voice grew clearer and colder.
ut would take eight days by any
means at my disposal-eight days
there and eight days back. I can't
arferd It and nothing would be saved
or gained rs Tar as you are concerned.
1t would only entail loss / have no
right to give" 10. .....
His mood hardened Apdres's. "You
mean that when it GENES to choosing
between my personal loss and yours,
You see no reason to hesitate
The man flushed under his tan and
his eyes cleaned as though her words
had given them new life. "Iine would
not be q personal ioss." he said. u
am not a ioaier nor am here for my
pleasure"
II see" said Andrea. my life
against the interests Of your employer.
Are you foremanT
He shrugged his shoulders and ig.
nored the question. "Your lifer he
said. "What are you worth, after ALL
The best specimen Of woman In this
camp represents an investment on the
part Of the husband Of two pounds
ten shillings-say three pounds at the
most. Every girl child she bears and
rears brings him hundred per cent
return, and In addition she keeps house,
cooks, chops wood, totes water and
tllls his fields" D., J-alr--
Again Andrea jerked him out of his
role with her inconsequence. "What
does tote mean?" she asked rather Icy.
'sTo tote means to carry, fetch, lug,
bear" .a!'
THANK you" she interrupted. "By
the way, did you mean to measure me
against that three-pound standardT
II did, said the man.
She threw out her arms In gesture
of disclosure and laughed. ITO think"
she said, "that It's only few weeks
since was knocked down to the high
est bidder at twenty thousand year,
"Not you" said the man quickly.