Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-10-01

anything else Ia all the world to be
your wife. But cannot promise now,
I must have time to think, time to-
aWhy should you require more time
than II" he persisted. "What is time
to us2 Why make wanton waste Of
TT"
II know that cannot find happiness
except with you" she replied. "No
matter what happens to me, shall
always love you. ! shall never forget
the Joy Of this. Butt cannot prom
Use now" she finished gently and
kissed HIN.
Between the second and third acts
Tommy Gray rushed back with the
box-office statement. The gross was
1859. The instant that fact became
known to Mr.. Rushcroft he informed
Barnes that they had q Knockout" q
gold mine, and that never in all his
career had he known a season to start
OF 80 auspiciously as this one.
Three days later Barnes and miss
Jones' said farewell to the strollers
and boarded a day train for New York
city. They left the company in CON
dition Of prosperity. The show was
averaging two hundred dollars nightly
and Mr.. Rushcroft was already book
ing return engagements for the early
fall. He was looking forward to q
tour Of Europe at the close Of the war
Barnes sister. Mrs. Courtney, met
them at the Grand Central terminal
"It's now quarter to five," said
Barnes after the greeting and presen'
tation. "Drop me at the Fifth Avenue
bank, Edith. want to leave some
thing in my safety box downstairs
Sha'n't be more than five minutes. =
He got down from the automobile
at Forty-fourth street and shot across
the sidewalk into the bank, casting
quick. apprehensive glances through
the I'VE o'clock crowd on the avenue
% he sprinted. In his hand he lugged
the heavy, weatherbeaten pack. His
sister and the countess stared after
him In Amusement.
Presently he emerged from the bank
still carrying the bag. he was beam
ing. A certain worried. haggard ex'
preston had vanished from his face
and for the nrst time In eight hours
he treated his travelling wardrobe with
scorn and indifference
Thank God. they're OF my mind
It last" he cried. -That Is the FIRST
good, long breath I've bad in week,
No, not now. It's q long story and
can't tell It In Fifth avenue. II
would be extremely annoying to have
both Of you die Of heart failure with
III these people looking on"
He felt her hand on his arm, and
knew that she, was looking at him
with wide, incredulous eyes, but be
faced ,straishts ahead. he was ter.
ribly afraid that the girl beside him
was preparing to shed tears Of Joy
and relief. He could feel her search
Ing in her Jacket pocket for . hand
kerchief.
+ Nrs. Courtney vas not only curl.
|sous but apprehensive. She hadn't tho
faintest idea who Miss Cameron was,
nor where her brother had picked her
up. But she saw q = glance that
shs was lovely, and her soul was Allied
with strange missivings. She was like
all sisters who have pet bachelor
brothers She hoped that poor Tom
hadn't gone and made Z fool Of him
cell.
The few minutes conversation she
had with the stranger only served ia
Increase her alarm. Miss Camerona
voice and smile and her eyes l-wers
positively Alluring.
She had had night letter from Tom
that morning In which he said that he
vas bringing 4 young lady friend down
from the north would she meet
them It the station and put her up
for . couple Of days1 That was al
she knew Of the dazzling stranger up
to the moment she saw her. Immedi-
ately after that she knew by Intuition
q great deal more about her than Tom
could have told In volumes Of CORE
spondence. She knew, also, that Tom
was lost forever!
.Now tell me-" said the countess the
instant they entered the Courtney
apartment. She grippeA both OF his
arms with her firm little hands and
looked straight into his eyes, eagerly
hopefully. She had forgotten Mrs,
Courtney's presence. she had mol
taken the time to remove her hat OF
jacket. =.
"Let's all sit down." said he. my
knees are unaccountably weak. Come
along, EIDE. Listen to the romance OF
my life"
And when the story was finished the
countess took his hand in hers and
held 1t to her cool cheek. The tears
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