The Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1918-1919, 1919-04-17

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 as if she were
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 CON-
rade, sustaining another in a battle.
| He was the only one in the world
who offered her courage and praise
and help in her need.
Duane said, with a matter-of-f IT
briskness: 'I'll call Reben up at onse.
No. I'll so see him."
| 'But you put me under such Obliga-
tons. Pm afraid"
| "Never be afraid Of an Obligation"
| "I'm afraid l 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 was. AS she was clasp
ing his hand again Leila opened the
door with her latchkey.
Now there was triple embarrass-
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 chaperon who has been cir
cumvented. Duane retreated in poor
ORDER. Daphne stammered an expla-
nation too brief and muddled to suf-
fee. Then she went to her room.
There her mother found her when
she came in later. Daphne had only a
faint hope that Duane could work his
miracle twice, so she told her mother
that she had failed as an actress. She
told her bluntly:
Mamma, I've been fred"
| To her comfort her mother caught
her to her ample bosc,a and said: I'm
glad of 1t. I'm much obliged to who
ever is to blame. Not but what you
could have succeeded if you had kept
at 1t. But you're too good for such
a wicked life. A person couldn't be an
actor without being insincere and Il
pretender, and my little girl is too hon
est. SO now you come along hone
with me-"
mo thank you, mamma"
Mrs. Kip gathered herself together
for vigorous assault when the tcle-
that a gent man wished to speak with
Miss Daphne.
IT was Duane, and she braced her
self for another blow. But his voice
was clarion with success.
1--WE seen Reben. It's all right. He's
promised to keep you on and give you
a chance. He says for you to report
at the theater at seven-thirty tonight
And now 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 were
still trying to dissuade her from con.
tinuing on the downward path when
a telegram from her father came fol
her mother:
taking beaver arrive Grand Cen
trail tomorrow don't meet me love.
"WES."
Rayard was late. as usual, and
Leila's temper had just begun to sim
mer when the door was opened stealth
lily and hand was thrust in. 1t prof
fered small box of jewelers. size and
waved 1t like flag of truce.
Leila rushed forward with cry OF
delight. seized the packet and Their
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. anG
that's what made me late"
Leila was enraptured. She adoreG
gifts and she had the knack Of inspir
ing them. The little square parce
provoked her curiosity. She opened
1t so excitedly that the contents fell
2 to the floor. She swooped for then
and brought up platinum chain witt
r a delicate plaque of tiny diamonds ani
pearls on a device Of platinum.
;. Leila ran to Mrs. Kip and Daphne
8 exclaiming: "Aren't they beautiful
8 Aren't they wonderful Aren't the,
4 glorious2"
. Mrs. Kip and Daphne tried to keeI
: the pace, but once more they could no
forget who 1t was that was rainin:
I down gold on this greedy stranger
: Their alarm was not diminished wheI
Bayard said to Leila: