The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-10-23

anything else IN all the world 20 be
your wife. But cannot promise now.
I must have time to think, time to"
"why should you require more time
than ~" he persisted. what Is time
20 usf Why make wanton waste Of
itr
II know that I 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
ise now" she finished gently and
kissed him.
Between the second and third acts
Tommy Gray rushed back with the
box-ofice statement. The gross was
$3.50. The instant that fact became
known TO Mr.. Rushcroft he Informed
Barnes that they had Knockout" a
gold mine, and that never in all his
career had he known a season to start
OF so auspiciously as this one.
Three days later Barnes and "MIss
Jones" said farewell to the strollers
and boarded day train for New York
city. They left the company in n con-
dltion 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 "a
tour OF Europe at the close of the war.
Barnes sister, Mrs. Courtney, met
them at the Grand Central terminal.
TITS now quarter 10 five." said
Barnes after the greeting and presen-
tation. drop me nj 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 five o'clock crowd on the avenue
as he sprinted. In his hand he lugged
the heavy, weatherbeaten pack. His
sister and the countess stared after
him in amazement.
Presently he emerged from the bank.
still carrying the bag. He was beam
ing. A certain worried, haggard ex-
preston had vanished fEom his face
and for the first time in eight hours
he treated his travelling wardrobe with
scorn and Indifference.
"Thank God. they're of my mind
at last" he cried. THAT is the first
good, long breath I've had in week
No, not now. It's a 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
all these people looking on"
He felt her hand ON his arm, and
knew that she was looking at him
with wide. incredulous eyes. but he
faced straight 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.
Mrs. Courtney was not only curl
Gus but apprehensive. She hadn't the
faintest idea who Miss Cameron was.
nor where her brother had picked her
up. But she saw at a glance that
she was lovely. and her soul was filled
with strange misgivings. She was like
all sisters who have pet bachelor
brothers. She hoped that poor Tom
hadn't gone and made fool Of him
self.
The few minutes conversation she
had with the stranger only served 10
increase her alarm. Miss Cameron's
voice and smile-and her eyes were
positively alluring.
She had had a night letter from Tom
that morning in which he said that he
was bringing a young lady friend down
from the north-ahd would she meet
them at the station and put her up
for couple of days? That was all
she knew of the dazzling stranger up
to the moment she saw her. Immedl-
ately after that she knew by intuition
a great deal more about her than Tom
could have told in volumes Of CORE
spondence. She knew, also, that Tom
was lost foreverl
"Now tell me-" said the countess the
instant they entered the Courtney
apartment. She gripped 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 not
taken the time to remove her hat or
jacket.
Lets all sit down." said he. "My
knees are unaccountably weak. Come
along EIDE. Listen TO the romance Of
my life"
Continued next week.