The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-07-18
CHAPTER xx-contlnued.

Barnes listened at the door until he
heard the waiter Gathering down the
stairway, and then went swiftly down
the hall to No. 80. Mr.. Prosser was
sleeping just as soundly and as re
soundingly as at midnight!
"By gad!" he muttered, half-aloud.
Everything was as clear as day to him
now. BoltiRg into his own room, he
closed the door and stood stockstill
for many minutes. trying to picture
the scene in the cottage.
He found letter in his box when
he went downstairs, after stuffing the
tin box deep into his pocket. Before
he slit the envelope he knew that
Sprouse was the writer. The message
was brief:
after due consideration, feel that
1t would be mistake for you to aban-
don your present duties at this time.
1t might be misunderstood. Stick to
the company until something better
turns up. With this thought in view l
withdraw the two days limit men,
toned recently to you, and extend the
time to one week. Yours very truly,
81. H. WILSON"
Cad, the fellow thinks of every
thing" said Barnes to himself. "He
is positively uncanny."
He read between the lines, and saw
there distinct warning. 1t had not
occurred to him that his plan to leave
for New York that day with Miss Cam
iy1,f hn Nv oefy
results.
But the jewels? What of them? He
could not go gallivanting about the
couptry with a half million dollars
worth of precious stones in his posses
sion
He spent the early part of the fore
noon in wandering neryously about
the hotel-upstairs and down. The
jewels were locked in his pack up
stairs. lie went up to his room half
dozen times and almost instantly
walked down again. after satisfying
himself that the pack had not been
rihed.
For the next three days and nights
reh, arsals were inf full swing, with,
scaf cely moments let-up. And so
the lime crept by, up to the night of
the performance. Miss Cameron re-
mained in ignorance of the close prox-
iinity-ef~the, jewels, ard the reiiee ~ef
Crowndale remained in even denser
ignorance as to the whereabouts of
the man who robbed Mr. Hasselwein
of all his spare cash and an excellent
gold watch.
No time was lost by the countess in
getting word to her compatriots in
New York. Barnes posted dozen LET
tiers for her; each contained the It'd
ings of her safety and the assurance
that she would soon follow in person.
full of joy and enchantment for
Barnes. He actually debased himself
by wishing that the Rushcroft COM
pany might find it imperative to go on
rehearsing for weeks in that dim, en-
cfanted temple.
He sat for hours in one of the most
uncomfortable seats he had ever
known, devouring with hungry eyes
the shadowy, interested face so close
to his own-and never tired.
On the afternoon of The dress re-
hearsal he led her, after an hour of
almost insupportable repression, to
the rear of the auditorium Dropping
into the seat beside her he, blurted
out. almost in anguish
II can't stand it any lnger. l can
not be near you without-why, IL
well. ii is more than | can struggle
against, that's ALL You've either got
to send me away altogether Or-or-
let me love you without restraint.
tell you | can't go on as / am now.
You know love you, don't you? You
know | worship you. Don't be fright
ened. l just had to tell you today.
l should have gone mad if had tried
to keep it up any longer" He waited
breathlessly for her to speak. She sat
silent and rigid looking straight be-
fore her. rs it hopeless?" he went
on at last, huskily. NMust 1 ask your
forgiveness for my presumption and
and go away from your
She turned to him and laid her hand
upon his arm.
Am | not like other women? Why
should l forgive you for loving me?
Doesn't every woman want to be
loved? No, no, my friend! Wait
A moment ago | was so weak and
trembly that l thought I--oh, | was
afraid for myself. Now l am quite
calm and sensible. See how well l
have myself in hand? l do not
tremble, l am strong. We may now
discuss ourselves calmly, sensibly.
Oh: What are you doing?"
81 too am strong" he whispered. 81
am sure of my ground now, and am
not afraid"
He had clasped the hand that rest
ed on his sleeve and. as he pressed it
to his heart, his other arm stole over
her shoulders and drew her close to
his triumphant body. For an instant
she resisted, and then relaxed into
complete submission. Her head sank
upon his shoulder.
"Ohr she sighed, and there was
wonder, ioy-even perplexity, in the
tremulous sigh of equalization. "Oh,'
came softly from her parted lips again
at the end of the first long, passionate
kiss.
CHAPTER XXI.