Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-22
CHAPTER xxxIII.


Monte Bracken was TO drive them
back to the city. The afternoon had
been 50 delicious that they had post
poned the leaving until after dinner.
The night was clear and sown with
stars. Under the mellow region Of
the porte-eochere lamps, they look
ed, in their fur coats, like Esquimos
starting on a hunt. Claire and her
husband stood arm in arm, while
the valises were slowed and the
ladies bundled into the back seat
and were smothered in furs.
Come again soon, pretty lady"
said Allan, running down to Amy
for a last boyish handshake. Eff,
you're part of the family always.
Bye-bye, Monte. It's been a bully
timer
Amy freed one arm and kissed her
hand to Mrs. Bracken, who stood on
the steps, smiling back at them.
Between them, no further word of
intimacy had been spoken, but in the
meeting of their chances they knew
that the compact of friendship had
been sealed.
The next moment the searchhghts
swept over the low, vine-covered
colonial home into the pine grove,
and fastened on the white road
ahead. ~
"What a wonderful persona said
Amy, leaning back until the sprin-
killed. stars closed over her.
"Cleverest little woman ] know"
said Fiji emphatically. "Only thing
| can't make out is why she has any
use for meP
IF you'd heard what she said
about YOU"
"Oh, yes; she believes in my re-
pentance," said Fiji, cutting in.
That's because she wants me to
tame Monte and marry him."
"Well, why don't your" said Amy,
after a moments laughter at her
cousins s1apdasf way. -
IF she'd oppose me, I'd do it"
said Fiji frankly. 1--we never yet
done anything anyone wanted me to
do, and l suppose / never will"
Eff, you're incorrigible," said
Amy, determined to live up to her
promise, despite her dislike of her
cousins confident assumption that
the decision lay in her hands.
Hello there, Monte" said Fiji,
poking into the voluminous fur back
in front Of her. did you know
that Claire is trying to splice us
up?"
Don't worryP
Nov, that's a passionate answer"
said Fiji gaily. Don't worry your
self. You're interesting as bold
bad man, but as a captive husband
you'd be fat You shan't be spoil
ed-if | have to mount guard over
you. l don't feel a bit like going
home" she continued, sitting back;
couldn't we run in on Irma for the
night? Friend husbands off fishing
1t ought to be quite cheerful"
"We refused to spend the night at
Brackens; it would hardly look
right, would it?"
"Oh. no; of course not. Bother
itI' said Fiji, who relaxed with a
sigh. whats lrma up to, anyhow"
Crocodile hunting, l suppose"
said Amy, with a laugh. Il haven't
seen her for a week, and that's a
sign"
Fiji started to say something and
abruptly checked herself. After
moment, she said casually,
81 suppose Andrews worried at
the Mexican muss." .
Eyes, I'm afraid SOP
The Tampico incident and the
consequent fall in Osaba shares,
with the aftermath Of the bali in in
cidental bills, had been soul trying.
when does he get up again"
"Any time now" said Amy.
Little spat over?
Eyes, indeedP
That's right,-be firm" said Fiji,
with a nod. "Irma is right. When
growl nowadays, it's usu-
ally financial dyspepsia. say, let's
shut up-this is too gorgeousP
Amy, nothing loath, relapsed into
silence. In the three weeks of her
husbands absence, she had no word
of his plans. The day after his leav-
ing, she had received a short, bust
ness-like note, informing her of the
allowance which he wished her to
observe and requesting the total of
her present debt. She had sent them
that is. almost all-and they had
been paid through his Office immedi-
ately. She had been surprised at
his liberality-even touched by it.
There was, at any rate, nothing
petty about him. At least she could