Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-24
CHAPTER XVI (oonunued).


Locked at last into her safe little
stateroom, with a soft bed to lie on
n no bothersome notes to be
guarded. one would have thought she
might have, slept, but her brain kept
time to the wheels. and her heart with
her brain. She was going. over and
over the scenes of the eventful day,
and living through each experience
again. until she came to the moment
when she looked up to find herself in
Sidney Graham's arms, with her face
against his shoulder. Her face glowed
in the dark at the remembrance, and
her heart thrilled wildly sweet with
the memory of his look and tone, and
all his c~arefulness for her. How won
many miles to find. her! That he
should have been the me to find her
first. with all those other men on the
hunt He had forged ahead and
picked her up before any Of the
others had reached her. He had not
been afraid to rush. up tt an armed
villain and snatch her from her peril
Gus position! He was a man among
men! Never mind if he wasn't her
" personal property! Never mind
if there were others in his w world
who might claim him later, he was
hers for tonight! She would never
forget it! -
oHe slept at last, PROFOUNDLY, with a
smile upon her lips. No dream of
came to trouble her thoughts. And
when h woke in the home station
with familiar sounds outside, and
realized that a new day was before
her, her heart was flooded with a hap
piness that her common sense found it
hard to justify. She tried to steady
herself while she made lei toilet, but
the face that vas reflected rosily from
the mirror in her little dressing room
would smile contagiously back at her.
We'll, then, have it your own way
for just one more day." she said
aloud to her face in the glass. "But
tomorrow you must get back to com
fresh as a., rose, and went out to meet
her fellow travellers.
She went to breakfast with Sidney
Graham. a wonderful breakfast in a
wonderful place with fountains and
palms and quiet, perfect service. Mr..
Barnard had excused himself and
hurried ava to his home, promising
to meet Shirley at the office at half
past nine. And so these two sat at a
little round table by themselves and
had sweet converse yer their coffee.
Shirley utterly forgot for the time
that she was only a poor little ste
n%ographer working for her bread and
living IN a barn. sidney
eyes were upon her, in deep and I'M
yelled admiration, his spirit speaking
to hers through the quiet little COM
monplaces to which he must confine
himself in this public place. 1t was
not TIL the meal was over and he was
settling his bill that Shirley suddenly
came to herself and the color flooded
her sweet face. What was she better
than n other poor fool of a girl who
let a rich man himself for a
rev hours IN her company n then
let him carry her heart away with him
to toss with his collection? She drew
her dignity about her and tried to be
distant as they went out to the street,
but he simply did not recognize it at
all. He just kept his tender,-defer-'
entail manner, and smiled down at
that made her dignity seem cheap; so
here was nothing to do but look up as
to the best that was in her heart.
She was surprised to find his v
on the street. He must have phoned
for it before they left the station. He
so wonderful to her to be cared for in
this way. Just as IL / were a rich
girl in his social set" she thought
He gave his chauffeur h orders
and sat beside her In the back seat,
continuing his role of admirer and
protector.
beside me-" he said in q low tone as
they threaded their way in and out
Of the crowded ~thoroughfare toward
the Office. 81 didn't ave a very pleas
ant afternoon and evening yesterday.
I can tell you! don't think we'll let