The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-30


Marguerite, for he realized that the
chances were with a gold chevron
against a silver one.
Both the young men continued to
call on Marguerite, but Gilbert had
been cut down to once a week. while
he was aware that Herbert was at the
Hobart home at least every other
night. Then. her manner of treating
him was different. She was still very
friendly and tried to entertain him
pleasantly, but he knew the old spirit
of comradeship that had once existed
was lacking, while the still deeper
feeling that had made itself evident on
some occasions before that fateful
decidedly conspicuous by not being
there any more at all.
Gilbert made the good fight. but
gradually it became manifest to him
that it was a losing fight. Finally,
things came so to climax one night,
because he felt that he could not keep
silent any longer but just had to know
where he stood. on sand or rock.
How is it. Marguerite?" he asked.
| as he was preparing to leave, after his
weekly call. Are you just tolerating
me2 Is that the way things stand ?"
| She looked down at the toe of her
shoe and wiggled. it a few times,
watching it intently, as if 1t were some
thing she never before knew she pos
sessed and was very curious concern
| ing its functions.
| well, no. she said. after few sec
| ons' thought. Il can't say it's just
that way. I like you very much, Gill
bert; but have realized for some time
that things are not just the way they
used to be-
| "It's-it's Herbert Drew, of course"
Gilbert ventured. looking out the win
dow and pondering how dark it was
not just that part of the world within
his view. but the whole universe. Many
time he had looked thru that win
dow at a world that was smiling and
sunshiny.
| She became interested in that toe
again.
Yes" she confessed. signing. Its
Herbert. He is-well, I have come to
realize that he is the man for me.
He's SO big and strong-and hand
some. OF course, 1 don't mean. Gil,
that you aren't those things, too" she
was quick to add, "but-well, it's diff
ferent somehow since he's been away.
| He's different man now, after going
thru all those terrible experiences.
You ought to see his eyes shine when
he tells how he went over the top and
- OF course, you don't care to
hear about those things. You didn't
| have to go thru them"
Gilbert smiled dryly. No. he hadn't
had to go thru them; but he sincerely
wished he had been given the oppor-
tunity.
Then there isn't any chance for
me?'' he asked. placing his hand on
| step out into the dark world.
Tears started in her eyes.
"Tm-I'm afraid not. Gil. I'm so
sorry; but I can't help it because I've
changed. I believe, tho, you had bet
ter stop coming to see me. You see,
! Herbert and I've are thinking rather
seriously
II understand" he said, with a
| queer little catch in his voice, and he
went out into that black night, where
all the stars were hidden by somber
4! clouds.
1t was two days later that the viii
| lage was aroused from its customary
| lethargy by a sensational event-the
! third that had occurred since the town
was founded or discovered, or what
ever it was that gave it birth. The
| first was the burning of the town hall
/ in 1901 and the second was the rob-
| berry of Sam Hankins's hen house only
a year ago. This third sensational
event was the near drowning of Bobby
| Hobart.
/ The news was passed around town
as If on electrified waves. 1t was
shouted across back yards by house
wives and along the streets by men
and children. AS a. result housework,
business and playing soldier were
| abandoned, and the village flocked to
the channel down at the flour mill.
The channel branched from the river
| and took care of the water power for
the plant.
Into that channel Bobby Hobart had
fallen while playing on the edge with
/ Willie Nobscott. The latter had gone
three men who heard his frenzied
| shrieks managed to CLEAN some idea of
| what had happened and they hurried
| to the place where the accident had
| occurred. They were just in time to
see bedraggled figure climb out of
the channel with Bobby in its arms
The child was pretty far gone, but the
work of resuscitation finally bore
fruit and the lad began to breathe and
splutter. and opened his eyes and then
every one-the crowd had begun to
| collect-sighed deeply and looked
around for the rescuer.
The rescuer was in a bad way. for
the water was cold. The young mans
! teeth chartered and he was in a veri-
table convulsion of shivering.
Marguerite Hobart came hurrying
to the scene, and, finding Bobby was
safe and wrapped in warm blankets.
and already on the way to his home.
she took it upon herself to look after
the rescuer.
Put him in our car and we'll take
him to our home" she told one of the
men. IT'S too far to his own home
out in the country. I'm afraid of
pneumonia"
A short time later the young man
who had saved her brother lay in sleep
in the guest room of the Hobart resi-
dence, while Marguerite sat beside the
bed
Pool Gill" she said, stroking his
brow, altho the doctor had not sug-
gested a massage. Gilbert did not re-
ply to her remarks, but she talked on.
| I've learned who the real hero is.
Maybe Herbert Drew fought Germans
| in the Argonne, but I'm not SO sure.
| What 1 do know is that he saw Bobby
| fall in the channel, and that, instead
of leaping in to save him. as you did.
he ran to find a rope to throw to
brother. There were some heroes who
stayed in camp. Gill"