Phoenix tribune., 1920-04-10
CITY Of PURPLE DREAMS

seen me very often" he reminded her.
Let me see-is it twenty or twenty
five days since we first saw each
other?' He laughed and started to
remove the napkin from the basket Of
food.
With a quick movement her hand
flashed out and seized his. She glanced
swiftly around.
Don't open it till you're sure no.
body's looking"
He was not slow to surmise that a
file or some such instrument was con-
cealed in the basket. and though he
could scarcely repress a smile at the
unnecessity he replaced the napkin
and said quite soberly: "All right. III
take care"
when do you expect to escape?"
she asked, speaking in q cautious
whisper.
Tonight, if it's dark"
"And you'll come to me? You'll let
me hide you?" She searched his face
eagerly.
He did not answer at once. During
the long, wakeful hours last night,
when he had renewed his glorious
castle building, this woman had not
figured in the dreams. AS she noted
his hesitation the unreasoning jeal-
ousy which she had been striving to
keep in check the past five minutes
broke forth in a furiously blind tor
rent.
"Neyer mind" she blazed. Don't
come l know you care nothing for
me. You ungrateful-"
'FWait! Let me explain"
Don't speak to me! l hate you.
1 shouldn't have come. 1 hate you'll"
Her voice had risen louder and
louder as her jealousy-inflamed pas
sion mastered her prudence.
"Will you be quiet?" demanded Fitz-
hugh, his own voice none too gentle.
"Of course Pm coming to you. Where
elso should l go? was only wonder
Ing how soon it would be-"
"Why did you smile at that girl?"
she rushed on, needless of his prom
Use. "Why did she shield you in court?
What is she to you?"
He wondered what this woman
would be were her jealousy given Sc
,rious provocation, and shook his head
,hopelessly.
She's nothing to me-" he said.
willing to do anything for the sake
lOf peace. 81 don't know why she tes-
titled that way. Don't ask me. You're
lstill living in the same place, aren't
you, Esther? If you are-and nothing
goes wrongful be there tomorrow
morning before breakfast"
The earnestness and sincerity with
which he said this seemed to reassure
her. Besides she was beginning to
regret her outburst and was glad to
be quieted. When after a while she
left him there was in her heart only
Il trace of doubt and a deep humiia-
ton. She was burning with shame for
having barred her most unlovely side
to the eyes of the man she loved
In a secluded corner Fitzhugh opened
the lunch and. beneath the chicken
sandwiches and chocolate cake he
found heavy file and coil of rope.
He managed to conceal them in his
coat without detection.
When he retired it bade fair to be-
a clear night, but before one o'clock
the moon was obscured by clouds, and
the muttering of distant thunder her.
aided a storm. Although he had not
slept for the last forty hours he had
successfully battled the temptation to
close his eyes and was therefore
awake when the first shadow crossed
the moon. He hustled into his clothes.
stuck the file into a pocket, buttoned
the rope under his coat and felt his
way through the inky blackness to a
western window. He slipped his legs
over the sill, gripped it with both
hands and lowered himself into the
black pit yawning ominously below.
He landed safely, and guided by the
forked streaks of lightning and ac-
companied by the rumble and crash of
giant thunder chords. he struck off
across the prairie through the driving
rain, made detour and turned his
face toward Chicago.
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