The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1920-03-05


Perhaps not. But it gives me the
right to a fair chance to win a monop
oily Of your attentions"
He was speaking low and earnestly,
and his voice had a deep, rich timbro
in it that thrilled and almost fright
.ened her. She could not resent his
straightforwardnesS. She felt that he
was already asserting his claim upon
her, and there was something tender
and delightful in the sense Of being
claimed by such a man.
Il must have q fair chance to win
that monopoly" he repeated. How
did 1t happen that Coward was pres.
ent?"
a" don't know. It just happened.
A little after you telephoned me he
called up and asked for mother, and
the next thing I knew she said he was
coming up to spend the evening"
Dave dropped into a sudden reverie.
It was not so remarkable as 1t seemed
that Coward should have telephoned
Mrs. Hardy almost Immediately after
he had used the line. Conward's telS-
phone and Dawes were on the same
circuit; it was a simple matter for
Coward, if he had happened to Lift
the receiver during Dawes converse
ton with Irene, to overhear all that
was said. That might happen acct
d~entally; at least it might begin in,
nOcently enough. The fact that Con-
ward had acted upon the information
indicated two things: first, that he
had no very troublesome sense of
honor-which Dave had long suspect
ed-and, second, that he had DELHI
erately planned a confiction with
Dawes visit to the Hardy home. This
indicated a policy OF some kind; a
scheme deeper than Dave was as yet
able to fathom. He would at least
guard against any further ~eavesdrop-
ping on his telephone.
He took q card from his pocket and
made some figures on it. eff you
should have occasion to call me at the
office at any time please use that num-.
Der and ask for me-" he said. ct is
the accountants number. There's q
reason"
The cups were empty; the sand
wiches and cake were gone, but they
fingered on.
81 have been wondering" Dave ven
tured. at length, "just where 1 stand
with you. You remember our agree
ment?'
She averted her eyes but her voice
was steady. you have observed the
terms?" she said.
Eyes, in all essential matters. I
come to you now, in accordance with
those terms. You said that now we
would know. Now 1 know; know as
I have always known since those woR-
dcrful days il the foothills; those
days from which I date my existence"
II realize that I owe you an answer
now. Dave" she said frankly. and I
find 1t very hard to make that answer.
Marriage means so much more to a
oma than II does to q man. .
Don't misunderstood me, Dave. I
would be ashamed to say I doubt my
self or that / don't know my E1a,d.
but you and I are no longer boy and
girl. We are man and woman now.
And / just want time-just want time
to be sure that-that-"
II suppose you are right" he an,
swered. 81 will not try to hurry your
decision. l will only try to give you
an opportunity to know-to be sure,
as you said. Then, when you are sure,
you will speak. 1 will not reopen the
subject"
His words had something Of The
ring Of an ~ultimatum, but no endear-
ments that his lips might have ut
tered could have gripped her heart SO
surely. She knew they were the
words Of a man in deadly earnest, a
man who had himself in hand, a man