Cleveland County herald., 1920-02-19
She sprang up. Her brief gladness

She spvang up. Her brief gladness had fled. Her face was very white.
 ''1hen you are going to throw me over! p she blazed at him. q thought sol"
 Have 1 ever shown any wild desire for your company?' he asked icily. He also was standing. His face was white, too. 'In our short friendship has it not always been you who took the initiative?"
 .'But the first time we met you had no money, no place to sleep.'
 His brow darkened. q thought was going to have trouble with you. But never mind. I'll sett'a in full my account with you, and We" quit eyen.'
 A furious torrent of words rushed to her tongue, but before she could loose it something occurred which, even in that tempestuous moment, damned its how A shadow obliterated the sun light, and she turned in time to see what cast it. A second later per emptory knocking rattled the street door.
 ''Go to your room and lock yourself in! p she ordered, and pushed him be- fore her toward the hall door. "It's Nikolay-the big Russian you met at Smulski's He mustn't find you here. He's ready to kill you, almost. Do hurry! Run all the way to your room and lock the door," He tarried no longer. Yet the eX- citement of the moment did not ban ish his diplomacy, for he pressed her hand and kissed her before going. After his departure she composed her self at the breakfast table. The bat tering at the door sweled louder with every second.
 Fit2hugh gone, Esther unbarred the door and admitted her visitor.
 Come in Nikolay," she invited.
 He entered, glowering, and sat in the chair FitZhugh had vacated.
 ''Why did you keep me waiting?" he asked sulIenly.
 Because" she replied evenly, q was trying to decide whether or not wanted to see you"
 And did you decide?' She lifted one shoulder, with elo- quent indiffTence, and stirred her oof- fee. q had to let you in. Another minute, and you would have torn the house down."
 He turned his massive head this way and that, snif1ing the air very audibly. q take it y6ts care more for your friend who rolls his own ciga- rettes." He opened a box of Russians and lighted one
 She did not speak, and he went on:
 You've taken quite fancy to this young spellbinder, haven't you?"
 If you mean the boy who left just as you came-he's my brother"
 Nikolay threw back his head, and gave loud mirthless laugh. Brother! ! What liar!"
 She caught her breath sharply and sat very erect, a crimson spot burn ing.vivldly in either dark cheek. Her bosom rose and fell stormily.
 "Be careful what you say to me" she warned him. but the anger in her low voice seemed only to fan his jealousy to a fiercer flame.
 He ground his teeth as he drowned at her, and the great hairy hand lying on his knee opened and closed. You will equivocate, won't you? As if you could hoodwink me for one instant ! Don't try if, you Esther. You know well enough why I loath this-this-"
 Randolph Fitz," she supplied swift ly. So he did not know Fitzhughs real name. That was good.
 You know well enough, say. It's because you love him."
 He jumped up, kicked his chair out of the way, and began pacing the floor savagely.
 You can't be serious, Nikolayr She made a brave effort at gayety. q care for him? Surely you are jest ing" She tilted back her chair, as he stopped and lowered over her, and smiled up at him coquettishly.
 "Why will you torture me so?" he cried, holding out his great arms to her. Cant you see how I love you? Don't you know Eve loved you for years? And this Fitz !"-he spat the word out-"this vagabond of Fitz! You've known him but a few weeks, yet you're Surely you cannot love him. Tell me that you don't. Tell me-tell me, Esther that you love only mel"
 The woman knew how to act She hesitated, smiled up at him demurely; then, breathing to herself the name of | the man she loved she rose and with her eyes closed tightly, held up her lips to the man she despised.
 Some while later Nik0lay took his departure
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