The Washington times., 1920-08-26
CHAPrER OCCxIx.

"
give Virginia the one gift
she can't rsfuse-her free
DOM" repeated mechanically. star
ing at Pat with a complete sense of
unreaiity.
1t seemed q bad dream. Or some
malicious fairy's twisted conception
OF drama. For Pat was expressing
the very idea Virginia had so proud
ly worked out but q short time ago,
the plan from which I wasn't more
than half sure that had diverted
her.
'You can't. You mustn't"
Easped.
II can and ! must" replied Pat
grimly. Why do you question II?
What other way out 10 Vhere?
What other solution has there been
since the night when you tried to
bring US together in your own home
and she couldn't be getting away
fast enough? Has she spoken to you
or Jim-sincey'
mo. but that doesn't matter. 1t
Wall come right in the end"
MIRACLES DON'T HAPPEN.
"wnk it?" interrupted Pat. II
sadly Misdoubt It. Anne. For a
long time I've been going along
bitndly waiting for things to come
right. They don't when a woman
so despises a man that she turns
against her own people for the
knowing OF him. The miracle can't
happen when a woman is filled with
Ioathing at the thought of coming
back into her own place in the
world-owning her family estate
through the man who was once her
husband. My gifts and / are black
shame and disgrace In her eyes.
Til be going to Reno"
THE slime of the divorce court
you'll drag her through that? /
cried.
'Iu see that it doesn't befoul
her" replied Pat sravely. and he
swept off his hat in an unconscious
gesture Of contriteness.
Then you're going to perform
great miracle" said scornfully.
you'll go to the divorce court and
wrest your freedom from the law.
And people aren't going to date II
all back to Just such an incident as
occurred at the restaurant today!
oh. no. People aren't going to
gloat over the choice tidbit you Of
fer them-indeed not"
What do you mean" demanded
Pat.
81 mean Sheldon Blake. / mean
gossip and slander. / mean the end
OF VirRinia's good name" replied.
$50 that's what the world would
be saying-that's what 1t will be
doing to the fine pride Of her"
murmured Pat more to himself than
to me.
After that we drove on in silence
for a while. Smiling folk drove by
us in luxurious cars. / wondered
what dramas Of life and human hap
piness were masked by faces that
told so little OF what was going on
in hearts and minds.
"Of course, I'll not be> going to
Reno now," said Pat at last.
HAGGARD DROOP.
! reached out and laid my hand
over his. hoping some message. or
my admiration for his ch'valry
would wing out through the cleo
triclty Of that touch. But Pats
ha(d lay impassive and strangely
cofd under mine. turned to him,
and more than ever the terrible
1t was mask-like and drawn into
old and baggard lines. The fine,
proud set of his upfiung head was
gone and he sagged at chest and
shoulders.
"Pat-you're so splendid, so
chivalrous. feel sometimes as IL
you were my brother. too-like
Neal" ,ventured. 81 want you to
know how--how much / care about
your happiness; how much I value
our friendship"
81 know, little Anne" he said,
returning pressure for pressure
like the good pal he had come to
be. "J know. You've stood by,
And Jimmie, too. But it's hopeless
now. You'll have to let me go 1t
alone now"
Not to divorce. That Is decid-
ed, isn't it," 1 insisted, and ! don't
know now whether that insistance
was stupid or wise.
mot to divorce. There's another
way out I'll take it." said Pat.
another way out?" grasped al
most in a daze.
Pat corrected himself, gravely.
Some other way out. Some way.
I'll find 1t, and finding 1t, be glad to
take it."
"Oh, Pat. you mustn't!" cried,
not knowing against what I was
protesting, but at the beginning of
a feeling that grew all the rest OF
the time I was with him-the feel
ing that I had to prevent some
thing sinister and menacing. You
mustn't do a thing until you have
talked 1t over with me-your sister.
For lam that. i want to have you
know that / am that"
"The dearest of sisters re-
piled Pat, lifting my fngers quickly