The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-03-11
cHAPTER xlv.-continued.

puncherI I always knew it would
come out some time. Oh. If the pa
pers should learn of this :"
That's all sou think Of" Irene re-
torted. ga scene, and the papers. You
don't trouble to even wonder what
was the occasion OF the scene. You're
afraid Of the papers. I'm not. TIL
give the whole story TO them tOnlOr-
row. I'll tell that you insulted him.
Coward. and how you stood there.
grinning, gaping coward under the
muZZle of his gun. How l wish had
a photograph of it," she exclaimed.
with a little hysterical laugh. 1T
would look fine on the front page
She broke into peals Of laughter and
rushed up the stairs.
In the morning she was very sober
and pale, and marks of distress and
sleeplessness were furrowed In her
face. She greeted her mother with
cold civility and left her breakfast
untouched. She gave part Of her
breakfast to Charlie; 1t was saving
balm to her to have someone upon
whom she could pour affection. Then
she went to the telephone. She called
Dawes Office. Nothing was known of
Mr.. Eden; he had been working there
last night he was not down yet. She
called his apartments. There was no
answer. Then she tried q new num-
Der.
Hello, is that the Office of the Call2
VIII you let me speak to"
Her mother interrupted almost fran
tically: "Irene. you are not going to
tell the papers2 You mustn't do that.
Think of what it means-the dis
grace-a shooting affair, almost, in our
home. Think of me, your mother"
"I'lI think of you on one cOnsidera-
tiOn--that you explain what happened
last night and tell me where Dave
Eden is''
81 can't explain. don't know. And
I don't know"
"And you don't want to know. And
you don't care, so long as you can keep
it out of the papers. do. Tn going
to find out the facts about this, if
every paper in the country should
print them. Hello! Yes, want to
speak to Miss Morrison
In few words she explained Dawes
Incident of all but vital facts. Bert
Morrison was all sympathy. Its a
big story, you know" she said. 'but
we won't think of 1t that way. Not
a line. so far as I am concerned.
Edith Duncan is the girl we need. A
sort of adopted sister to Dave. She
may know more than any of u.s.
But Edith knew absolutely nothing !:
| nothing except that her own heart was
thrown into a turmoil of emotions.
She spent the day and the evening
downtown, rotating about the points
where Dave might likely be found.
And the next morning she called on
Irene Hardy.
In spite of all efforts at self-contrOl
she trembled as she pressed the bell.
She had never met Irene Hardy; it
was going to be a strange experience,
| introducing herself to the woman who
had been preferred over her and who
had apparently proved so unworthy of
that preference.
She had difficult things to say. and
even while she said them she must
fight a battle to the death with the
jealousy of her natural wOmanhOOd.
And she must be very, very careful
that In saying things which were hard
to say she did not say hard things.
And, most difficult of all, she must try
to pave the way to a reconciliation be-
tween Dave and the woman who stood
between her and happiness.
Irene attended the door, as was her
custom. Her eyes took In Edith's face
and figure with mild surprise. Edith
was conscious of the process of a
quick intellect endeavoring to classify
her-solicitOr, music teacher. bust
ness girl? And in that moment of
pause she saw Trene's eyes and a
strange cOmmOtiOn of feeling surged
| through her. So this was the woman
Dave had chosen to love!
No; one does not choose whom one
viii love; one loves without choosing.
Edith was conscious of that; she knew
that la her own life And even as she
looked this first time upon Irene she
| became aware OF q subtle attraction
| gathering about her; she felt some
thing Of that power which had held
Dave to q single course through all
these years. And suddenly a great
new truth was born in Edith Duncan.
Suddenly she realized that If the steel
at any time prove unfaithful to the
| magnet the fault lies not in the steel
but in the magnet. What a change of
view, what a reversion of all accepted
things came with the realization of
that truth which roots down into the
| bedrock Of all nature!
won't you come in?" Irene was
saying. Her voice was sweet and mu
steal. but there was a note of sadness
In 1t which set responsive chords
a-tremble all through Edith's heart.
81 am Edith Duncan" she managed
70 say. IL think I have somethinl
to say that may interest you"
/ There was a quick leap in Irene.
eyes; the leap Of that intuitive femi
nine sense of danger which so seldom
errs In dealing with its own sex, ant
is yet so unreliable a defense from
the dangers OF the other. Mrs. Hard,
was in the living room.
won't you come up to my work
shOp2" Irene answered, witkou
change Of voice, and they ascendei
. | tfa stairs fo1nfhoF ssT draw n little