The Arizona copper camp., 1920-05-08

ClISAlly OQllI, AoS Ocll HILL anu CJ Co
and is dressed in black. H. D. f."
Some while after five O'Clock FitZ-
hugh sat at the telephone on his locked
desk, his hat on, an unlighted cigar be-
tween his teeth, delivering the custom
ary order for violets. With a final ad
monition to the florist to send nothing
except the best, he "hung up" AS he
lighted his cigar and swung out of his
office he met messenger, who hand
ed him square envelope. Embossed
on the back was zone Thousand Lake
Shore Drive" and it contained a very
brief and formal request for an i'm
mediate call from him at that address.
The chauffeur was waiting with the
car in Adams street. FitZhugh settled
back comfortably in the cushioned seat
as the chauffeur picked his way
through the mass of traffic, and all
the cares and worries of that busy day
slipped gratefully from him, leaving
him serene with contentment.
He was received in the library OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Otis. There was no sign
of Kathleen and a glance at her pa
rents suficed to apprise him he was in
for disagreeable time. They re-
manned standing after he entered; nor
was he asked to sit down. Mrs. Otis,
haughtily stationed as far from him
as the large room would permit, had
appointed herself spokeswoman.
Our daughter" said she, lifting a
formidable lorgnette to her eyes and
staring at him as though he were the
garbage man, "has informed us of her
unfortunate alliance with you."
He bowed respectfully.
II need hardly say to you"-and her
head raised higher, her hauteur waXed
stiff-"that you must consider this en-
gagement broken. Furthermore, you
will regard your underhanded ac-
quaintance with our daughter as
though it had never been. All COM
municatiOn with her Of whatever ma
ture must cease instantly. That, be-
lieve, is all'
If Mrs. Otis had expected to inf1ict a
shock she triumphed amply. If she
had hoped to witness it's manifestation
she was Woefully disappointed. The
crash struck its victim as thunder
bolt; but beyond a sudden tension
that gripped every muscle of him, he
betrayed never a sign of the impact,
! Outwardly he was almost if not quite
as self-possessed as when he entered
the house.
''N1iss Otis-does she know this?"
"What a question! !" she gasped.
''Why, it is she who"
'Don't!" He started forward i'm
pulsively, the blood mounting hotly to
his face. But ere his composure de-
parted irretrievably-"I beg your par
don. May know the reason?"
"The reason" she said icily, wish
ing his discontinue were more pro-
nounced, "is disgraceful. Most dis
racefuP'-lunging with the superla-
tive. "Today-this very afternoon, in
fact-your-I-" She foundered
helplessly in a muddle of words. The
starched folmality she had deemed
sufficient to crush the presumption of
any man wilted before his steady gaze,
his calm sternness. She turned ap-
pealingly to her husband, who, hav-
| ing held very unwilling silence at
her prior behest, came gladly to the
rescue
'I had best deal with this man
alone, Elizabeth" He waited until she
left the room; then he blazed at Fitz-
hugh: your wife, whom you desert
ed was here today"
'"The woman is not my wife,"
"Not your legal wife, you mean"
"Nor any other kind"
Scarcely had Fitzhugh uttered the
words, advancing with he knew not
what rash design, then he stopped,
turned back, and stood listening in
tentIy. Otis, thoroughly alarmed, rang
frantically for servant.
FitZhugh crossed to the hall-dOOr
and listened.
From somewhere above, unbridled
and spasmodic, though faint by the
distance, came the hysterical sobbing
of q girl Kathleen!
! With an imprecation on his tongue,
! he bounded up the staircaSe-JuSt as
! NOOnan appeared in answer to the
summons. His coat clutched from be-
hind, Fitzhugh turned, jerked free and,
with a single push Of his fiat hand,
sent the butler reeling backward to
| the hall below. He leaped up the few
remaining steps to the second floor,
strobe to a door standing ajar and
knocked. The girlish weeping in the
room beyond was muff1ed. He knocked
again. The sobbing abated, stopped.
| A third time he knocked and, receiv-
ing no response save silence, thrust
the door open, entered, closed the door
behind him.
It was kathleen's boudOir. She was
seated in a chair, weeping, with her
hands Historically covering her face /;
but Immediately on seeing him she
jumped up and started for an adjoin-
ing room, calling hastily to her maid.
~. ~lhn hal