Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-05-08
CHAPTER IX-ContInued.

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/ Bach i'm Cuuvard'~ office. while the
. agreement WAS hriug drawn. Irene WIS
pu~Sc~S"d of consuming desire ("
/ consult with Dave Eden She was
/ uneasy about this transaction in which
/ her mother proposed So prccipitatcly
/ tp invest the greater part eff their lit
( tie fortune. 81 think | would hesitate.
mother" she cried. "If you buy this
house we will have only few thou
sand dollars left. Your health may de
maud other Expenditure"
"My health was never better" Mrs.
Hardy interrupted. And I'm not
going to miss chance like this, health
or no health. You have heard Mr..
Coward tell how many people have
grown wealthy buying property and
selling il again. Aud | will sell il
a"aiu-wh"n | get my price"
ut is rs your mother says Con
ward intericctcd. There are very
rapid increases IN value. would not
b" surprised If you should be offered
an advance of ten thousand dollars on
lVI~ I'ld'' b'ltlf lOll.
There must he an end somewhere"
Ircu" mUrmurcd. rather weakly.
Eut her mother was writing check.
81 shall give You five thousand dollars
now" She said. "and the balance when
YOU give me the deed. or whatever it
is. That is the proper way. isn't it?"
Well rs done" said Irene with an
uneasy laugh which her excitement
pitched "a little higher than she had
intended.
Ia n adjoining room Dave Eden
heard that laugh. and il stirred some
remembrance in him. Instantly he
connected it with Irene Hardy. The
truth was Irene Hardy had been I'm
the background or his mlnd during
every waking hour since Bert Nor
rison had dropped her bombshell upon
him. And now thJ voice
Dave had no plan. lie simply
walked into COnward's office. His eye
took i'm the little group and the mind
behind caught something of it's por-
tent Irene's beauty! What quick
ening of the pulses was his rs he saw
in this splendid woman the girl who
had stirred and returned his youthful
passion But Dave had poise. He
walked straight to Irene.
81 heard your voice." he said, in
quiet tones that gave no hint of the
emotion beneath. 81 am very glad to
see you again." He took the hand
which she extended, I'm a firm, warm
grasp; there was nothing In it. as
Irene protested TO herself, that was
more than firm and warm, but II set
hcr an2fr r. s.t'nsiIng t.-ssl'...s, +
my mother. Mr.. Eden" she man.
lged to say. and she hoped her voice
vas as well controlled as his had been.
Mrs. Hardy looked on the clean-built
Toung man with the dark eyes and the
brown. smooth face, but the name sug
rested nothing. you remember"
rene went on. 81 told you of Mr.. FL
len. 1t was at his ranch we stayed
when father was hurt"
But thought he was COW punch
n I" exclaimed Mrs. Hardy.
"Times change quickly in the West.
said Dave. Most of our
business men-at least, those bred In
he country-have thrown a lasso in
heir day. You should hear them brag
II their steerroping yet in the Ranch
mems club"
frene's eyes danced. Dave had al
ready turned the tables; where her
mother had implied contempt he had
set up note of pride.
"Oh, / suppose" said her mother,
for lack of better answer. Every
thing is so absurd i'm the West. But
you were good to my daughter, and to
poor, dear Andrew. If only he had
been spared. Women are so unused to
these business responsibilities, Mr..
Coward. II is fortunate there are
few reliable firms upon which we can
lean in our inexperience."
Mother has bought house." Irene
explained to Dave. I'VE thought this
was safe place to come A look
on Elden's face caused her to pause.
"why. what is wrong?" she said.
Dave looked at Coward, at Mrs.
Hardy. and at Irene. He was instant
ly aware that Coward had 'stung"
them. Ii was common knowledge In