The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1920-07-30

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CHAPTER xiv.-lcontinued.
IL
''Irene," said Mrs. Hardy, what way
is that to speak to Mr.. Coward? You
are out Of your head, child! Such a
scene, Mr.. Coward! That COW
puncheri / always knew 1t would
come out some time. Oh, If the pa
pers should learn of this!"
That's all you think Of" Irene re.
torted. "A 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. I'll
give the whole story to them tomor-
row. I'll tell that you insulted him,
Coward, and how you stood there,
grinning, gaping coward under the
muzzle of his gun. How wish l 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 MP 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 new num-
Der.
Hello, Is that the Office of the Call
viii you let me speak to-"
Her mother interrupted almost fran
tically: "Irene. you are not going to
tell the papers? You mustn't do that.
Think Of what 1t means-the dis
grace--a shooting affair, almost, in our
home. Think Of me, your mother"
'I'll think of you on one considera-
tion--that You explain what happened
last night and tell me where Dave
Elden is."
II can't explain. don't know. And
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. I do. I'm 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
sudden disappearance, stripping the
Incident of all but vital facts. Bert
Morrison was all sympathy. TITS a
big story, you know" she said. 'but
we won't think Of 1t that way. Not
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; II
was going to be a strange experience
introducing herself to the woman whit
had been preferred over her and who
had apparently proved SO unworthy Of
that preference.
She had difficult things to say, ant
even while she said them she mus
fight a battle to the death with tn,
jealousy of her natural womanhood
And she must be very, very careful
that in saying things which were hart
to say she did not say hard things
And, most difficult Of all. she must tr.
to pave the way to u reconciliation be
tween Dave and the woman who stoo,
between her and happiness.
Irene attended the door, as was he
custom. Her eyes took in Edith's fac
and figure with mild surprise. Edit
was conscious of the process Of
quick intellect endeavoring to classif
her-solicitor, music teacher, busl
ness girl? And in that moment o
pause she saw Irene's eyes and
strange cOmmotion of feeling surge
through her. So this was the woma
Dave had chosen to love!
No; one does not choose whom on
will love; one loves without choosing
Edith was conscious of that; she kne'
that in her own life. And even as sh
looked this first time upon Irene sh
became aware of a subtle attractio
gathering about her; she felt sOm'
thing Of that power which had hel
Dave to a single course through a
these years. And suddenly gres
new truth was born in Edith Duncan
Suddenly she realized that If the ste,
at any time prove unfaithful to ii
magnet the fault lies not in the ste
hut in the magnet. What change I
view, what reversion of all accepte