The Red Cloud chief., 1920-01-22
CHAPTER x.


Elden lost no time In making his
first call upon the Hardys. Irene re-
ceived him cordially, but Mrs. Hardy
evinced no more warmth than propri-
ETY. demanded. Eden, however, al
lowed himself no annoyance over
that. A very much greater grievance
had been thrust upon his mind. Con-
ward had preceded him and was al
ready guest of the Hardys.
Dave knew Coward we'll enough
to know that purpose always lay be-
hind his conduct, and during the small
talk with which they whiled away an
hour his mind was reaching out
acutely, exploring every nook of pos
sibility. to arrive If It could at some
explanation of the sudden interest
which Coward was displaying in the
Hardys. These explanations narrowed
down to two almost equally unpala-
table. Coward was deliberately set
ting about to capture the friendship,
perhaps the affection. of either Mrs.
Hardy or Irene. Strangely enough,
Elden was more irritated by the for
mer alternative than by the latter.
Perhaps this attitude was due to sub.
conscious recognition OF the fact that
he had much more to fear from Con.
ward as suitOr for the hand Of Mrs.
Hardy than as rival for that of
Irene. Coward as prospective
father-in-law was more grievOus
menace to his peace Of mind than
Coward as a defeated rival.
The more he contemplated this as.
pect Of the case the less he liked It.
To Coward the affair could be moth
Ing more than an adventure, but 1t
would give him position Of sort
of semi-paternal authority over both
Irene and Elden.
When at length Mrs. Hardy began
to show signs OF WEAKNESS Irene
served coffee and cake. and the two
men. taking that as an intimation that
their welcome had run down. but
would rewind itself IL not too con.
tinually drawn upon. left the house to-
gether. On their way they agreed that
1t was a very delightful night.
Dave turned the situation over In
his mind with some impatience. Irene
had now been in the city for several
weeks. and he had had opportunity
for scarce dozen personal words
with her. Was he to be baked by
such an insufrerable chaperonage as 1t
seemed the purpose Of Mrs. Hardy
and Coward to establish over his
love affair? No. In the act of I'M
dressing he told himself. NO." suit
Ing to the word such yigOr of behavior
that In the morning he found his
shoes at opposite corners Of the room.
Several days passed without any
word from Irene. and he had almost
made up his mind to attempt another
telephone appointment, when he met
her, quite accidentally. in the street.
She had been shopping. she said. The
duty Of household purchases fell
mainly upon her. Her mother rested
in the afternoons
"How about cup of tea" said
Dave. "And thin sandwich? And
a delicate morsel of cake? One can
always count on thin sandwiches and
delicate morsels of cake. Their func-
tion is purely social one, having no
relation to the physical requirements"
II should be very glad" said Irene.
They found quiet tearoom. When
they were seated Dave, without pre-
liminaries, plunged into the subject
nearest his heart.
II have been wanting an opportu.
nifty to talk to you-wanting 1t fer
weeks" he said. "But 1t alway s
seemed"
always seemed that you were
thwarted," Irene completed his
thought. "You didn't disguise your
annoyance very well the other night"
"Do you blame me for being an,
noyed2"
mo. But I rather blame you for
showing 1t. You see was annoyed
too"
'"Then you had nothing to do with
with bringing about the situation tha,
existedf"
Certainly not. Surely you do moi
think that wOuld-that would
Il beg your pardon. Reenie," sale
Dave, contritely. II should have
known better. But It seemed such {
strong coincidence"
She was toying with her cup, ant
for once her eyes avoided him. "Yo,
should hardly think, Dave" she ven