The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-07-01
The City of
Purple Dreams


81 say there is! Why else would you
be here? Speak up! What do you
want?''
She lowered her gaze. little star
tied Eyes, there is one for whom
would renounce even the Cause, turn
traitor" She flung her arms out to
him in a rush of abandon-"Oh, Dan
iel, you know, you knOw!"
He Ioosened her hands from his
neck
That" said he, sis impossible. I
am engaged to be married.
She recoiled as though he had struck
her. Her foot struck a chair as she
stepped back She sat down very
slowly. For a few moments she seemed
stricken dumb. Then:
Toto that"
''To her you saw me with at the
opera"
''WhenT' she asked. "When?"
1--WE became engaged last March.
The second of last March"
The second of last March" She
repeated the words DULY. pressing her
hand to her forehead. 1.-The second of
Der? That is the day we first met
each other. Don't you remember.
Daniel?" = laughing shriIly "the
crowds, and how 1 was swept into
your arms, and the speeches you made,
first in the street, and then"
Esther! Esther Do you realize
where you are? Twelve or fifteen
persons are waiting outside to see me.
and their time and mine means
money"
Her "reminiscences trailed off into
silence.
Money!"
Then all at once a terrific change
came over her. She sprang up tiger
ishly, swept the chair aside, rushed
toward the door.
He was there first, however, and
stood with his back against it, barring
her way.
You will not leave this Office" he
declared. until"
"Open that door,"
until you listen to reason"
"Open that door, open that door !!
I'll scream!"
You may go when you've promised
me-
"Open that door!"
Out of all patience, angry and hui
inflated, he threw the door open. and
saw her run the gaping gauntlet in the
outer Office. He closed the door quiet
~ and summoned a messenger. His
nostrils were dilated. his face white.
I1fc firm
ly over the upper ones. He sat at his
desk, took pad of telegraph forms
from a drawer, and with a hand as
steady as the mahogany on which it
rested he wrote the following. address
ing 1t "Secret Service" "a dement,
ed woman who imagines she has been
wronged by the Russian ambassador
will arrive in Washington from Chica-
go. Watch all trains for her. She is
slightly built, has dark hair and eyes
and is dressed in black. II. 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
airy order for viOlets. With final adj
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 a messenger, who hand
ed him a 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
lack 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 sufhced to apprise him he was in
for a disagreeable time. They re-
NAMED standing after he entered; nor
was he asked to sit down. Mrs. Otis,
haughtily stationed as far from him
es 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.
81 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 undetermined &C
Quaintance with our daughter as
| though it had never been. All com
munfcation with her Of whatever ma
| ture must cease instantly. That, be-
lieve, is ALL"
If Mrs. Otis had expected to infiict a
shock she triumphed amply. If she
had hoped to witness its manifestation
she was wOefully disappointed. The
crash struck its victim as a thunder
bolt; but beyond a sudden tension
that gripped every muscle of him, he
betrayed never a sign Of the impact
| Outwar1ly he was almost if not quite
as self-posSessed as when he entered
| the house.
Miss Otis-does she know this7''
"What a question - she gasped
''Why, it is she who"