The Harrison times., 1920-03-27

she sT-nnc mp. Her hr'cf -ladGees
na. Gcl. Her face was very white.
"lhnu you are going % throw mn
over" She bIazod at him. 81 thought
so,"
"Uave ever shown any wild desire
for your courany?" he asked Jelly. He
also was standing His face was
white. too. "Iu our short friendship
has 30 not always been you who took
the iu.tiative:'
"Rut the first time we met yoU had
no money no place to sleep"
His brow darkened. Il thought |
was going to have trouble with you.
But never mind. I'll set'a in full my
account with YOU. and we quit even"
A furious torrent Of words rushed to
her tongue, but before she could loose
it something occurred which, even in
that tempestuOus moment damned its
flow. A shadow obliterated the sun
light. and she turned in time to see
what cast IT, 4 second later per-
emptory knocking ratified the street
door.
"Go to your room and lock yourself
in" she ordered and pushed him be-
fore her toward the hall door. Its
NikOay-the big Russian you met at
SmulSks He mustn't find you here.
He's ready to kill you, almost. Do
hurry, Run all the way to yoar room
and lock the door"
He tarried no longer. Yet the eX-
citempnt of the moment did not ban
iSh his diplomacy, for he pressed her
hand and kissed her before going.
After his departure she composed her
self at the breakfast table The bat
tering at the door swelled louder with
every second
FitZhugh gone, Esther unbarred the
door and admitted her visitor.
Come in Nikolay," she invited.
He entered, gIowering and sat in
the chair Fitzhugh had vacated.
"Why did you keep me waiting?' he
asked sul}enIy.
Because" she replied evenly 81
was trying to decide whether or not I
wanted to see YOU
"And did you decide?"
She lifted one shoulder, with elo-
Quent Indifference, and stirred her cof-
fee. 81 had to let you in Another
minute, and you would have torn the
house down."
He turned his massive head this
way and that, shifting the air very
audibly. 81 take it YOU care more for
your friend who rolls his own ciga-
rettes." He opened a box of Russians
and lighted one.
She did not speak, and he went on;
"You'ye taken quite fancy to this
young spellbinder, haven't you|
IF you mean the boy who left just
as you came-he's my brother"
Nikolay threw back his head, and
gave a loud, mirthless laugh. Brother.
What a liar~
She caught her breath sharply and
sat very erect, a crimson spot burn
ing yivldly in either dark cheek. Her
bosom rose and fell stormily.
"Be careful what you say to me-"
she warned him; but the anger in her
low voice seemed only to fan his
jealousy to a fiercer flame.
He ground his teeth as he frowned
at her, and the great hairy hand lying
on his knee opened and closed, you
will equivocate, won't you? As if you
could hoodWink me for one instant
Don't try it, you Esther. You know
well enough why | loath thiS-thiS-"
randolph Fitz,' she supplied swift
ly. SO he did not know FitzAugh's
real name. That was good.
"You know well enough, I say. It's
because You love him"
lie jumped up, kicked his chair out
Of the way, and began pacing the floor
savagely.
"You can't be serious, Nikolay" She
made a brave effort at gayety. 81
care for him? Surely you are jest
ing" She tilted back her chair as he
stopped and lowered over her. and
smiled up at him Coquettishly.
"Why will you torture me so?' he
cried, holding out his great arms to
her. Cant you see how I love you?
Don't you know I've loved you for
years? And this Fitz HE Spat the
word out--"this vagabond Of Fitz
You've known him but a few weeks,
yet you're Surely you cannot love
him! Tell me that you don't. Tell
me--tell me, Esther, that you love only
mew
The woman knew how to act She
hesitated, smiled up at him demurely;
then, breathing to herself the name Of
the man she loved, she rose, and with
her eyes closed tightly, held up her
lips to the man she deSpiSed,
Some while later Nikolay took his
departure,
NikoIay. the big Russian.