Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1920-02-13
CHAPTER XII.

oNN anu 1 give tnem mOHt ITunhly,
although perhaps with more difficulty
than you suppose"
You are very good, MFR. Coward"
she acknowledged.
u could not wish you anything hut
happiness" he returned. "And had
Deen so fortunate MS Eden. In making
your acquaintance first, ! might have
hoped to contribute to your happiness
more directly than | can under the
present circumstances" lie WA
speaking In his low. sedulous notes.
nnd his words sent the girls blood
rushing In n strange mixture of grntl-
hcntlon and anger. The tribute he
implled-thGt he himself would have
beer glnd TO hive been her sultor-
was skillfully planned TO appeal to
her vanity, and her niger was due to
~ success. She told herself she
should not listen TO such words; she
should hate to hear such words. And
yet she listened 10 them. and was not
sure that she hnted them. She could
only say:
You are very good, MIR. Coward"
He pressed her hand Mt the door,
n again that strange mixture OF
emotions snrged through her.
Coward proceeded TO the business
section Of the town. well plensed with
the evenings events. lie found his
way Impeded by crowds In front OF the
newspaper offices. lie had paid little
attention TO the progress Of the war
scare. attributlng II to the skillful pub.
Ilclty OF interests connected with the
manufacture OF nrmnments. TO the
last lie had not believed TINT war was
possible.
Nobody wants TO fight" he had as
surcd his business ncqunlntnnces.
Even the armament people don't
want to fight. All they want In to
brighten more money out OF the Tux
pnyets Of Europe" TO Coward this
explanation seemed very complete. II
covered the whole ground and left
nothing TO he said.
But tonight he was nwnre OF a.
keener tension In the crowd atmos.
pherc. They were goOd-natured
crowds, TO be sure, laughing and
cheering aud making snllles OF heavy
wit hut they were In some way more
Intense thnn he had ever seen before.
There was no fenr OF war there was,
rather, mn adventurous spirit which
seemed 10 fenr that the nffalr would
blow over, as had so many affairs In
the past, and all the excitement go
for nothing. That war. II II cnme TO
war, could last no one dreamed II
would he n mntter OF n few weeks. u
Few months. nt tie most. until n thor
oughly whipped Germany would retire
behind the Rhine to plan ways OF mis-.
ing the Indemnity which outraged civ.
l~lzntlon would demand.
Coward elhOwed his way through
the crowds, smiling, In his superior
knowledge. owe their excitement. /
Newspapers must have headlines. !
At his office Coward used a tele. \
phone. Then he walked to n restnu. I
rnnt, where, after II few minutes. he
was Joined by n young woman. They [
took a table In n box. Supper was dis
posed Of, and the young woman begun
grow impatient. .
We'll, you brought me here" she u
said, at Inst. you've fed me, and you :
feed anybody, Conwnrd. without 5
II purpose. What's the consideration ?" y
TIN pulling OF a little Joke, and I
vnnt you to help me. You know Eden :
DIVE EldenY"
Sure. I've known him ever since I
Ihat jolt put him out OF business 10 I'm =
rooms. ever so mnny years ago. n
lie was too rural for thnt mixture"
81 NgWnN VnfN % nat hfa. 49,. - u
plnce some night To be nrreed y
ipon-l1l fix the date later-nnd keep Il
there until | call for him. with k
his nuncee.' b
Some Joke" she snld, ana there was
IN her voice. "Who IL Il on
slden. me, or the glrlf" n
Never mind who It's on" Coward "
cturned. Tin paying for II. Here's u
oniething ON account, and II you mike
good job OF II | won't DO stingy." a
Tie handed her a bill, which she
Used ana put In her purse. ~ need
he money. Coward, or 1 wouldn't p
AXE H." "a
This pnrt OF his trip set. Coward
wnlted a suitable opportunity 10 h
". In the meantime he took ~
IRIS. Hnrdy partially into his conf. n
cnce. He allowed her 10 believe, how N
yer that Elden's habits would stand
direction and Re had merely arranged ~
, trap him In II OF his favorlte IA
aunts. She was very much shocked m
nd thought II was very drendful. but
u course we must save Irene" ki
But concerning another part OF his m
Coward was even less frnnk Ii