The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-07-08
CHAPTER XII.

Fltzhugh awakened next morning to
the ringing of his telephone. 1t was
Hunt. He cut short the flood of ques-
lions, and, still in his pajamas, got q
small valise from q closet and began
filling it with shirts, collars, and such
other articles as a man needs for a
short journey.
When he reached his Office, for TWEEN
ty galvanic minutes, without a wasted
word. he outlined concisely what he
wanted done during his absence, CON
sidering and settling various problems
that In the interim might arise. Per
ceiving the flight of time, he snatched
his hat from the floor. and, with Hunt
trotting along beside. hurried TO the
elevator, still giving directions and adj
vice. Down the elevator shaft, through
the rotunda of the first floor, to the
automobile In Adams street, and
thence to the railway station, he con-
tinued the terse cOunseling.
AS he dashed into the Grand Central
station. ran down the midway toward
his gate. the conductor called
Board :" and his train pulled out.
He caught the last Pullman as. 1t
moved from the shed.
Fitzhugh returned from Washington
In four days, q changed man. There
had been little he could do; so little,
indeed. that he felt his trip had been
wasted. He had located some men,
bers of Esther's family and had given
them. quite anonymously, a sum Of
money larger than any they had ever
known. Then he took q train for Chi
cagO. There was nothing else to do.
But he could not forget. Wildly
against the background of his mind
were marShaled all Esther had done
for him. all her little acts Of kindness,
her unselfshness, but doglike devotion.
And then he would think of the re-
quital he had made. His memory
logged him pitilessly. He thought of
how he had left her alone with Niko-
lay that morning. Of his incompassion-
ateness the last time he saw her alive,
Of the death-dealing message he had
sent, the needless cruelty
Brute II was always a brute to
her.
It was nearly eleven when he
rectly from his apartment In his auto
mobile. and wore a motoring cap and
coat. unessentials both, the last OF
which effectually concealed all ap-
parel beneath 1t from the collar down
Hunt, coatless and with his shirt
sleeves rolled to his elbows. sat at the
great fat-topped desk in the inner
Sanctum, head over heels in the days
work.
With a brief excuse for his tardi
ness. Fitzhugh took the chair at the
opposite side of the desk and scanned
some important papers requiring hi:
signature. conversing busily with Hun
as he read. He had signed but one OF
them, when, with an ejaculation upoI
the warmth Of the weather, he flung
or his cap. and loosening the clasp.
OF his coat collar, walked into the ada
cent room.
In q few minutes he reappeared
and, having discarded the motoring
buster, he was outwardly transformed
Snow-white ducks. white outing slip
pers, with sIlken hosiery shimmerin;
where 1t showed, a soft white shirt
through the attached collar of which
was looped voiuminous tie of blood
red hue. q crush hat, white as al
Easter lily, turned up In front an'
down behind and encircled by q Grim
son ribbon-these made up his attire.
"You look like the epitome OF
comic opera" Hunt laughed, asid
from the phone. WHITTIER away
Yachting?"
"Eo." replied Fitzhugh. appendin
his signature to the rest OF the papers
mo. I'm not going yachting" He pu
down his pen, picked up his cane. stoo'
up. "rm going into the pit"