Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1920-09-10

/ she SilNIHE up. ItbT uIltl EidblltSS
| had fed. Her face was very white.
"Then YOU are going to throw me
overt" she blazed at him. IL thought
| sol"
Have ever shown any wild desire
| for Your company he asked Jelly. He
also was standing. His face was
white too. an our short friendship
has it not always been you who took
the initiatve?'
Put the first time we met you had
no money, no place to sleep"
His brow darkened. 81 thought
was going to have trouble with you.
But never mind. I'll settle in full my
account with you, and well quit even"
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 obiterated the sun
light, and she turned in time to see
what cast it. A second later per-
emptory knocking ratified the street
door.
$50 to your room and lock yourself
in" she ordered, and pushed him be-
fore her toward the hall door. Its
NikOlay-the big Russian you met at
Smulski's. He mustn't find you here.
He's ready to kill you, almost. Do
hurry Run all the way to your room
and lock the door"
He tarried no longer. Yet the ex-
element 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
terng 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, glowering, and sat In
the chair Fitzhugh had vacated.
"Why did you keep me waitingr he
asked sullenly.
Because" she replied evenly. II
was trying to decide whether or not l
wanted to see you"
"And did you decide?"
She lifted one shoulder, with elO-
quent indifference, and stirred her cof-
fee. II 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
audiby. II take it you care more for
your friend who rolls his own ciga-
rettes." He opened box of Russians
and lighted one
She did not speak, and he went on:
you've taken quite fancy to this
young spellbinder, haven't your"
'If you mean the boy who left Just
as you came-he's my brother"
Nikolay threw back his head, and
gave loud, mirthless laugh. Brother!
What a liar"
She caught her breath sharply and
sat very erect, a crimson spot burn
ing wildly 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 10 MERCER name.
He ground his teeth as he frowned
at her, and the great hairy hand lying
on his knee opened and closed "You
will equivocnte won't you? AS If you
could hoodwink me for one instant
Don't try it, you Esther. You know
well enough why l loath this-this-"
Randolph Fitz," she supplied swift
ly. So he did not know Fitzhugh's
real name. That was good.
"You know well enough, l say. It's
because you love him."
He jumped up, kicked his chair out
of the way, and began pacing the floor
savagely
"You can't be serious, Nikolay! |" She
made brave effort at gayety. ~
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 a Fitz,
You've known him but 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
me! y
The woman knew how to act. She
hesitated, smiled up at him demurely;
then hreathipp RI boroalf tbo ,o,,,a %
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.