The state herald., 1920-03-05

hnrGys. TheSe explanations narrowed
down to two almost equally unpala.
table. Coward WAS deliberately set
ting about to capture the friendship.
perhaps the affection, of either Mrs.
Hardy or Irene. Strangely enough,
Elden was more irritated by the for
mcr alternative than by the latter.
Perhaps this attitude wns due to sub
conscious recognition OF the fact that
he hnd much more TO fear from Con
ward as suitor for the hand of Mrs.
Hardy than as rival for that of
Irene. Coward as prospective
fnther-in-law was a more grIcvous
menace to his peace of mind than
Coward as defeated rival.
The more he contemplated this rs.
pect Of the case the less he liked II.
To Coward the affair could he moth.
ing more than an adventure. hut It
would give him position OF a sort
Of semi-paternal authority over both
Irene and Elden.
When ut length Mrs. Hardy began
to show signs OF wenriness Irene
served coffee and cake and the two
men, taking that as an intiination that
their welcome had run down, but
would rewind itself II not too con
tinunlly drawn upon. left the house to.
gether On their way they agreed that
II was very delightful night.
Dave turned the situation over in
his mind with some impatience. Irene
had now been In the city for several
weeks, and he had had opportunity
for scarce a dozen personal words
with her. Was he to be baked by
such an insufferable chaperonage az It
seemed the purpose Of Mrs. Hardy
and Coward to establish over his
love affair? No. In the act Of I'M
dressing he told himself. mo-" suit.
ing to the word such vigor Of behavior
that In the morning he found his
shoes at opposite corners Of the room.
Several days passed without any
word from Irene. and he had almost
made up his mind TO attempt another
telephone appointment. when he met
her. quite accidentally, In the street.
She had been shopping. she said. The
duty Of household purchases fell
mainly upon her. Her mother rested
In the afternoons
"How about q cup Of tea." sale
Dave. "And thin sandwich And
a delicate morsel Of cake? One can
always count on thin sandwiches and
delicate morscls of cake. Their func.
tIOn Is purely n social one. having no
relation to the physical requirements
II should he very glad" said Irene
They found n quiet tearoom. When
they were seated Dave. without pre-
limlnnries. plunged into the subject
nearest his heart.
II have been wanting. an opportu-
nifty to talk to you--wanting 1t for
weeks" he said. But II always
seemed"
always seemed that you were
thwarted." Irene completed his
thought. You didn't disguise your
annoyance very well the other night"
"Do yon blnme me for being an.
noyed?
mo. But I rather blame you for
showing II. You see I was annoyed
too"
Then you had nothing to do with
with bringing nbout the situation that
existed1"
"certninly not. Surely you do not
think that ! would-thnt ! would"
II beg your pardon. Reenic." snid
hax .srts al .,l, A..
known better. But II seemed such a
strong coincidence"
She WIS toying with her cup. and
for once her eyes avoided him. "You
should hardly think. Dave" she ven
tured-"you should hardly conclude
that-what has been. you know. gives
you the rIght-entities YOU"
ITO monopoly Of your nttentionsf
Perhaps not. But gives me the
right to fair chance to win u monop-
oily Of your attention."
He was speaking low md earnestly.
and his voice had 4 deep. rich timbrc
In II that thrilled snd almost fright.
ened her. She could not resent his
traIghtforwardness She felt that be
was already asserting his claim upon
bet. and there was something tender
and delightful In the sense Of being
claimed by such q man.
Il must have q fair chance to win
hat monopoly" he repeated. "How
did II happen that Coward was pres
entr
II don't know. II Just happened.
A little after you tclcphoncd mo he
called M and asked for mother. and
tho next thing knew she snld he wr-
coming up TO spend the evening"
Dnve dropped Into sudden rcveric.
Il was not 40 remarkable MS It seemed
,hat Coward should have ,clcphonrd
Mrs. Hnrdy almost Immediately after
he had used the line. Conward's tclc.
phone and Dawes were on the same
circuit: II was 4 simple mntter for
Coward. n he had happened TO ilft
the receiver during Dawes convcrsa.
ton with Irene. to overhenr MI that