The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1920-09-10

She sprang up. Her brief giadness
had fed. Her face was very white.
Then you are going to throw me
over!" she blazed at him. II thought
sol"
Have ever shown any wild desire
for your companyY he asked iciiy He
also was standing. His face was
white. too. "1n our short friendship
has It not always been you who took
the initiative2"
But 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 settle In full my
account with you. and Wen 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 It's
flow. A shadow obliterated the sun
light, and she turned in time to see
what cast It. A second later I per-
emptory knocking ratified the street
door. e3 } tF.sf .Yss ~
go to your room and lock yourself
in!" she ordered, and pushed him be-
fore her toward the hall door. Its
N,kolay-the big Russian you met at
Smulski's. he mustn't ind you here.
Hes ready to kill you, almost. Do
hurry! Run all the way to your room
and lock the door," 1ie
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
tering at the door swelled louder with
every second.
Fitzhugh gone. Esther UNMARRIED 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 waiting?' he
asked sullenly.
Because" she replied evenly, II
was trying to decide whether or not l
wanted to see you"
"And did you decidel"
She lifted one shoulder, with elo-
Quent indifference, and stirred her COT
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, sniding the air very
audibly. Il take it you care more for
your friend who rolls his own ciga-
rettes." He opened q box Of Russians
and lighted one. ca9~
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 q liar!" rs-.sg-
She caught her breath sharply and
sat very erect, 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 to tiercer 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 l lOath this-this-"
Randolph Fltz," 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 7" She
made brave effort at gayety. II
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 SOP" he
cried, holding out his great arms to
her. Cant you see how love your
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 a few weeks,
yet you're Surely you cannot love
himl 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
den0 rtura