Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-23
A Dangerous Game
"NTIRIAM, don't you care for me

|
A'I at allv'
Harriet was trying to think what to
do. At that moment she was very
near to throwing up the game. 1t
seemed so useless to try to 70 on play. =.
ing 1t, for she was no nearer to making
discovery of any kind than she had
been in the beginning. Every impulse
in her was crying out one thing, to
tell Charley that she hated him, that
she never wanted to see him again. But
something told her to be cautious, to
go on for just little while longer. 1t
was hard TO give up now. to relinquish
everything when she was virtually in
trcnchcd in her position.
II don't know. How can / tell?" she
faltered.
You mean I've been too sudden ?''
he spoke eagerly.
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
He was cxultant now. Harriet q
hesitation meant just one thing to him.
She was shy and he had frightened her.
II he had been obnoxious to her she
would have known in a minute. He
drew long breath. ...,,
That means I may hope, doesn't
it?"
Harriet made no answer. but he was
content. He could afford to wait, the
reward was worth 1t. and he made nc
effort to press her further that night.
When they stood together In the darh
| hall, he leaned forward and gathered
both her cold hands In his warm clasp,
"I'll wait as long as you like, dom
worry" he said, comfortingly, and II
was saying a great deal for Charley 4
nature that he was willing to be pa
tirnt. He had never waited for anything
in his life. Everything he had wanted
had always been HIS the minute he hat
expressed wish for it.
He made no effort to touch her agar
aside from crushing her fingers in hi,
for a moment. but Harriet felt some.
into a web from which she could never
extricate herself. She knew very wei
that she was allowing Charley to hop,
for something he could never have. bu
Il was necessary to do that in order Il
play for time.
As Harriet turned to 60 upstairs after
the door had closed upon Charley. a dool
In the rear of the hall was opened sud
denly, and Mrs. Baxter stood silhouettet
in the light that strenmed from the bacl
parlor.
lis that you, Miss Taylor?'' sh,
called. and Harriet fancied a disagree
able infection in her voice. She won
dered IL she had heard anything through
the folding doors that separated thu
front and back rooms.
Yes, I'm just going up" she an
swered.
Mrs. Baxter stood still and stare,
nftcr her, us Harriet began to climb tn
stairs. but she made no other remarl
and Harriet heard the door closed a
she began the third flight
II only she could confide in some one
No one in the world had ever necdct
advice so badly as she did. and Barry
trial was coming up now in yer.
few days. She hesitated for momen
outside of May Watson's door. bu
shaking her head finally turned away
She must be brave and hope for tn
best. Sometimes when everything scenes
darkest a sudden ray of light appeare,
from an unexpected source. and sh
must cling to this rather forlorn hope
But she dreaded going to work the mex
day. She dreaded seeing Charley an
the accusing dark eyes Of Lucy Pratt.
She tossed for a long time on he
pillow. turning from side to side in al
effort to find cool spot, and when sh
finally dropped asleep she dreamed tha
Charley had given her jade necklace
and that Lucy Pratt was making
terrible fuss in the office about it. Sh
woke up some time in the night wit
the necklace still jumbled up in he
thoughts. Could Charley have given tina
necklace to Lucy? The thought ha
suddenly occurred to her for the frs
time,
Tnp,o,-r0v-Tha RIou EaIIa