Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-14

He looked like he needed medicine or some
thing. And he slips me a bill and says keep
the change. Well. ma'am. just as he gets
out another gent jumps in SO don't look At
the bill until that night. Then I find out
that your gent--him what brought here
had slipped me ten dollars, probly thinking
1t was a two-spot. You see, the meter said
= dollar and half, and he mighta figured on
sivin' mo ffty-cent tip. but he wasn't
dreaming Of giving me no tip Of eight.ffty.
It amt natural"
"And you came here to return the money!"
asked Allayne.
"Yesm."
"How do you know that he was the one
who gave you that bill7''
~ jammed it. being in hurry to start ofs
with this other gent. into my outside pocket
That's how I know. That was the only bill
there. I'd been round before only been -
busy. Here's the money. ma'am. That IL,
II you want to hand 1t to him."
THAT would be better" said Allayna.
"For-for the gentleman isn't In Hillstown-
any more. only-you see-I think he prob
ably meant you to have the money and
anyway want you to have It."
The chauffeur stared at her. There was
no particular reason why his honesty should
mako lady almost cry. STILL women were
funny creatures: he was married and knew
that
"Just's you say. ma'am. 50 longs you don't
think he'll think I'm some sort Of short
change artist"
I'm sure he won't" said Allayne. The
ghastly Jest unnerved her. She could hardly
wait for the mans departure to let loose the
flood Of tears that welled in her eyes.
But when she had wept, from sheer nerv.
GUS reaction. she felt better, saner. She had
in the brief interval between the Jap's an
nouncement Of the chaufeur's presence and
his entrance into the room, suffered thou
sand agonies. And the man had como on tbs
simplest, most honest errand in the world.
She rang for fresh tea, drank it thought
fully, proud Of her steady hand as she lifted
the cup to her lips. Refreshed, she began to
ponder upon the most important matter OF
ALL more important than possible evidence
that might be brought against her.
She thought Of her husband. Thank God
for one thing: he 1ods her husband! The word
of Rosa had convinced her Of that. Should
she tell him?
Not minute of the past forty y-eight hours
but had found her wishing for his presence.
longing for his strong arms about her. Yet.
though she had longed for him. she had been
glad, night before last, that he was away.
The situation was so preposterous. so dread.
full. But now that she knew that she had
never been married to Halsey. she wanted
Bourke. Yet. If he were here, tohen hs
should be here-what could she say?
She must think only on whether or not
Spenser, so long as she had a fighting chance
to avoid suspicion, should be compelled 70
bear a share Of her burden.
She knew that an accusation against her.
danger threatening her, would weigh In
hnitely more upon him than any fear for
himself. Her own cowardice-hsr dread OF
scandal-had brought her troubles upon her;
was 1t fair to shift them to another?
This was not specious reasoning on her
part For. with the departure of the taxi.
man she became convinc that even though
the police sought her. they would never find
her. Had she been recognised as she sped
away from Hillcrest. detectives would have
been here before this. Had Halsey's so
ouaintance with her been known, she would
have heard Of it by now. When one stopped
to analyze the situation carefully. coolly. one
cams to the conclusion that unless she her.
self. by some incautious word or deed, gave
. clew to her presence at the Hillcrest Inn.
that presence would never be discovered.
Had Rosa lived and been captured. con'
mon decency would have compelled Allayns
to come to her rescue and the world would
have known Of Allaynes connection with the
affair. But now that Rosa was dead. there
was no slightest chance Of her being con-
PEELED to come forward.
Fear entirely left her. She felt that she
had analyzed the affair from every possible
angle. studied every bit of probable or pos
sible evidence that might be discovered. She
was in no danger. save from herself. and
that, by being eternally on her guard. she
could discount.
But her husband! What right had she to
withhold from him her troubles? The best
right in the world: the right to save him
from worry. from fear on her behalf. So she
decided, and as she decided she would act.
II. always. she must bear burden. must
eternally be wary. there was no reason why
Bourke should also bear that burden Her
own fears had caused the assumption Of the
burden. Well. she'd be just enough to bear It.
She glanced at the watch upon her wrist
Bourke had not telegraphed. but she knew
that he would be here within twenty min.
utes She did not wish to meet him at the
train. Even had there been no weight upon
her soul she would have preferred that that
first moment Of rapturous greeting be unob-
served by Indifferent strangers.
And 90 she washed away the traces Of her
- L.