The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1921-06-02
THE CONSPIRACY
BY MOLLiE MATHER.
u 400 oooQooooooo

bulSA iObhOd at Nhih VAlitls NAH IL
such a dear girl" Daisy said. II do
wish she would take little more in
terest in men. | really cannot bear To
think of Nan living alone all her days.
And she is so provokingly distant
Don smoked ruminatingly.
Like my friend Bob" lie remarked
Nov take Bob, good honest fellow.
kind, gentlemanly and successful in
business-yet, a woman hater.'
oh | shouldn't call him that ex.
actly," Don's wife defended IT'S jus
that Bob Reynolds has had SO many
fussy females In his own family thu
he is cautious. You know. yourself.
you would hate to risk being tied for
life to anyone resembling his married
sister. Then, too, Bob is satisfied In
his profession, SO he just steers
clear"
But he Feeds sympathizing I'M
Daisy sighed. NO more than my
lone. lovely Nan needs a protecting
husband she replied.
Then the two involuntarily smiled.
IF we could manage a meeting be-
tween them,' suggested Daisy.
Don shook his head. Cant be
DONE" he answered decisively. Every
time | invite old Bob out he suspects
the matchmaking propensity of the
happily married, and refuses"
Daisy nodded.
Il know" she said, man is just that
way. Who else is comlngT she will
ask me detiantly."
The fire cracked on, Daisy slipped
over to the friendly arm of her nus
bands chair and still sat gazing medi-
tatively into the rosy depths.
Don she said at last, while We
are i'm New York next week will you
ask Bob TO drop into the fiat OCCASION
ally and see that things are all right?
Good idea" Don heartily agreed
Bob will enjoy looking after your
ferhery, Daisy you know he is an ad-
mirer of yours"
Bob was well pleased to oblige his
friends. The thought of an uninter-
rupted evening among Donald's we'll
chosen books was inviting. He fitted
the latehkey which liis friend had
bestowed upon him and entered the
deserted yestibule. All was IN readi.
ness for his coming, as Don had said.
As he switched on the living-room
lights he saw a dish of polished red
apples on a table beside the fireside
chair. Several new pieces seemed
placed for his selection on the grand
piano.
He hastily shut off the myriad lights
as he dropped to the hearth rug,
leaving the golden shaded lamp alone
for his use. And as Bob bent to build
the fire he discarded his coat. From "A
rear room came crooningly the chlrp
of bird. Bob arose. Don had not
mentioned the added care of a bird.
and here he, Bob, had allowed two
days To elapse before visiting his
friends home after their departure.
The tiny creature might be suffering
now for want of food. Softly, on the
thick rugs, Bob made his way In the
direction of the birds murmurings.
The cage hung In high kitchen win
dow, and standing upon stool before
the cage was girl. The bright lights
of the white kitchen fell upon her
broEze-gold hair; and presently, as
though sensing his presence, the girl
turned abruptly. and losing her bal
ance fell with a startled cry directly
into Bob's outstretched arms.
Ii seemed that he had anticipated
that fall from the moment the girl
turned her white face toward him. A
quick stride found him at the side of
the high stool. 1t took him some time,
however, to realize that the young
woman's alarm was occasioned by his
own presence.
Then Bob, holding her and vainly
endeayoring to reach the faucet in or
der to dampen her forehead with re-
viying water, wondered vaguely how
in the world this strange young wom-
an came to be In the deserted apart
ment which Don assured him was
locked against intruders. For a mo-
ment the dizzy thought assailed him
that he had mistakenly entered the
wrong apartment. Then the pale
faced young woman found voice.
81 don't know" she said, what you
are doing here" She surveyed Bob's
coatless figure But IL you are a
burglar, won't you please go2'
"Burglarw Bob gasped He realized
that the young woman was endeavor-
Ing to free herself from his close sus-
tanning grasp. Also, that a most be-
coming rose color had banished the
ashy whitehess and that her alright
ed eyes were now glinting dangerous
resentment Burglar" he repeated
why | came to look after the ferns
Don asked me to. I'm his friend"
The young woman, sinking down on
a kitchen chair, stared at him. mot"
she asked mockingly, "the paragon
Bob Reynolds? l." her tone was ex-
pressive, have heard of you. Daisy
do 10