, 1921-09-24

that It's a pretty high standard -
live up TO. I know. but it's all your
own At which Miss Sorries had gAzsd
coldly at nothing. and-ven Bibber had
wished he had not esnplimented her on
the one thing for which She QUIZ net
possibly take any credit.
She received him o ~Eracious,y. as a
much older woman might have done.
but told him he could not stay. as STA
had 70 dress for dinner
cit Won't take long 70 say what I
came to say Van Blbbe- answered her.
I came on purpose to say It. though.
It's rather serious-at least. Il d.dnt
start out so. but it's getting serious"
He did not look al her. but at the fire.
ndence from H. But his anxiety was
unnecessary. fc< Mss ,,crr.es regarded
him TRANQUILITY and without loss OF her
usual poiss. Sha was afvays ready I,
laugh with those who laughed. or TO
weep with those who wept. giving out
Just enough n her own personality 70
make her sympathy Of value, and yet
never allowing II TO carry her away.
Perhaps" said a Bibber. with q
thing TO say - me-
mo. l don't know that I have the
girl answered. cons.deriax. HAS any
thing happened7 ! mean. IS there any
thing I ought TO speak about that I
haven't. Are YOU TO be congratulated
or condoled with? Is that itr"
Well. o ought to know Van Bib
Der answered. whether ! am 20 be con-
doled with or not. I'm certainly not TO
be Congratulated
y 0 understand" she ssId, smsl-
ing.
"oh. well. then he exclaimed. with a
sigh OF relief. Its probably all right.
Only thought you would have received
1t by his time. and II you had. ! want
ed to explain. But n you haven't re-
ceiveo IL you probably won't now. and
so I needn't say anything about IL
Received what?" asked Mss Norries,
with a perplexed laugh. But" shs
added. IF you don't wish TO speak OF e
We will talk OF something ! do under
stand. oh. you mean the package OF
books o sent me-. l ought 10 Rave
written you about them. They were
Just fhe ones l wanted. was SO
very-s"
Books, no. said Van Bibber. With
disgust. 'It's a letter" he biurted out,
Some n told meat least I happened
to md out-that some one sent you an
anonymous letter about me. And
thought you might have received Il.
and"
He stopped In some confusion. for he
liked Miss Norries better than he did
the other women. and ne found it. for
some reason, harder to talk to her about
the letter than TO those others.
Yes. I received g." she sa,d.
He looked at her a moment with
startled urprise.
MOI" h. exclaimed. You don't say
so. You cid receive e? Wei. but thes
i don't understand. Why didn't you
tell me-"
tel you what7- said Miss Norries
gently. blu, with some hauteur. -why
should l speak TO you OF 1t? do not
see that II concerns you. 1t was an
anonymous letter addressed to ms, and
I threw it in the fire." She looked al
him inquiringly for a moment and the
turned her attention to the falling NOV
against the window.
Yes. 1 know raid Van Bibber
thinking very fast and talking TO MAKE
time. but the letter was about me, you
know. and suggested-that is. II put m
in rather an unpleasant light"
Tho girl CAV a slight laugh OF an
noyance and stood up. Il fan to SCI
how il concerns you" she said. 1T wa.
insulting to me. that's all. I did no;
consider il further than that. What II
SAX about you has nothing whatever q
do with II that I can see. All that ]
could understand was that some one
had tried TO annoy me by sending nj
an anonymous letter" She stopped and
smiled. you must nave a rather poor
opinion OF yourself and your friends II
you think they consider you and anory.
nous letters with equal seriousness
Now you have to go" she added, "or
shall be late. Thank you ever so much
for the books, and come in tomorrow
u "a r1y ard roll mo what x,n.r rhf1ty ,ha,,i
them: but o I really must hurry. sc
goodbye
Var Bibber put his hat firmly on hi.
head as he went down the steps, ans
then turned and gased at the closed
door Of the house he had just left witt
a look OF settled bewiide-ment. Well
he said. with n sigh. "it's al part OF tn,
days work, I For which" h
added. inp-eSsively, "rra-ers will havs
to pay"
a long dinner and a large open FIRE
, in the almost deserted club hsd melted
, his anger by ten o'clock to such a de.
I, gree that Travers ventured to ask fol
; the details OF the days adventure, anc
: Van Bibber Wis 10 far pacifed as 4
/ give them.
well, I must say" declared Trave-s
rubbing his knees and gazing with much
satisfaction into the open fire, III
, turned out to be a very interesting ex.
/ pertinent, didn't IT. Blu IL fasn-
proved anything that I can SEE. L don.
, see that it has shown which OF the girl.
cares the most about you. has It? VIVA
do you thini?'
: II don't know" raid Van Bibbc-
/ lowering his voice and CHANGING over
: his shoulder. Which do you thirN
, now"