Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-07
CHAPTER XVII
Champion In A New iIfht


things about Mark? My heart rose In
fierce rebellion. II my father had not
been there l would have insisted on an
explanation az 10 what he had really
meant.
l went out to the car with them.
My father kissed me and patted my
cheek. '''' my
II shall tell your mother how well
you are looking" he said, almost
kindly for him. II shall tell her that
Il you go on at this rnte the usiy
tuckling will turn into d swan"
She won't believe you," said, but
he only laughed. '
Mr.. Champion came up TO mo.
wen. good-bg, little Miss Sally"
ne he's sad !, II shall see you again before
said, "Oh, will your" with Front
indifference. / certainly did not carr
IL never saw him any more after what
he had salt about Mark.
deliberately. ''"
But this time he looked at me quite
unmoved. f''''
Il will certainly remember" he
promised. "
] watched them drive away ana nave
sigh of relief when the big car swept
round the bend in the road and out Of
sight. 'u'' u
l went back to the kitchen ond
warmed my chilled hands at the fire.
Mr. and Mrs. Alberry were talking
together; they still seemed rather aei
tated at the unexpectedncss of my ia. .
ther \ visit; they kept on saying that
II only they, had known he was coming,
Things Should have been very different !;
II only he had given them even an
hours notice!
l said, anxious to comfort them. "Nfr.
hampton had three huge helpings of
your lovely hash"
Mr.: .Alberry. laughed. but his wife
raised her hands In despair. Hash !
For two gentlemen like that !" she ,-,id,
Why not?'' 1 asked. Just because
they, re rich It's no reason why anybody
'hould make more fuss over them than
yer any one else, Is IT,"
l walked out OF the room with my
nose In the air. I felt ruffled. | wished
l had asked Lionel Champion what he
meant when he said that Mark was mo-,
the sort of man for me to be friendly
with.
That evening when Mr.. Alberry soi
up. from the tea table to 60 down TO-
last look round the stables, I got m,
big coat and woolly cap and followed
him through the mud and darkness.
guided only by n lantern he carried.
l always liked the stables. They
were warm, and l liked the way In
which the horses turned their heads and
stamped their feet as If In welcome
when Mr.. Alberry went in.
/ watched while he watered and fed
them (the boy Ned had got an evening
off TO go in to the village), and it wa
when he had nearly finished that I said
"Mr. Champion tells me he has som,
property down here. Did you know that.
Mr.. Alberry?"
lie looked Mt me across the wide back
of one of the farm horses and there
was faint twinkle in his eyes.
Did | know 1t, missile? Well, TO be
sure"
You never told me-" I said blankly
lie rubbed his chin.
'Well, l never thought of it. WHY
should II"
What property ls it2" I insisted.
Whereabouts is it?'
Mr.. Alberry hcsitatcd then he an .
sEered:
"Well, he's the mortgagee on most
of Mr.. Anderson's land, for one thing
and to-"
l gave little exclamation. $50
that's 1t, is it?" said. "'IIe told mc
that he knew Mark--I mean Mr.. An
derson."
Mr.. Alberry laughed, dryly.
Know him should say he does,
he said, seeing that IL was he VIII,
ruined Mr.. Marks father before him. ="
There was little stir In the open
doorway, and, turning, saw Mark
Anderson himself standing there look
ing In on Us.
/ was sitting on an overturned box
holding the lantern, and the blood raced
to my face as l met his grave eyes.
Then / moved one arm stiffiy and
touched Mr.. Alberry. Somebody wants
YOU" I said.
He turned round. and I got up and
put the lantern down on the overturned
box.
ITS cold," ! said stupidity. "t'll go
back to the house,
Mr.. Anderson stood aside without
speaking, and | went out into the dark
yard, hardly knowing what / Was
doing.
Why had he Gomez l blundered on
few steps unseeingiy. There seemed tU
be invisible hands tugging at me, try
Ing to drag me back, and yet not for
anything would ! have retraccd n single
step or even have turned my head.
II he thought he was going to be al
lowed to treat me just as he chose he
was mistaken. If he thought that
cared straw whether hU came or
whether he stayed away, / would show
him that l did not. The mud from the
thaw closSed my boots and kept me
from making much pace In tho dark
ness, and ! was still some way from
the back door Of the farm when Mr..
Anderson spoke behind me.
"You are in q great hurry tonight?'
The sudden shock Of finding him 30
near, when | had not even known that
he had followed me, brought me to n
standstill, but l went on again I'm.
medately.
Eyes, it's cold. I want to get baek
to the fire.
"It's always chilly when there's been
a thaw," he said. Though 1 quickened
my ps he kept beside me and fol-
loved me into the kitchen, 1t was not
my house AMI, therefore, it was utterly
impossible for me to shut tho door in
his face.