The Washington herald., 1921-04-17

bending eoer, Ted LsFen. Edith stood &C,
Hendricks watchfulness seemed baneful; and
even that fiickered down as We followed his
wife to the screened porch which they made
the summer dining room.
There. at the foot Of the table, spread
brightly with the silver which they had
packed through miles of muskeg, and gay
with the early flowers Of that garden for :
which Edith shaved 80 valiantly, she slipped
into the role which she played so often in
that setting. Not the homesick woman who
had given confidence to Constable and my.
self. not the unhappy wife finging defiance
at her husband. but the hostess who. with
the ease Of long practice. keeps alive the
spirit of the occasion for which her guests
have been summoned.
Spirited, brilliant, charming, she took the
bit Of responsibility in her teeth and gaIloped
down the road Of conversation. She brought
out Lefty Williams until the girls eyes
shone with delight in realization Of her own
powers, and Leffen beamed upon them both
She Led Leffen on until the boy expanded in
rolliching humor. Even Hendricks keen
eyes siistened as the party slid on smoothly.
Only once did he show annoyance and that
was when Ted Leffen pushed aside the cham
payne which the China boy had poured.
"f1ere's to you." he cried springing to his
feet your health and happiness! Good
luck!"
He lifted his glass high, and Constable and
raised ours. Lefty Williams looked at LET.
fen In troubled question. The boy bit his
hp hesitated. then doyned the liquor. Edith
Kendfick and Lefty toyed with their glasses.
The China boy came back and poured more
= for Kendrick and Ted. thought I saw
betty signal to him to let It alone. II he saw
her. he did not heed her. Steadily. and as
swiftly as the servant followed Hendricks
instructions. Ted Lefren began to drink
Little BY little. led on perhaps as much by
Hendricks sharp questioning as by the wine.
he began to boast We had known that the
strike at the Missinaibi promised riches. but
we had not dreamed Of the extent of the gold
In the lode until the boy garrulously pro-
claimed the wealth Of his Ell Dorado.
Its richer than the Big Dome" he in
sisted. richer than the Hollingworth, richer
than any Of them, Ken, richer. maybe, than
all Of them put together" Hendricks eyes
cleaned through the reoountaL But only
half Of it's mine. The other half's Stratton's.
That's what came in for this week. Going
to meet him and turn over his share to him."
Haven't you done it YETI" Kendrick
asked.
Plenty Of time" Leffen maundered.
= Plenty of money for us both. Lots for me
and Lefty. Isn't there. Letty?"
-oh, Ted, stop talking about it." the girl
said sharply. Were all glad you have it,
and you're glad. Of course. but let it go at
that"
Going to call it the Lefty" he persisted.
Let's drink to the Lefty"
Lets not" pleaded the girl
TITS once in a lifetime" said Kendrick.
Letty's eyes blazed at him from the
shadows that were falling over the side Of
the porch where she sat, but Edith gave no
sign Of desire to halt him. Constable.
schooled as-he was to all sorts of scenes,
was revealing faint edge Of annoyance.
and was not surprised when he arose with
US, leaving the man and the boy alone. Z
I'm not smoking tonight" he said. and
followed US to the other veranda.
Once out. Of Hendricks sight Edith's
spirits sassed visibly. She no longer made
effort to ron the bah. and scanned. whenever
she spoke. to be rousing herself from apa.
thetic listlessness. Sometimes had the feel.
ing that she was watching for some one.
just a. knew that Lefty williams was
listening for sounds from the dining porch.
Alive could hear was thedrone Of eonversa-
kion. Long minutes dragged. and stirl Ken
drick and Lsffen did not come, Constable
grew plainly worried. while Edith affected
to ignore the situation. Finally driven b.
Letty.s nervous agitation. she left US. going
to summon thu two man.