The Washington herald., 1921-07-17
By Owen Oliver

nared up seemed to.see the Red Fisher IN
Il, laughing triumphantiy In the fare.
Hook me. Them my mind told him
nsrceiy. I expected Roberts arm TO 90 round
me as stood beside his chair. Offering him
the light held his wrist with one hand to
steady the cigar. The touch that
hungered for did not coma
Thank you. Neen. You spoil me. a.
The devil Of 1t Is that Margaret has taken
one of her turns-turned toward me as she
might TO q new name. She wants to make
It up. Neen. don't want her.
should not want her II the other woman
weren't In the world Dent tell me its my
duty to make It upi That's what I
have on my mind; what wanted to ask you.
my good friend
There was . long long silence. sat with
my chin on my hand staring into the IRE;
mad q picture there with the black and gold
and amber and the gray smoke. The
Red Fisher dangied his feet merrily In the
flames: set his teeth and forgot TO smile as
he played me at the end OF the line: won
SWAN round and round. thought. till the
water ran in fast r1pples that / could hear.
Hisssss. That was only the sound
Of the flames. -. Flsp-nap-ns Zap.
Only the pufis OF the jets Of coal gas
catching nre I put my hands on the
arms Of the chair. One more Tightening OF
my nerves and should go to Robert.
paused only for the right words.
Just his name. I would say Bob. DEAR
I drew a breath; half rose. And
heard Margarets voice in the hall She had
come home. What a magnificent
woman she looked when she switched on the
light at the door.
Il had q fancy To be Domestic tonight
she said laughingly: but 1 suppoA you're
going out Bob7-
Il am going out he told her. and rose.
They looked hard At each other. Several
times~I thought they were going 10 speak
but they did not She gasped when he had
clutched my arm
Hes going to herr she hissed
Don't be a fool" I said.
He wants to get rid OF me-" she said IN
my ear. He thinks-Neen. he's having me
watched-
He would. n I were he I told her-that
was not true. had no suspicion Of her
but he isn't / should think It's your con
science: IL you have one
Until tonight had" she told me furious
lv. now it's gone. came home to try and
put things right was ready to humble
myself to him" She laughed wildly. You
side with him. Of course. daressy you'd
try to marry him. II were eonei-
Margaret"
II didn't mean II, Neen. Don't you turn
on me. Yosre the only pal have. Women
don't like me Well. msn DO!
Can't you help me. Neen7 / tell you I'm
desperate. Do you understand"
what do you meanr- clutched her
arm.
why should 1 stay with q man who de-
spises me when another adores mel I've
been a good woman till now. but 4,
You don't know what temptation b--
"who is it7-
II didn't say It was any one. 4.
Don't start at Pe ike that You look IA
devil! II did. he'd have driven me
to 1t: he's cold brute. He
-Iwont listen to abuse Of him" I said.
Don't CO." she pleaded. I want helpI
-
closed the door upon her.
I called at Roberts Office the next morn
ing and saw him alone
Bob" said. i've got to be disloyal to
one friend or another. You have TO come
first. . You are-of all friends-desr-
est to me. / can't see your life
spoilt by a tie that you honor and shelf
were you I should have Margaret watched
Not q word 1t doesn't bear dis
cussion."
He rose slowly; staggered; rested his hand
on the table.
"Nina?" he said hoarseiy. you know
that she-7-
Have her watched" I said sharply. Tha
1 turned and walked out went sway Or
a month. When / came back he had taken
proceedings for his divorce
don't know what kink n my character
took me to the court. He had kept me out
OF It, Of course. and needn't have gone
Margaret was foolish enough to fight the
case. 1 don't think she expected to save
herself, only wanted to say what che I'D
in the box.
Il have done things that lay me open Do
suspicion" she said. looking like beautiful,
rale statue. things that ehould not have
done. / deserved to lose my hurband's az
fectioHi But I tried to wia It bSck. He did