The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-21

/ cion. why the dcNn nhouldnt L
walk homo II nkes- he demanded
suiienly.
Blunt stared The thought crossed
his mind that Mr.. Rorie was either
mad or--his dignity hesitated to
frame the obvious wori-~drunk.
Rorie kicked Off his boots and
walked heavily toward the stairs. He
secmod 10 have forgotten Blunt; he
clunx to the halusfors as he went
At the top he turned and looked bach
At the man below.
Damn n all. man. what are you
staring At me fcrr- he asked trrit,
ably. Go 20 bod
s"Yes. Mr. Roria.-
And Biunt-you ueednt say any
thing about this-ebout my coming
home like this. mean. I've had a
shock. Blunt--a bad shock
I'm very sorry. Mr., Rorte: very
sorry
wen. 60 20 bed
But Blunt stood motsonieSs at the
foot OF the stairs tin he heard the
door OF young Brlton's bedroom
slam
Rorie fen asleep almost ss soon as
his head touched the pillow. lie had
not believed 4, possible that he could
ever sleep again. but he was worn
out with emotion.
When he awoke. pale autumn sun
shine strcamcd into the room He
/ sprang out OF bed In q sort OF panic.
For a moment he had forgotten last
nights tragedy. he remembered only
that he had arranged TO meet Rosa
lie At daybrcak--that he had booked
two berths In a boat sailing In the
afternoon.
He snatched AZ hts watch: ~ was
o'clock. Then. with sudden rush.
he remembered. he groaned aloud.
His head was splitting: he felt as
IL he had just dragged thru a long
illness-
Ills clothes lay IN tumhied.
muddy heap on the floor. where he
had flung them A little distance
from them a crumpled paper rose
made a splash OF color IN the sun
shine. More clearly than anything.
the digit Of II brought back las,
/
field. the crowd OF people. the yellow
faro OF the lights And Resale. a.
she had looked when she saw him
first--the faint nush on her cheeks.
the glad hight In her eyes. In i'm.
sgination he could again feel the
light clasp Of her hands on his arm;
aud then he flung up his hands 10
his eyes 20 shut out her face an II
had been Afterwards when II r~stru
so helpiessiy against the hunchhaciSs
shoulder.
Dcad' Dead. And they had parted
IN bitterness She would newer know
now how sorry he had been He
would never BE- able to make II mp to
her.
He picked up the little rose and
locked II away In . drawer. He
forced himself 10 dress and 70 down
stairs. He was painfully conscious
Of Biunt's sympathetic eyes For the
sake OF app>arancs he tried TO eaf
some breakfast. bat each ncrfhfui
seemed 20 choke him
Whcn Blunt turned - law ehe
room he called him back.
I'm going TO London O. bu19ne1L
You might ssnd someone over 70
Afpertou for the CIR. IT'S m the yard
at the White Horse"
YES. Mr.. RcriA- Blunt besffAted
There was . bad acrid-nt OVER Al
perton Why iass night. Mr.. Rorie.- he
added. heritatingfy.
WAS there?-
"A woman tn the circus show fen
from a trnpeze. MFR. Rorie-'
Il heard something about H. Bad
" hurt. wasn't shey-
Each word was an fnto'erabie ef-
fort. and yet at any cost. Rorte felt
he must keep Blunt from suspecting
the truth
Il believe she was. Mr.. Rorfe-
Blunt swcpt some imaginary crumbs
from the tabie-cioth. Il ear. Mr.. /
Rorie. that she was the wife OF that
hunchback. what's been hanging
about the house,
Rorie serted To his feet. hh white
face was crimson IT'S . damned
He he said furioussy.
Blunt looked amazed Mr.. Rorfe-
Roderick turned away. Ills nerves
were on edge. like those Of hys
tericaI woman: he cicnched his
hands to keep himself from doing or
saying something outrageous
ITS not true. anyway no aid
in q voice Of forced calm TITS not
true- The girl was married but not
to the hunchback. Don't forget To
send for the car
He escaped from he room: an
hour later he was IN London
He took tsxi. and gave the drfv-
er old Ferrcrson's address at XII
burn: he felt as II he would never
be happy any more TIN he had made
a clean breast Of the whole story.
The tragedy of Rosaiie's death
had hit him hard. II only she had
died before he had seen her. earlier
In the evening. II would have been
easier to bear; but ever since the mo-
ment when the hunchback had told
hym she was dead, he had been un-
able TO remember anything except
the hard. selfish things he had said
to her.
All tnat no kupOo " iO@S " coU
Teasing TO old Fergerson seemed 10
count now at all. Tragedy had
laid a heavy hand on his shoulder.
He felt that he had aged years In a
single night.
Old Fergerscn was breakfastinr. |
He took life easily: he had worked
hard for 40 years. and now he let
somebody else do the early rising. |
and keep late hours at the office for
him: he was merely an ornamental
and capable head" OF the firm
which his own endeavors had placed |
on so sure a footing.
Rorie was shown into me csssy |
little room Immediately: old Ferger |
son was a good sort He had every |
intention OF trying TO make friend