Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-28
CHAPTER VIT-Continued

When he could stand it no longer, he
returned to the room and approached
the couple with decided strides. Di was
sitting on the piano stool with her back
to the keys, admiring an unusually fine
ruby In MorelIy's ring, while he fondled
OF teased the Pekinese pet.
You do not understand love, Lady
Banister," he heard Morel1 say, as he
came up to them.
Larry was already irritated, but some
thing in the other mans voice made him
furious, without at least knowing what
had prompted the words.
you may not be aware of it, Mr..
Morell, he said CURLY, but your words
are an insult to Lady Banister."
Morell drew himself up stiffly.
~ don't understand you,' he returned
ciidly.
Frankly, didn't expect you would"
Larry said tartly. "In America it is IN
derstood that a woman loves her hus-
band or she wouldn't marry him. To
say that she doesn't is an insult"
Di looked quickly from one to the
other. She had no idea Of allowing the
men to quarrel
at brought that upon myself, Larry"
oAO duhIIbSu lIduhlyy ny sdylHS tudL
love Fiji more than anything In the
world, which, Of course, you know isn't
true, and foolish remark into the bar
gain"
She addressed her words to Larry, but
her eyes were fixed on Morell while she
was speaking
Moren glanced from one to the other.
and either the tenderness in DIS eyes
or the severity in Larry's decided him.
IF I have given offense, 1 humbly
apologize" he said, looking not at Di
but at Tilton, and aking in cold even
tones. you are evidently unaware, Mr..
Tilton, that have lived in America most
of my life and know its customs. I
merely answered a foolish remark fool
ishly."
you surprise me-" Larry said, look
ing squarely into other mans eyes. MY
impression was that you had only been
here a short time"
Here comes Tom" Di cut in briskly,
satisfying herself at the same time that
her mother was still doing at the other
end of the room. Poor boy, he has
been closeted with that musty old coach
for two mortal hours. Did you think
to ask him, Tom, how many sides there
are to a plum puddingf l heard Of a
man who failed in his exams because he
couldn't answer that question:
Nonsense" Tom grumbled, ''they
were spoof1ng you"
Larry was uncomfortable for the rest of
the evening. He felt he had been fool
ishly outspoken. He was altogether dis
satisfied with the outcome of the incl
dent with Morell. Although Philip had
relaxed from the rather naughty man.
ho Rod OF rot for w 10
and seemed to be conciliatory, Larry
still felt that In a way the other man
had the advantage.
He left early with G. promise to ride
out the next day as soon as he received
replies to his cables to the Earl of
Hardcaster. He also promised himself
that win or lose, ne would propose to
Di and learn his ia te at once.
A month elapsed and still Larry had
not spoken to Di. He saw her frequent
ly, but it always happened that when
ever she gave him the slightest encourage
ment to hope for favorable answer some
one was sure to be In the way. Try
how he would he couldn't get her alone
The only time that he and Di found
themselves without company was always
when Larry was smarting under some
real or fancied slight from Di. At these
times ne WOlu measure MS QudlncaJlOn5
with Philip's-as far as Larry knew
Toms friend was his only rival-and
would find himself hopelessly wanting"
Morells wealth, for instance; Di evil
IDENTIFY cared for such things or she
wouldn't have chung so persistenly to
her late husbands heirlooms. To be
sure. that part Of DIS actions had turned
out all right. The new Earl had cabled
his indignation at what he termed libel
Gus outrage, perpetated by the Spanish
widow. He had been III at the time, he
wrote later, and knew nothing whatever
Of the sensational report until some time
after.
The Barl's lawyer had said In a con-
f1dential letter to Tilton, that as the
present Earl was the last of his line he
could will the gems to whomsoever he
pleased. AS Lady Banister was a great
favorite with him there was good rea-
son to suppose that the. heirlooms would
be left to her. But as there would prob
ably be some conditions, the lawyer urged
the return Of the collection to England