The Washington herald., 1922-02-25


him. He had understood and ae-
cepted her confession. 1t had
seemed to make little difference in
their frank comradeship.
Why now should she care what
he did or what he thought?
And yet the disquieting thought
remained with her that their re-
lationship had never been the same
since the night she had lied to him
about the cause Of her laughter
alone in her room at midnight
Often of late she recalled the LOCK
on his face when he took from her
hands the copy of webster's die
tionary and silently confronted her
with her own fabrication. Since
then their conversation when they
were alone had been constrained.
1t was the kind OF talk that two
people indulge in when each fears
that the other will make some ref
erence to a painful topic.
Amazed at herself. Jeanne raised
her eyes pleadingly to his.
A Run-Away Party.
Must we go home to dine!
Couldn't we stay In town and have
little runaway party, Just US
two?"
He looked up surprised.
But we stayed in last night"
% that" shrugged Jeanne. "Dick
Candy and Miss Dayton and the
others spoiled that. We've really
not had a party a deaux since we
came back from our honeymoon"
He pushed aside the letters on
his desk. and leaned toward her.
Would you really like that.
Jeanne?" he asked with subdued
eagerness.
She rose and drew her wrap about
her.
VERY much" she replied, studied
ly casual. but under his eyes she
felt herself flushing.
He laughed boyishly.
DO you know that this is the
first nice thing you have said to me
in weeks?"
Really, I didn't think you
noticed"
That's not true, Jeanne. You
know that 1 treasure your slightest
words. the merest caress. You are
awfully stingy with your kisses
lately. as you right well know
Jeanne was dismayed to find her
self blushing again. She turned her
back to hide her confusion from
Barstowe.
Il mustn't stay here interrupting
your work. il you are to get away
early. And besides 1t is ridiculous
to talk sentiment to a man during
business hours"
Don't CO." he pleaded. TIL just
sign a few letters, and then we'll
skip. Well have dinner in town,
= A.
and wind up with supper some
where"
She smiled at his enthusiasm, and
reseated herself. picking up the
magazine again.
He delved into his letters, signing
them in a big. bold hand, blotting
them. and>fossing them into a bas-
ket.
by the way, have a letter here
from our friend North" he re-
marked. He asks to be remem-
bered to you, and says to tell you
he ran into somebody named Harri-
son out West"
Barstowe looked at her across the
typewritten page.
."old friend of your? I've never
met him, have II"
She shook her head, frowning.
Devoutly she was hoping tina,
Henry had been discreet and had
| let fall no chance word which might
make Selby North believe that
Jeanne Dare had hailed from that
| part of the world. She knew thu
| once that ferret-nosed little gossip
scented a mystery there would be
no stopping until he ran it down.
To Barstowe's question she re-
piled: y
NATURALLY not. since Mr.. North is
mistaken about Mr.. Harrison. He
is a business acquaintance only.
He looks after some property that
I have in the West. Mr.. North saw
US together once, when Harrison
came on to consult me about a sale.
He Immediately scented romance"
That sounds like North" laughed
| Barstowe - We'll, this makes
| it a day." and he reached out and
| pressed a button on the side of his
| desk. To the girl who responded
to his ring he said:
To Be conrtnsed Tomorrow.