Omaha daily bee., 1922-01-27
CHAPTER NV
BY RUBY M. AfREs,
enpgFight. 1851 ~ Ths wheeler Nssss
paper sFnasralh
ttontlnaed from ssstsFdasl


uik tears from hrf eyes As the a9oF
behind her opened. and she looked
around guiltilyi then she rose 20 her
ieet with a sIiiled exclamation as she
saw Peter AothaFd standing there.
"foul"
Her dark eyes searched the
strained nalleF OF his face with
dread; instinsiively she took a step
backward as Il 10 protect herself and,
seeing Il. he spoke ihoafsely;
"Ainetie, I've come TO take you
aeay!a e..
She shook her head: she could find
no voice with which 20 answer him.
lie had seen Margaret. Of course. and
heard She felt that she could not
bear TO look him in the eye. innocent
though she knew herself 10 be.
Eve come 20 take yeu away" liz
said again thiekly. Il guessed you
would be here with this-this man,
Put on YOUR hat and come with me,
Ainette. Nobody knows; nobody
ever need know IL you come nowl'
She found her voice then.
No. no, ! will notl | am going TO
stay herel l." She looked past him
with scared eyes as Randall Caya-
nagh came quietly into the room.
She made a little rush forward. "Oh.
send him away! Tell him | am go
ing 10 stay herew
Peter Nothsrd caught her round
the waist so roughly that she almost
fell. He swung her back into the
center OF the room and Sc, his own
tall figure between her and Caya-
nagh.
II take Miss Wheeler away with
me tonight-now, this moment" he
said. VII ..-.st
His eyes blazed as they met the
elder mans serene gaze, and he
could hardly steady his voice suf-
hcieItly to speak.
Cavanagh bowed: there was a
smile on his thin lips.
1T is for Miss Wheeler herself 10
say" he said quietly. ."She can go
with you by all means il she wishes
10 do so; but, first OF all, should
ike to speak TO her-alone."
Nothard flushed crimson.
you will say nothing to Miss
Wheeler that is not said in my pres
snce" he said harshly. what sort
IF man do you call yourself to al
low a girl such as she is to come TO
your flat-alone--at this time OF
,ight' To keep her here and let her
line with you-"
Ninette broke in angrily.
He never knew | was coming. /
lust came of my own accord"
And if Ninettc wishes to stay, she
S welcome to stay" Cavanagh added
,almly. -..-...... -
Peter Nothard clencllcd his hands.
by heavensp he broke out pas
Il always knew you were
, scoundrel, but l should not have
thought that even you" He broke
,ff, choking with savage passion, and
~avanagh smiled slightly. g..
There really is no need to get so
,xcited," he said calmly. If you
Will listen TO me for moment. ] may
&c able to explain things entirely to
,onr satisfaction; and, either way,
;othing is to be gained by calling me
Besides, it's rather danger
Jus. | am man who tolerates in
uIts lightly"
Nothard laughed scornfully.
"You think I'm afraid of you,' he |
coffed, because you're millionaire?
lou think l." Hetook quick step
his hands clenched, and
linette gave a stiAed scream and
ushed between the two men.
mo! no! I'll come with you,
Peter, I'll come with your She
VS. terrified by the passion in North
IDS face, and did not understand it.
,hc caught at his uplifted arm, cling
lg to it with both hands. mo, no!
II come with You'll promise! I'll
enc now, at once"
VERY we'll Put on your hat AMI
oat, at once! $50
Ninette turned TO obey. She was
luite white and shaking in every
imb. She took up her coat and hat |
md had begun to put them ON when
-avanagll spoke again.
"You can put these down, Ninette, |
md listen to what / have to say" he |
aid calmly. "And you, Mr.. Nothard, |
advise you to keep your temper for
few minutes, and listen also. l
now quite we'll what you have beer
since you came into this
com, and realize that you have some
,ause for your me1odramatic suspic-
ons." His lip curled slightly and his |
yoice seemed to cut like a knife as h
vent on, in the same quiet voice.
But am not an Arthur Delay-for |
which | thank heaven-though ! may |
ave many sins lying at my door!
All! that hurts you, does it," he
added in singing parenthesis, as
Northard WINGED. well, we will
ct it pass. Ninette" laid a hand
IN the girls shoulder-"came to me
because your brother-in-law insulted
Ter, and she was ordered out of the
louse by his wife. She came to me
% protect her, because there was
nobody else to whom she could go:
md she will stay here-yes, she will
stay here" he added deliberately, |
Is Northard gave smothered excla-
nation, because and his sunken
yes seemed to spring into life as
he spoke-"because she is my
|
There was dramatic silence, then
Ninette cried out, and hid her face
n her hands. So this was the ex-
danation OF the curious attraction she
lad all along felt for this man. Sh: |
vas blinded with the unexpected |
'hock of it all; she listened like one
n a dream, as he went on deliber-
ately.
The first time I saw her, at your
sisters house, | was positive that II
had found her at 1ast-the child for
whom | have been looking for the
last 20 years. Her mother and +"
He stopped, and a spasm of nail,