The St. Charles herald., 1922-11-04

Fairchild blinked In surprise at this
and sank back into his chair. Finally
he laughed uneasily and puffed again
on the dubious cigar.
"rd say" came finally. 'that there
isn't any such animal"
"But there is. She has Then ne
stopped, as though to cover the SLIP
Fairchild leaned forward.
"Sher
Mr.. Barnham gave the appearance
Of q very fiustered man.
my tongue got away from me; l
shouldn't have said 1t. ! really
shouldn't have said 1t. II she ever
finds It out, 1t will mean trouble FOR
me. But truly" and he beamed. you
are such . tough customer to deal with
and 30 suspicious-n0 offense meant.
Of course-that I really was forced to
Il. feel sure she will forgive me-"
"Whom do you mean by 'she'F
Mr.. Barnham smiled In q knowing
manner.
"You and both know" came his
cryptic answer. "She Is your one great.
GOOD friend. She thinks great deal
of you, and you have done several
things to cause that admiration. Now.
Mr.. Fairchild, coming to the point,
suppose she should point way out
of your troubles? In the first place.
you and your partner are In very
great difficulties"
"Are wer Fairchild said It sarcas-
tically.
Indeed you are. and there Is no
need Of attempting to conceal the fact.
Your friend. whose name must remain
a secret, does not love you-don't ever
| think that-but-"
Then he hesitated as though to
| watch the effect ON Fairchild's face.
| There was none; Robert had masked
| Il. In time the words went on: But
she does think enough Of you to want
to make you happy. She has recently
done . thing which gives her a great
deal Of power In one direction In an
other. she has connections who pos
sess vast money powers and who are
looking for an opening here In the
West. Now" he made q church
steeple out Of his fingers and leaned
back In his chair. staring vacuously at
the ceiling. III you viii say the word
and do a thing which will relieve her
Of q great deal Of embarrassment. l
am sure that she can 50 arrange
things that life viii be very easy for
you henceforth."
I'm becoming interested"
.Ip the flrst place. she Is engaged to
be married to q very fine young man.
You. Of course. may say differently,
and do not know-I am only taking
her word for Il. Buff understand
II, your presence in Ohadi has caused
| few disagreements between them
and-well, you know how willful and
headstrong girls will be. believe she
has committed q few-er-indiscre
lions with you..
| That's 4 lie~ Fairchild's temper
rot away from him and his flst banged
on the table. -ThA's . lie and yot
know I'll.
oAU04A ox0 - RASs 49,
male use of 4 word that can havt
many meanings and am sure that u
using 4. I didn't place the same con
structio0 that yoa did IN hearing II
But Let that pass. apologize. Wha
I sheuld have said WAS that. II y0a
vim pardoa me. she used you. q
yeune women win do. ~ q foil agains
her Aance n . time sf petty quarrel
ing between them n that plainerr
Il was too plain 70 FaircAild
hurt hut IA neAded his Aead -sA1
IL 6khef man went o.
il sNov the tAiag has Progressed 10
paaee where 20 nay be-wsalHwha
! e. mleAt eah the tAorn b tha I'D
: of their happanasa Yea are th
e<Aer nan. a q were, @ cause quar-
reas and that s0rt of thine. And q
fssas that ~ has neG done rightly b
yoa. and threagA her friendship IN
; Z desare 70 - peaes all around. b
neves sAe can arrange matters I,
: sait IN coocesned ~ Be plain IN
: blunt. lfr. FAirchilA yea are NOT I
!, N eAviable positioA aid that
! had Information for yo1. and I'm g
! inx % give Il. Toa are trying to woF
! I mine. That demands capital 70