The Washington times., 1922-11-26


her eyes turned to face him.
The door had closed upon
Brenda Waring-the four. were
alone; and, of a sudden Sally
caught her hands up with little
sob and pressed them hard against
her. throat. She felt curiously
weak, heart-sick-a little faint.
She looked in sudden appeal from
Dan to Billy Fanshawe, but neither
needed her.
Billy's face looked tired, hag-
gard, older than ever she had seen
1T. He was looking full into his
wife's eyes. AS she asked the
question he lifted his hands and
let them fall again.
There was something utterly
hopeless in the gesture, and Fancy
cried out swiftly-then was still.
Dan had come forward pace.
His big body was tense, his face
looked gray in the shadowy light.
For a brief instant he looked
over his shoulder Mt Sally:
"There are one or two things"
he said slowly--"that have to
say to yOu-alone--whether you
want to listen to me or not! The
rest--I will say now"
He flung back his head, draw
ing a deep breath, and now his
eyes were fixed levelly upon
Billy's.
"What Mrs. War'ng said just
now is true" he said quietly. 81
was crazed that night-mad!
Fancy and her brother--everyOne
in fact-tried to keep the truth
from me, until it could make no
difference. Fancy refused to see
me. She meant not to see me until
after her marriage to you. But i
went back-l forced my way into
her room! ! tell you, was mad
mad with longing, pain and fury
at the thought of what the morrow
was to bring! | gave no thought
to the time-the place. Remem-
Der, had been four years in the
African jungle-where conventions
and the proprieties don't count!
He laughed suddenly, savagely,
and Fancy stirred. He went on
more quietly after minute.
81 only knew that ] must see
her-must plead with her-must
make her understand that | would
not give her up. | hadn't been
long enough in a civilized country
to recollect all that civilization de-
manded Of me. ! just-went to
her! There was no thought Of
wrong in my heart, either to her
or to you! Ii was simply my
that would not give her up. And
Austin Knowles came while ] was
there. 1t was he who opened my
eyes-made me realize the enor.
nifty Of my conduct. He flung some
drunken taunt and-and | knocked
him down. He picked himself up
and sat down in the chair. After
wards, when | realized that he
was-dead-I saw even more
plainly the injury knowledge of
my presence there would do to
Fancy. She begged me to 60; for
her sake / gave in. Fanshawe-
before God-what have told you
is true! was just utterly broken
and quite mad! II had been
sane | should never have gone to
her then-at such a time-in such
a manner!",
He had flung out his hands. He
let them fall again heavily, and
for a minute his lips twitched.
Billy still stood quietly at Fancy's
side. He did not look up; It was
almost as il he had not heard.
But his eyes were fixed Up his
wife's face---eyes that still held
the stricken pain and unbelief of
a few minutes since.
For a long moment Dan re-
mained looking down at him.
Then, turning abruptly he went
across to where Sally stood. He
dropped his hands upon her
shoulders, swinging her round until
she faced him fully.
"You have heard" he said.
"Do you believer"
Under his hands he felt sharp
little tremOr run through her. He
could not see her eyes but he saw
that her throat was working, and
that her lashes were wet.
Her wavering glance went to the
two standing silent in the centre
Of the room. With sudden pain in