Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-23
CHAPTER w
Not AlMaYs Two 10 MaLa N Ounr,-el

CHAPTER w
Not Always Two to Make q Quarrel
Kirby put Wild Rose on the morning
train for Denver. She had escaped from
the doctor by sheer force Of will. The
night had been n wretched one, almost
slccpless, and she knew that her fever
would rise in the afternoon. But that
could not be helped. She had more i'm
portant business than her health to at
tend to just now.
| Ordinarily Rose bloomcd with vital
ity, but this morning she looked tired
and worn. In her eyes there was a
hard brilliancy Kirby did not like TO
see. He knew from Of old the fire that
could blaze in her heart, the insurgent
impulses that could sweep her into
recklessness. What would she do if the
worst she feared turned out 20 be true?
Good luck" she called through the
open window ms the train pulled out
Beat Cole, Kirby"
Good luck to you" he answered.
write me soon as you find out how
things are.
But as he walked from the station his
heart misgave him. Why had he let her
go alone, knowing as he did how swift
she blaZed to passion when wrong was
done those she loved? 1t was easy
enough to say that she had refused to
let him 20 with her, though he had
several times offered. The fact re-
maincd that she might need friend at
hand, might need him the worst way.
All through breakfast he was ridden
by the fear of trouble on her horizon.
Comrades stopped to slap him on the
back and wish him good luck in the
finals, and though he made the proper
answers It was with the surface of Il
mind almost wholly preoccupied with
another matter.
While he was rising from the table he
made decision in the flash Of an eye.
He would join Rose in Denver ut once.
Already dozens of cars were taking the
road. There would be vacant place in
some one Of them.
He found n party just setting out for
Denver and easily made arrangements to
take the untitled seat in the tOnneau.
by the middle of the afternoon he
was at a boarding house on Cherokee
street inquiring for Miss Rose Mclean.
She was out, and the landlady did not
know when she would be back. Prob
ably after her sister got home from
work.
Lane wandered down to Curtis street,
sat through part of movie, then
rCstlesSly took his way up Seventeenth.
He had an uncle and two cousins living
in Denver. with the uncle he was on
bad terms, and with his cousins on no
terms at all. 1t had been ten years
since he had seen either James Cum
ningham, Jr., or his brother JACK
Why not call on them and renew ac-
quaintancc!
lie went into n drug store and looked
] IN, t.1n
cousin James had an Office in the
Equitable Building. lie hung the book
up on the hook and turned to go. As
he did so he c'tme face to face with
Rose Mclean.
"YOu-hero" she cried.
eyes, II had business in Denver"
he explained,
Like fun you had! You came be-
cause She stopped abruptly,
struck by another phase Of the situa-
ton. did you leave Cheyenne without
riding tOdny?"
II didn't want to ride. I'm fed up
on ridin',"
"You threw away the championship
and thousands dollar prize to--to--"
"You'rc forgcttin' Cole Sanborn," he
laughed. "No, honest | came on bust
ness. But since I'm here-say, Rose,
where can we have talk? Let's go ur
to the mCzzaninC gallery at the Albany
It's righr next door.
lie took her into the Albany Hotel
They stepped out Of the elevator at the
second floor ana he found a settce In q
corner where they might be alone. 1t
struck him that the shadows In her
eyes had dccpcncd She was, he could
see plainly, IaborinS under a tension
Of reprCSS2d excitement. The misery Of
her soul lCapcd out at him when she
looked his way.
"Havc you anything to tell mo?" he
asked, and his low, gentle voice was Il
comfort to her raw nerves.
ITS man, just as l thought-the
man she works fOr.'
lis he marricd?"
"No. Going to be soon, the papers
say. He's wealthy promoter. His
names Cunningham
"What Cunningham" In his aston
shmcnt the words seemed to leap from
him of their own VOlitiOn.
james Cunningham, q big land and
mining man. lou must have heard OF
, him.
"Ycs, I've heard of him. Are you
sure"
! She nodded. Esther won't tell me q
thing. She's shielding him. But | went
I through her letters and found n note
from him. It's signed j. c. | accused
him point blank to her and she just put
her head down on her arms and soDbed
| know he's the man."
"What do you mean to dO?"
Il mean to have talk with him first
off. I'll make him do what's right"
"HowT"
IL don't know how, but / WILL" she
cried wildly. IF he don't I'll settle
with him. Nothin's too bad for a mar
like that"
lie shook his head. "Not the bcst
way, Rose. Let's be sure Of every move
,, we make, Let's check up on this mul
before Wr lay down the law to him.
SDnrr nrIrst,ng quality in him hcl,
: her eye. lie had sloughed the gay
devil may care b0yishness of the range
and taken on look Of strong patiene,
!. new in her experience Of him. But sh'