The Washington times., 1922-11-12
Grains of Dust ByAnthony Carlyle

another rather Wiiu hho'eiheht'
Then he let them drop. His face
was white now, his lips twitching.
made her care" he began
thickly. "God, Fanshawe! What
sort of a cad do you think me?
Do you imagine I've been carry
ing on a clandestine filtration with
your Matchmaking love to her to
pass away the time?-l tell you
until tonight | had no idea--she
felt for me any differently than
feel for her! I've regarded her
as a child. If I've paid her at
tentions they've been of the most
ordinary kind" He paused; then
he took a step nearer the other
man. "You believe that? Fan
shaver"
Billy looked at him straightly,
and smiled suddenly little
wryly.
"Of coursev' he returned. He
paused, as if waiting for the other
to 60 on. After minute Dan
began again, rather stumblingiy:
"To-night--"
He stopped short. He was
acutely conscious that he was pow
erless to offer any sort of ex-
PLANTATION. A hot rage at his own
impotence shook him. Something
that was nearly groan broke from
his lips. Billy looked up-and
made little, comprehensive
gesture.
T-think | understand" he said
quietly. T"-night-you lost your
head"
Dan looked at him blankly.
Then an insane desire to laugh out
right seized upon him. In the
kindness of his troubled heart
Billy was finding excuses for him;
while he was as serenely unaware
of the real facts as was Sally her
self. For one long moment he
stood staring down at the little,
bald man with his honest, boyish
eyes-and in that moment he was
aware of a new sense of discom-
fort, almost Of shame. His own
intention of forcing Fancy to
acknowledge that she still cared
seemed to him now despicable. He
had meant to violate this other
mans unhesitating hos. .itality.
And, of a sudden, he saw the
action he had contemplated in a
new light. A dull flush swept to
his temples, and died again. Then
he nodded.
"Yes," he said, grimly, harshly
-"I--lost my head"
He turned upon his heel
abruptly. Billy's hand upon his
arm stayed him. He looked round.
AS their eyes met the littl, man
spoke very gently.
"And = Sally" he asked.
"What Of her."
An instant Dan started. For
the second time that evening he
was conscious of stunning sense
of shock. Still holding his gaze
Billy went on.
"I-saw h face just now. She
loves you. Tits the real
thing--with her. And she believes
you care, too-she believes it's
the real thing with you. guess
it's going to pretty well break her
when-if-she comes o know how
things really are"
There was an odd note in his
voice of urgency and appeal. For
a moment Sally's radiant face rose
before them both. Billy cleared
his throat rather noisily. Dan
stifled an exclamation, and stood
momentarily dumb. Then:
"My God" he whispered, softly
-"Oh-My Godw
Their eyes clung together. De-
fiance was in Dan's-resentment
His dark face flushed hotly, then
grew slowly deadly white. Abrupt
ly, harshly, he spoke, flinging the
words bitterly at the other.
''I'm to bianie," he said, roughly.
"The faults mine-all mine.
Sally shan't suffer. You needn't
be afraid, Fanshawe-riA going to
play the game"
And then, Unexpectedly, he be-
gan to laugh. Without a second
glance he swung round upon his
heel. Billy heard him still laugh
ing as he disappeared into the
shadows.
Ito Be Continued Next Sunday