Evening star., 1922-06-18

on her first entrance to John Morri-
sons room, 1t was evident that the
Honorable Herbert was even more so.
Good Lord. man" he spluttered.
| Why the glad rags? I-er-of
course, it's no business of mine, but
your general appearance gave me a
bit of shock"
To the girl listening intensely on
the other side of the door 1t seemed
as if a note or relief had crept into
her fiance's voice-relief in which a
certain amount of uneasiness was
mingled.
What can 1 do for you?" John
Morrison asked gravely.
"Well-er-don't you know"-un-
doubtedly the visitor was not at all
sure of his ground-"your rooms and
that sort of things have rather
knocked me. l mean-er-I'm rather
in the soup. Morrison. And / really
came around to ask your advice, don't
YOU know. l mean you saw the whole
thing-yesterday. And, though I'm
afraid 1 lost my temper with you, too.
yet even at the time I saw you were
different. And-er-I thought"
The Honorable Herbert mopped his
forehead and sank into chair.
The mere fact that / change for
dinner doesn't seem to alter the sit
uation appreciably." said Morrison
quietly.
NO by Jove-I suppose not" The
| other sat up and braced himself for
the plunge. We'll, what the hell am
l to do? And what the devil are the
men going to do? Are they going to
striker
"No. don't think So Morrison
smiled at the sudden look of relief on
of Mr.. Trenton and his daughter. It's
you they're after"
What are they going to do?"
Give you a pleasant half-hour un-
der the steam hammer" said Morri-
! son deliberately, and the other rose
with stified cry. Just to test your
| nerves. Let it drop to within an inch
of you, then stop it. And il that
doesn't expedite your departure.
| they'll take other steps"
But, damn it. Morrison his voice
was shaking, don't you understand
I can't go? I-er-Good Lord! Do
you suppose I want to stop here for
one second longer than 1 must? I
loathe it. Can't you stop 'em, man?
Tell 'em I'm clearing the instant
I'm"
Married" said Morrison quietly.
well, yes" said the other. "I'll
have to be frank with you-and 1
can see you'll understand" His eyes
strayed around the room. Il admit
absolutely that this isn't my line. 1
detest the show. But old Trenton is
| wrapped up in these works. and
we'll, he looks for a son-in-law who
| will carry on. After I'm married
can explain things to him. don't you
| know. And until then-well. we
must stave off this trouble, Morri-
son."
wouldn't 1t be a little more
straightforward to explain your views
to him before the marriage?"
perhaps it would have BEEN" said
the other with apparent frankness.
| But it's too late now-and then
there's that damned show yesterday.
That's what I'm so afraid will come
out" He stared at the fire. II didn't
mean to hurt the fellow" he went on
querulously, land I'm certain he
dropped that spanner on my toe on
purpose"
still, that hardly seems sufficient
justification for slogging I boy who
is not quite all there over the head
| witb an iron bar. does it," Almost
! unconsciously his eyes travelled to the
| bedroom door as he spoke. and then
he grew suddenly rigid. for the door
| was open and the girl stood between
J the two rooms with look of incred-
| ulous horror on her face.
$50 that's what was the matter
with Jake" she said slowly. and 1T
the sound Of her voice Strongley
swung around with i violent start.