South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-03

detour and stop at Fanny's hotel.
Drawing near the hotel, she recog-
nized the conspicuous car OF Barry
Nolan waiting at the carria ge- block.
and as she bent forward 10 tell her
chauffeur not to stop, she saw Fan
ny come out of the entrance, Nolan
ambling. with an air OF contented
habit, at her elbow.
Well! that was that.
Yet it was long before the picture
faded Of that girlish figure, posed
prettily In startlement, brief skirts
whipped about it by the evening
wind, with its gay look of mirth,
half shame-faced. half-impudent,
wholly charming sweet gr:st for
the mills whose grinding knows no
rest
When she had bribed her maid to
observe discretion concerning her
plans and had herself attended TO
the business of checking her trunks
through to Reno. thus keeping her
destination secret even from the
woman Lucinda felt fairly confident
OF getting away unhindered and un-
pursued.
She caught the train with little to
spare. and not until it was in motion
did she discover a tox of roses in
the luggage rack in her drawing
room.
Her favorites, Hsdleys. two dozen
suavely nodded blooms OF deepest
crimson. exquisitely fresh and frag-
rant: roses such as Bel had been &C
customed 10 send her daily, once
upon a time -. how long ago!
An age since any one had sent her
flowers
The box bore the name of city
florist but was untagged and con
tanned no card 20 identify the oonor.
And it was as II she had slept not
at all. save that she felt rested; as il
she had closed her eyes on darkness
and Enclosed them an instant later
- fine the very scene she had been
gazing on bathed in hot splendor Of
sunlight. warm win color. Still the
desert stretched its flats OF sand and
alkali; still the train drudged stoutly
on an upgrade; still uron the trail
beside the tracks raced the motor
car Lucinda had been watching
when sleep aimed her..
Another car. OF course. \ 'vc-the-
iess the coincidence was surprising
She lay for a little lazi watching
Cninery, weli-driver, Dressing gal
lantiy that .ohg escent about which
the train was IT 1k:ng such va. ado.
drawing aoeam, f. Eing ahead. fIrt-
irS derisively a tail of ! st as II
vanished from ne field commanded
by the window Bound whittier?
upon what urgency OF life or death
that II must make such frantic haste
in the heat OF the desert sum-.
She waited by the window. look
ing out upon without seeing the few
rude buildings that composed a tank
town at which the train had made a
hah for water
a knock at the door. She started
up. pronounced a tre,nulous Come
ir,"
Bel entered. shut the door. drop
ped upon the red plush seat buster
and cap caked with alkal. and stood
apprehensive OF his welcome, his
heart in his eyes.
She fell bach 20 the partition.
breathing his name her whole body
vibrating like a smitten lute-string
In a choking voice he cried:
Linda for Gods sake listen 10 me.
I've been up all night. driving
against time 20 overtake you and
beg you 20 listen 20 this last appeal
I want you 20 promise me not 70
sc 10 Reno. Not yet. az least Give
me a little more time. a little chance
10 prove 20 YOU that you're the only
woman IN the world for me, that I'm
living the life you'd want your hus-
hand 20 I've. and have been ever
since you left me. Because want
you back. because I'm lost without
you. because want 20 make YOU
happy. as you were happy
when you first loved me. long ago"
She lifted shaking hands 70 him.
cried his~name again. swayed blind