The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1923-02-08

the very one! You're d--n-you're
sure whistlln'. We got a lady friend
Clay and me. the finest little pilgrim
the gong strikes. You'd love her. III
fix II for you-right away. got to go
to her house this afternoon an do
some chores. I'll bet she comes right
over to see you"
Kitty was doubtful. Maybe We bet
ter wait and speak to Mr.. Lindsay
about II" she said.
mo, ma'am. you don't know Miss
Beatrice. She's the best friend. Why.
I shouldn't wonder but that she and
Clay might get married one o these
days. He thinks lot of her."
"Oh" Kitty knew Just little more
of human nature than the puncher.
Then wouldn't tell her about me II
I was you. She wouldn't like my bein'
here"
"Sho! You don't know Miss Beatrice.
She grades way up. I'll bet she likes
you ine."
When Johnnie left to 60 to wor.;
that afternoon he took with him a res
olution to lay the whole case before
Beatrice whitford. She would fix
things all right. II there was one per.
son on earth Johnnie could bank on
without fall II was his little boss.
II was not until Johnnie had laid the
case before Miss Whitford and restat-
ed II under the impression that she
could not have understood that his con.
ndence ebbcd. He had expected an
eager interest. quick enthusiasm
Instead. he found In his young mis-
tress q spirit beyond his understand
Ing. Her manner had touch Of cool
dlsdain. almost Of contempt. while she
listened to his tale.
She asked no questions and made
no comments. What he had to tell met
with chill silence. Johnnie's guiieless
narrative had made clear to her that
Clay had brought Kitty home about
midnight. had mixed q drink for her
and had given her his own clothes to
replace her wet ones. Somehow the
cattleman's robe. pajamas and bedroom
slippers obtruded unduly from his
friends story. Even the Runt felt
this. He began to perceive himself
heipleys medium Of wrong Impressions
Il suppose sou know that when the
manager of your apartment house finds
out she's there he'll send her pack.
Ing" SO Beatrice summed up when
she spoke at last.
mo, ma'am. I reckon not You see
we done told him she Is Clay's sister
jes' got In from the West" the punch
er explained.
"Oh. I see" The girls lip curled and
her clean-cut chin lifted triie. "You
don't seem to have overlooked my
thing. No, I don't think care TO have
anything to do with your arrange
ments."
Beatrice turned and walked swiftly
into the honse. A pulse Of anger was
sense OF outrage. To Clay Lindsay she
had given herself generously In spirit
She had rlsked something In intrOduc-
Ing him to her friends. They might
have laughed at him for his slight so.
cial lapses. They might have rejected
him for his lack Of background. They
had done neither. He was so genuine.
" man that he had won his way in
stHntly.
Pacing up and down her room, little
fists clenched. her soul In passionate
turmoil. Beatrice went over II all again
us she had done through sleepless
night. She had given him SO much.
and he had seemed to give her even
more. Hours filled with d KEEN edged
delight Jumped TO her memory. hours
that had carried her away from the
fMseness of social fribble to clean.
wind-swept. open spaces Of the mind.
And after this-after he had tacitly
recognized her claim on him-he had
insuIted her before her friends by de-
sorting his guests to go of with this
hussy he had been spending weeks to
search for
| Not for moment did she admit,
! perhaps she did not know, that an In
sane jealousy was flooding her being.
/ that her Indignation was based On per-
sonai as well as moral grounds. Some
! thing primitive stirred her--a flare Of
feminine ferocity. She felt hot to the
touch, an active volcano ready for
eruption. II only she could get a
chunce to strike back In a way that
would hurt. to wound him as deeply as
he had heri
Put to her desire cnme the oppor-
tunlty. Clay's card was brought In
to her by Jenkins.
( Tell Mr.. Lindsay I'll see him In a
few minutes" she told the man.
The few minutes stretched to long
quarter OF an hour before she descend
ed. As soon as his eyes fell on her.
clay knew that this pale. slim girl In
the close fitting gown was q stranger
to him. Her eyes, star-bright and burn
Ing like live Goals. warned him that
the friend whose youth had run out so
eagerly to meet his was hidden deep
In her today.
u reckon owe you and Mr. Whit.
ford an apology" he said. "No need
! TO tell you how happened to leave
last night. expect you know"
"Why take the troublei ! think I
understand" She spoke In an even.
schooled voice that II him at q dis
lance. 'YOur friend. MIR. Green. has
carefully brought me the details I
didn't know"
Clay flushed. Her clear voice carrt
an edge Of scorn. "You mustn't Judge
by appearances. know you wouldn't
he unfair. I Ind to take her home and