The Arvada enterprise., 1924-02-28

They became simultaneously aware
Of a trap. 1t had sprung upon them.
With the look Of trapped things, they
stared ut each other. and Betty In
stinctlyely looked back over her Shout
der. There stood Jasper in the door
way of the room. He looked like the
most casual OF visitors to an art gall
lery. he carried catalogue In his
hand. When he saw that he was seen
he smiled easily and came over TO
them.
you will have to forgive me- he
murmured pleasantly; "you see, 1t was
necessary to see you both together ana
Betty is not willing to allow me an
interview. l am sorry to have chosen
a public place and to have used trick
to get you here, but l could not think
of any other plan. This is really pri-
vate enough. l have arranged this ex.
hibition for Foster and 1t Is closed to
the public today. We got in by special
permit-a fact you probably misseG
And, nfter all, civilized people ought
to be able to talk about anything with
out excitement
Betty's eyes glared at him. II will
not stay! This Is insufferable"
But he put out his hand and some
thing in his gesture compelled her.
She sat down on the round, plush seat
IN the middle of the room and looked
up ut the two men helplessly. Joan
had once leaned in doorway, silent
and unconsulted, while two men, her
father and Pierre settled their prop
erty rights In her. Betty was. after
all, In no better case. She listened,
whittier and wlIiter. till at the last she
slowly raised her muff and pressed 1t
against her twisted mouth.
MOrena stood with his hand resting
on the high back of the circular seat
almost directly above Betty's head. 1t
seemed to hold her there like bar.
But it was ut Prosper lie looked, to
Prosper lie spoke. my friend" he be-
gan, and the accentuatiOn Of the
Hebralc quality Of his voice had an
instantaneous effect upon his two lis
teners. Both Prosper and Betty knew
he was master of some Intense asita.
ton. They were conscious of an In
creasing rapidity of their pulses. MY
friend, | thought that knew you fair
ly well, us one man knows another
but find that there have been certain
limits to my knowledge. How extraOr
dinary 1t is! This inner world of OuI
own lives which We keep closely tC
ourselves! l have friend. yes, very
good friend, Il very dear friend"-the
| ironic insistence upon this word gave
Prosper the shock of repeated blow
-'and fancy, In the ignorance Of my
conceit, that this friends life Is suffi
clently open to my understanding.
see him leave college. see him 20 Ou
on various adventures. l share with
him, by letters and condolences, the ex
| citement Of these adventures. l know
with regret that he suffers from Ill
health and goes west, and there, with
a great deal Of sympathy. l imagine
him living, drearily enough, in som'
small, health giving western town
writing his book and later his pla!
which he has SO generously allOwet
me to produce"
"whut the devil are you after. Jas
PERI
But l do my friend an Injustice,
went on the manager. undiverted. Hi
career Is infinitely more romantic. HI
has built himself a little log hOus,
amongst the mountains. and he hal
decorated II and laid In a supply o
dainty and exquisite stuffs. I believ'
that there Is even an outing suit, snal
and narrow"
MY Cd" said Prosper. very low
There was a silence. Jasper move,
slightly. and Prosper started. but tn
Jew stayed In his former place. onl.
that he bent his head a little. half
closed his eyes. and marked time witt
the hand that was not buried In tn
plush above Betty's head. He reclte'
in a heavy voice. and It was here tina
Betty raised her nun!
"Jnsper Is dying. by the time yo,
get this letter he will be dead. II yo
can forgive me for having failed Il
courage last year, come back. Wha
I have been to you before. l will be I
you again. only this time we Gun Low
openly. Come back"
II am going mad!" said PrOspe
harshly. and indeed his face had
pinched, hnlf.crazy look.
The jew waved his hand. "Oh. NJ
no. no. 1t Is only that you are maxim
n discovery. Letters should he burn
my friend. not torn and thrown avn
but burnt" lie stood up to his stat
Hest height and he made curlol
and rather terrible gesture OF breal
ing something between his two hand
II have this letter and l hold you au
Betty-so!" he said softly-"so!"
Betty spoke. II might have told yo
thnt I loved him. that I have love
him for years, Jasper. II you use III
evidence. II YOU bring this cOilnte