The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-11-13
CHAPTER III

CHAFl Elk III
"Well. thank heavens you haven'
tegSotten how to hold your xur
straight" Lord Hinterleys remarked
q few days later. laying his hand at
Aectionately upon his sons shoulder
at Is always treat to see you shoot
Gerald. I used to fancy myself wheE
I was your age, but could nevel
have touched your performance .
day."
gums, dad" Gerald reminded him, an
ne powder. You were pretty uosG6
yourself at those last two drives"
Lord Hinlerleys mounted his pony.
Gerald shouldered his gun and
passed his arm through Myrtile's
Come along" he invited. "we'n 60
home through the forty-acre wood. 1t
mt more than a mile. It seems to
~ we've been standing about all day"
n should like 1t very much" MYRTLE
assented joyfully.
I'VE are all coming presently" Mary
remarked. "Amos Is Just making up
ne bag. Dad wants the exact figures"
aOne sees so little Of you nowadays"
MYRTLE sighed. "You are all the time
= London"
you're not going to lecture met"
"That would not be for me-" she
said gravely. III you think 1t well to be
there. 1t Is well. am only glad that
yeu are here today. It has made your
father so happy"
They crossed the meadow and en-
tered the little wood. The path here
vas so narrow that Gerald took Myr-
Ties arm again. He was quite uncon-
scious that at his touch she shivered
With emotion.
MYRTLE" he confided. Il saw Chris
yesterday"
Eyes"
poor old chap" Gerald went on.
'she looked absolutely done in. l made
him come and have some dinner with
me. don't think he meant to tell me,
but 1t all came out in time. He told
me- about his visit here"
She walked on, her head uplifted,
her face q little tense.
"Yes?" she murmured.
I'D no idea," Gerald continued,
"that he was seriously in love with
you, MYRTLE. He's such sober sort
Ct chap really-no lady friends, you
know, or anything of that sort. When
he takes fancy to any one, It's 9
serious affair"
HE is not like you. Gerald" she
said quietly.
you're quite right. he isn't" Ger
aid acknowledged frankly. "We all
have our different hobbies. I can
Aldiy admit that the society Of your
scx has been one of mine. Christopher
has never been like that, though. You
are his first love, MYRTLE"
TITS great pity" she declared.
you used to seem very fond Of
him." Gerald hazarded, sand he Ger
tainly looked after you jolly well al
Monte Carlo"
"Do you mean," MYRTLE asked
calmly, "when he came to your room II
the Hotel de Paris. after the supper
partyT
Gerald was completely taken aback
She had turned and was looking a
him with her large, serious eyes. Sht
was deliberately forcing upon him thu
memory of an episode which he hat
slurred over In his mind.
az wasn't thinking Of that alto
gether," he replied. with certain
rare awkwardness. "All the same
"All the same. what, pleasew she In
sisted, after q moments pause. :"
should like you to finish your sen
tence."
"Well, from old Chris point Of view
he was doing the chivalrous thing. ant
ali that" Gerald explained clumsily
"He must have thought, Of course, tina
was going to be q perfect brute"
"Were you notY she asked.
He was amazed at her GOODNESS She
whose purity seemed rather to Increas
With her larger knowledge Of tn
world. seemed to be forcing him &
speak of those very ugly moments.
"I am afraid that can't say wha
would have happened" he admitted
~ was very much attracted by YOU
and YOU hadn't the faintest idea wha
r. Ali meant. So. you see, you do ow
him very great debt OF gratitude
MYRTLE"
AZ do not think So" she replied.
Gerald was more startled than evel
Mar deliberate speech seemed to brin
= him almost challenge.
.sYou are about the only person !
Ne world who would say tnat q
Sbserved. en-,
.Perhaps So" she admitted. Pc
a.rs too. I am the only one VINO IL
podtion to know: