The Holly chieftain., 1924-04-10

let him 60. You gave that away the
first night we had dinner after came
back. Down at the restaurant-re-
member? l thought If l could prove
to you that he was running with some
body else you'd quit thinking about
him. That's why I told the agency to
look him up. I never thought they'd
get you with him."
"Why not?' she asked. Her reason
had accepted his explanation as about
half true. "Why shouldn't 1t have
been me?"
His face darkened. "Why not?" he
echoed. Because l couldn't believe
1t of you. 1 couldn't believe that a
daughter of mine could ever lower
herself to be the private snap of a dis
charged chauffeur Why, good God,
Trix. when l read that paper this
morning in Nathan's office-some-
thing queer happened to me. I didn't
know where was. l don't know now
where 1 went after left there, until
the car hit me. When l came to
thought perhaps the whole thing had
been kind Of nightmare that I'd had
since I got hurt-going to Nathans
office and reading that id paper
and all. And when you put your face
down on my hand while ago and said
you-you wanted me to love you
again"
His voice broke at that, and she felt
the tears coming up into her eyes.
''Trix!" he cried at sight Of them.
"Tell me 1t isn't true-the stuff in
that paper. Tell me it's lie from
beginning to end. Say the bare word
and I'll believe you, even now"
She took him up. at isn't true"
she said, quietly.
At the blankly incredulous stare this
drew from him she uttered short
laugh. "What 1t says is true" she
went on. But what that detective
thinks, isn't true. Nor what you think,
either. George is In love with me. but
he wants to marry me. didn't know
whether wanted to marry him or not,
but I'm going to now"
There was long silence bet-een
them after that. She knew it for a lull
rather than the end, but she waited
comfortably, feeling very solid and in
eincible. She'd never said outright
before-even to herself-that she was
going to marry George and the declar-
alton steadied her.
"Ii that's true" her father began
at last. but he nlnched under her
smile and revised the sentence. "As
long as that's true, say the word and
I'll buy tickets tomorrow for a trip
abroad. Mediterranean cruise Al
glers-Cairo: ride around on camels
and things. We could start right after
Christmas. l could get away by then,
I think"
Her momentary security collapsed.
1t was a dazzling bribe he offered.
Travel, adventure, bright colors in the
sunshine. hot sands. camels! But he
didn't stop there: hardly paused.
II wish we could start tomorrow!
It's this next couple of months
That's only half the bargain, Trlx.
You'll have to cut this other business
out. absolutely. No taperlng off with
last farewells and that sort of stun.
You've been on thin ice-and If you
have got by so far. it's just a plain
miracle. Take my word for that. /
know how those things 60"
II suppose you do she said, re-
hectively, and this stopped him short,
with dull flush and shifting of the
eyes. II wonder" she persisted, 'if
you ever saved girl-ngalnst her
self, the way George has saved me-"
Drop that line. right there!' he
commanded. THAT isn't decent"
~ wasn't trying to be decent" she
snid, listlessly, but that's as you like.
Only don't see why you should be so
down on me marrying him.
Then you don't read the papers.
Good Lord. Trlx, you're out Of your