The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-09-03
CHAPTER xI-Continued.

Under looked for an avenue Of re-
treat. but Grant barred his way. and
together they went up the path. A
strange woman, with a baby on her
arm, met them at the door. Grant in
quired for Mrs. Bruce and her dauph-
ter.
"Oh, you haven't heard" said the
woman. Il suppose you are Just
back. Well, 1t was a sad thing. but
these have been sad times. 1t was
when Hubert was killed | came here
hrst. Poor dear, she took that to
heart awful, and couldn't be left alone.
and Phyllis was working in an office,
80 l came here part time to help out
Then she was just beginning to brace
up again when we got the word about
Grace. Grace, you know, was lost on
hospital ship. That was too much
for her."
Grant received this information
with a strange catching about the
heart.
What became of Phyllis?" He tried
to ask the question In an even voice.
81 moved into the house after Mrs.
Bruce died." the woman continued,
"as my man came back discharged
about that time. Phyllis tried to get
on as nurse, but couldn't manage IT,
Then her office was moved to another
part of the city and she took rooms
somewhere. At first she came to see
US often, but not lately. l suppose
she's trying to forget"
Trying to forget" Grant muttered
TO himself. How much of life Is made
up of trying to forget"
Further questions brought no fur
Their Information. The woman didn't
know the firm for which Phyllis
worked; she thought 1t had to do with
munitions. Suddenly Grant found him
self impelled by a tremendous desire
to locate this girl He would set
about 1t at once; possibly Jones or
Murdoch could give him information.
Strangely enough, he now felt that he
would prefer to be rid of Linder's
company. This was a matter of him
self alone. He took Under to hotel,
where they arranged for lodgings. and
then started on his search.
He located Murdoch without diff
Guilty. II was now late. and the old
clerk came down the stairs with In
offensive imprecations upon the head
of his untimely caller, but his mutter-
ings soon gave way to cry Of delight. |
my dear boyw he exclaimed, en- |
bracing him. my dear boy-excuse |
me, sir, I'm a blithering old man, but |
oh ! sir-my boy, you're home again."
There was no doubling the depth OF
old Murdoch's welcome. He ran be-
fore Grant into the living-room and
switched on the lights. In moment
he was back with his arm about the
young mans shoulder; he was with
difficulty restraining caresses.
"Sit you down, Mr.. Grant; here
this chair-it's easier. I must get the
women up This is no night for sleep
ing Why didn't you send us word?'
There is tradition that official
word Is sent in advance" Grant tried
to explain.
AYE, tradition. There's tradi-
ton that a Scotsman is dour body
without any sentiment. WE'LL must
call the women"
He hurried up the stairs, and, re-
turning, led in his wife, motherly
woman who almost kissed the young
soldier. In the welcome of her greet
Ing it was moment before Grant
became aware of the presence OF
fourth person in the room.
81 am very glad to see you safely
back" said Phyllis Bruce. I'VE have
all been thinking about you great
deal"
"Why, Miss-Phyllis! II was you
was looking forr The frank confess
sion came before he had time to sup
press 1t, and. having said so much. 1t
seemed better TO finish the job
Eyes. Phyllis is making her home
With us now" Mrs. Murdoch explained.
1T Is more convenient to her work.
Grant wondered how much OF this
arrangement was due to Mrs. Muir
loch's sympathy for the bereaved girl
md how much to the addition which
t made to the family income. NO
loubt both considerations had con-
to it.
II called at your old home he CON
inued 81 needn't say how distressed
was to hear The woman could tell
ne nothing Of you. SO came TO Muir
och. hoping"
"Yes," she said simply. as though t'ere ,
,ere nothing more to explain. Grant O
otlced that her eyes were larger ana
er cheeks paler than they had BEEN
ut the delight Of her presence Ieapt +
bout him. Her hurried costume n
pemed to accentuate her beauty de- L
pite Of all that war had done TO de-
troy 1t. There was a silence which n
,ngthened out. They were all crop
lg for footing.
Mrs. Murdoch met the situation by
assisting that she would put on the
pttle. md Mr.. Murdoch In burst OF a.
most divine Inspiration, insisted that ,
Is wife was quite incompetent to q
chit me gas e,one at that hour OF II