The Dolores star., 1924-08-15


poised; the strange wlzardry of suf
iering mad worked new wonders in her
soul. Suddenly. as he looked unon
her, ne became aware of n new quality
IN PHYLLIS Bruce-the quality Of gentle
ness. She had added this to her
unique self-confldence, and It had
toned down the angularltles of her
character To Grant, straight from
his long exile from fine womanly do
mesticity, she suddenly seemed alto
gether captivating.
but l didn't want to forget :" he in
sisted. 81 wanted not to forget-you."
She could not misunderstood the
emphasis he placed on that last word,
but she continued as though he had
not interrupted.
Il knew you would write once or
twice out of courtesy. I knew Won
would do that. l made up my mind
that II you wrote three times, then I
would know you really wanted to re-
member me. l did not get any
third letter."
But how could know that you had
placed such test-such an arbitrary
measurement-upon my frlendshlp?"
1T wasn't necessary for you to
know. If you had cared-enough-you
would have kept on writing"
He had to admit to himself that
there was just enough truth in what
she said to make her logic unanswer-
able. His delight in her presence now
did not alter the fact that he had
found 1t quite possible to live for four
years without her, and 1t was true that
upon one or two great vital moments
his mind had leapt, not to Phyllis
Bruce. but to Zen Transley He
blushed at the recollection; It was an
impossible situation. but 1t was true.
He was framing some plausible ar
gument about honorable men not per-
slsting in correspondence when Muir
doch hustled in again.
Mother Is going to set the dining
room table," he announced, "and the
coffee will be ready presently. Well,
sir. you do look well In uniform. You
will be wondering how the business
has gone7"
mot half as much as l am wonder
Ing some others things" he said, with
n Significance intended for the ear of
Phyllis.
Come, Mr.. Grant; come, every
bodyr cheerful voice called from
behind the sliding doors which shut
of the dlning-room. The fragrant
smell of coffee was already In the air,
and as Grant took his seat Mrs. Muir
decided to defy all the laws of diges-
ton.
At the table their talk dribbled out
into thin channels. 1t was as though
there were at hand a great reservoir
Of thought, of experience, Of deep
gropings into the very well-springs Of
life, which none Of them dared to tap
lest 1t should rush out and overwhelm
them. They seemed In some strange
awe of Its presence, and spoke, when
they spoke at all, of trivial things.
Grant proved uncommunicative, and
perhaps, In a sense, disappointing. He
preferred to forget both the glories
and the horrors of war; when he drew
on his experience at all 1t was to relate
some humorous Incident. That. 1t
seemed, was all he cared to remember.
He was conscious of q restraint which
hedged him about and hampered every
mental deplOyment.
Phyllis, too, must have been con
scious of that restraint. for before
they parted she said something about
human minds being like pianos, which
get out of tune for lack of the mas
ter-touch.
When Grant found himself in the
street air again he was almost swal-
lowed up In the rush of things which
he might have said. He paused at n
bridge to lean against the railing and
watch the trembling reflection of city
lights in the river.
"I have It'll" he suddenly exclaimed
to the steel railing. 81 have IT."
He paused for n moment to turn
over his thought, as though to make
sure 1t should not escape. Then, at n
pace which aroused the wondering
glance of one or two placid policemen
he hurried to the hotel
LInder and Grant had been assigned
to the same room, and the sergeants
dreams, If he dreamt at all, were OF
the sweet hay meadows of the West.
Grant turned on the light and looked
down into the face Of his friend. A
smile, born of fields afar from wars
alarms, was playing about his lips.
Even in his excitement Grant could
not help rejecting what wonderful
thing 1t is to sleep in peace. Then
"I have til" he shouted. "Linder, I
have it,"
The sergeant sat up with start,
blinking.
az have itw Grant repeated.
"Them, you mean," said Linder, sud-
denly awake. "Why. man. what's
wrong with your You're more ex-
cited than II we were Just going over
the top"
"I've got my great idea. I know
what I'm going to do with my money"