The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-23
THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE
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3, RUBYM AYRES ~ SSss.s%saa,

that there was some underlying mo-
tive for this questioning; she shut
the oven door with a slam and
turned.
81 believe there have been many
cases like that, haven't there?" she
said. weren't YOU telling me- Of
one the other day when we came
down in the train together?
but that was not 4 genuine one,
Seton reminded her. IF you re-
member, ! told you that the man was
shamming--to get rid Of woman Of
| whom he was tired"
$50 you did" Nan laughed con
STRANGELY. "How queer! Perhaps
Mr.. Lyster is doing the same thing"
she added fippantly. She hardly
knew what she was saying-she met
Sefton's eyes desperately.
For a moment there was a little
pause, then he said:
"l-wonder!" There was a short
pause between the two words.
Nan turned sharply away; she felt
as if she could have struck him; She
| put up her hand almost unconscious
ly and felt for Peters ring which she
wore beneath her frock.
"That's not a very polite thing to
| say to me. is il? ?" she asked: she was
surprised at her own calmness. "fou
| know that ! was once engaged to MIR.
Lyster Fortunately. our engage
ment was broken off before this hap
/ pened." she added.
| 1t was Il deliberate lie, but she felt
as if she must say something to pro-
tect Peter.
81 hate this man." she was saying
in her heart. 81 hate him. and
tell him that | hate him, but I'm
afraid to- wonder why l am afraid
to-"
Seton was apologi2ing hurriedly.
| 81 give you my word that such a
thought never crossed my mind,' he
SAID. "If said anything to lead you
to suppose so. it was quite uncon-
| sciously. | assure you, Miss Mar
| raby--'
"Hcre are the boys" said Nan
There was unutterable relief in her
voice; she turned eagerly as the door
! burst open and the three boys pre-
| cipitated themselves into the kitchen.
They stopped short when they saw
stranger there.
Nan went forward.
"Say how -do-yOu-do' to this gem
| tleman. boys--are you clean enough
to shake hands," She seized Buster,
| h.,
! curled the fingers which he had
promptly put behind his back.
Black" she said tragically Boys.
whatever do you do with yourselves
! to get in to such a. meSS?"
Nobody answered
eff you'll excuse US for moment"
| Nan said to Seton. "rll go and
make them presentable. Go into the
| schoo lroom, will you? Wen be down
in a moment
She hustled the boys upstairs. and
the last Seton saw Of the little
group was Mans slim figure with
two arms around her waist as they
| disappeared around bend in the
staircase.
AS soon as they were safely in the
bathroom the temporarily silenced
| tongues began to wag.
"Is he going to stay to tea?"
"GOing to stay to tear
"TO tea?'
Nan said Eyes" She scrubbed
away at Claudie's grimy face. "Nice
objects he must have thought you
all. You're all to shake hands and
say 'How-do-yon- properly when
you get downstairs"
"It's the man who hit us with his
| whip" Jim said darkly. II shan't
| shake hands with him.
"Nor me-" said Claude.
"NOr me-" echoed Buster.
Nan tried to look angry.
hit you with the whip! What
ever do you pean? He's Mr.. Seton,
and very nice gentleman" She
felt obliged to say so. because it was
the last thing she thought.
"He hit US with his whip" Jim
maintained doggedly. 81 told you
about him-he was on a horse"
| Nan knit her brows; she remem-
bered now that the boys had come
in day or two previous, full
Of righteous wrath because man
on horseback had dashed at them
with his whip for running across the
road dangerously near to his horses
feet.
Claudio had been crying, too-and
Claudio was Mans favorite
ooh. are you sure?" she asked.
Three shaggy heads nodded a SOL