, 1925-01-07

Nouiuh say uTuuh. ne Iuu
been drinking a good deal. TaIkative
like. He let 1t out as a secret. y'under.
stand"
Anyone there beside your"
"A miner by the name of Peale."
Know the MANI"
1t was Verlnder hat asked the
question and Bleyer that answered.
"fes. A bad lot. One of those that
insulted the young ladies'"
Anyhow, he won't warn Kilmeny."
Not after the mauling that young
man gave him. He's still carrying the
scars" Bleyer replied with a low
laugh. He added briskly. after a mo
ment, What do you expect to get u
of this. Rollins?'
The workman seemed to answer
/ with some embarrassment. "Thought
you might give me that lease In the
Mollie Gibson l spoke to you about.
Mr.. Bleyer."
ITS yours-if this comes out as
you say. my man. I'd give more thar
that to call the turn on Mr.. High.
grader K%ilmeny." verinder promised.
And o. course. you won't give 1t
away that / told"
Certainly not"
The arrival Of a waiter eliminated
Joyce as a listener. for the first thing
the man did was to close the door be
tween h parlor and the dining-room.
But h had heard enough to know
that Jack Kilmeny was in danger of
falling into a trap that was being set
for him. verinder had him at last.
just as he had promised that he would
get him. No doubt they would have
witnesses and would send him to
prison us they had threatened.
There was a hard glitter in the eyes
Of the young oma Perhaps MIR.
Highgrader Kilmeny, as Verinder had
called him, would not be so prodigal
OF contempt for other people when he
stood In the criminal dock. He had
been brutally unkind to her. Was
she to blame because he was too poor
to support her properly He ought
to thank her for having the good sense
not to tie herself like a milestone
about his neck. They could not live
on love just because for the m
passion had swept them from their
feet. Instead of being angry at her.
he should sympathize with her for be,
ing h victim of a pressure which had
driven her to a disagreeable duty.
Her simmering anger received n
fllip from an accidental meeting with
kilmeny. the first since the night OF
her engagement. Joyce and Moya
were coming out of a stationer's when
they came face to face with the miner.
The eyes of the youn man visibly
hardened. He shook hands with them
both and exchanged the usual inane
greetings as to the weather. II was
just as they were parting that he sent
his barbed shot Into Joyce.
II mustn't keep you longer, Miss
Seldom. One can guess how keen you
must be to get back to verinder.
Loves young dream. and that sort OF
thing. ehT"
The jeer that ran through his
masked lnsolence brought the angry
color to the cheeks of Joyce. She bit
her lip to keep back tears of vexation.
but II was not until she was in her
room with Moya that the need for a
confidant overlooked into speech.
did you eve hear anything so
hnteful7 He made love to me on the
hill. . / let him. . . He
knows i . . am for OF him. /
told him that l loved him. And
now . . :"
Moya stared at her In amaze. DO
you mean that you let Mr.. Kilmeny
make love to you an hour or two be-
fore you became engaged to Mr.. verin-
der7"
"For heavens sake, don't he n prude.
Moya." Joyce snapped lrrltably. II
told you | wal fond OF him. didn't II
How could | help his kissing me . .
or help liking TO have him? He ought
10 be glad. Instead. he Insults me-"
Miss Seldon's self-pity reached the
acute stage Of sobs. 81 was In love
with him. Why is he so hard1"
Perhaps he thinks that since he
Is In love with you and you with him
that gives him some claim" Moyn sug-
gested dryly.
"Of course that's what he thinks.
But It's absurd. I'm not going TO
marry Dobyans verlnder because I
want TO. He knows that ms well MS
you do. why does he blame me. thenl
Goodness knows. It's hard enough TO
marry the man without having my
friends misunderstood"
Moya asked nm unnecessary ques-
ton. why do you marry him. thenT'
"You know perfectly WELL" flashed
Joyce petulnntly. I'm taking him be-
cnuse I must"
Like a b%ad-tnsting dose OF medi.
clne7"
Her friend nodded. II emit let him
20. just can't. Jack Kllmeny ought
to see that"
"oh. he sees II. but you can't blame
him for being bitter"
At the recollection OF his lmpudence
anger flared up In Joyce.