The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-14
THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE
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By RUBY II AYRES saias;it

opinion Of women was not great;
wears ago one had treated him badly,
and more out Of obstinacy than any
thing he had chosen to class the
whole sex under one heading ever
since. Nan had shown him his mis-
take-Nan was not the sort OF wo-
man to let q man down; she had
taken this blow like q hereafter
the first staggering shock she had
faced it unflinchingly; not tear
not sign Of tear--that was what
filled Arnott with ama1ement.
What would she d.? He knew
that the thought had been in her
mind that Lyster had not genuinely
forgotten he-he knew that the
doubt was there even now, though
she had seen him, and for the first
time the suspicion seemed to drive q
wedge into his own mind.
Lyster was still in the reading
room when he got back to the hotel;
but now he was alone, sitting in an
armchair. reading paper;
He looked up and stifled yawn.
where on earth have you been"
he asked irritably. 1--WE looked for
you everywhere-you're nice sort
Of pal to 90 off and leave me to my
self like this" ~
II ran across = girl l know in the
lounge after dinner. Ripping fine
girl, too-you'd like her, Peter >"
"Really!" Peter yawned again.
"Anybody ! known"
Arnott shrugged his shoulders.
Couldn't say, I'm sure--I may
have mentioned her to you. Nan
Marraby her name is"
He was looking hard at Peter as he
asked his question, but Peter seemed
to have lost interest in the converse
ton, and had taken up the news
paper once more.
1t seemed ages to Joan Endicott
before she heard Mans knock at
the door. She was o sympathetic
little soul, and her heart ached for
Nan, even while she was conscious
also of nameless dread in her heart
with regard to her own future.
She flew TO the door when she
heard the knoek-:lhe seized Nan
with both hands and dragged her in.
"Nan," said Joan tremblingly.
Nan looked up-there was no sign
Of emotion In her face, only weary
sort of pallor.
"Well," she said in a hard voice. II
saw him-and he saw me-and-and
that's ALL" she added slowly, as if
her mind was filled with a great
wonder that it should be all, that
there was nothing more to add, no
Continuation Of the story that had
begun so wonderfully.
"Alll" Joan repeated. But .''.'t.
but didn't you speak? Didn't he
speak? Oh, Nan, surely he must
have known you?"
Nan shook her head.
"No. he didn't walked into the
room. Mr.. Arnott tried to keep me
out-he did his best, but ! wouldn't
take his advice l almost wish
-now-that had"
ITS no use crying over split
milk" she said harshly. But it was
like-it was like-dying to stand
there, and look at him, and know that
! was no more to him than any
body else in the world-not so much
even as the little--doll--he was talk-
ing to! Oh. yes" she added reck-
lessly. "He wasn't alone. There
was a girl with him when walked
| into the room. suppose that was
partly why Mr.. Arnott tried to keep
me out. She was quite nice little
thing-pretty-but l felt as il /
could-could have killed her!"
"And you spoke to him-Nan-
what did you say?"
II said I had come for my gloves
that had left them <there-it was
lie, of course-f'd never been in the
room before. They both helped me
look for them-they moved cushions
and things-just to get rid Of me,
suppose was in the way-they
didn't want me there-spoiling
sport!"
Joan watched her with fascinated
establishment.
1T was all like a nightmare" Nan
said again. She felt as il she must
60 on talking. II wonder | didn't
fall down dead, but l suppose it's
only in books that people do that
kind Of thing.
Joan laid q hand on her lap.
Dear Nan. wish could help
you. You've been SO good to me. It
seems horrible that I've got to stand
by and not be able to help"
(To Be C0ntinued)