The Bozeman courier., 1927-10-07

feeling thoroughly irritable.
Jim Fraser was already there, and he
bowed to her gravely. He was looking
strained about the eyes, she noticed; all
through lunch he hardly spoke. Hooked
already; hardly worth powder and shot
Still, in her present mood, she felt like
making some one suffer, so she gave him
her sweetest and most alluring smile.
I'm feeling terribly depressed" she
murmured. Poor Lord Administer is
dead. Such a charming man."
woman opposite looked at her with
interest.
"Of course you knew him well, Miss
Delmorton."
Naturally" remarked Cynthia Ian
guidly. You see, Hedderton and I were
great friends"
Marjorie squirmed, and when Jim Fra
ser leaned forward with a puzzled frown
she could have screamed. She guessed
what was coming.
"Hedderton,' he said. 'T don't quite
follow"
politely. Administers son. They have
different names, you know"
ST see," he answered. 81 suppose that
is done to make it harder"
She smiled, and glanced round the
table.
''What funny ideas you have, Mr.. Fra
ser. Yes-Hedderton died in Africa"
"And who is the heir?" asked some one.
ST really don't know" she answered.
''de had no brothers. There was cousin
Of sorts, I believe"
| She relapsed suddenly into silence.
What was it Hedderton had said on that
point? 1t was couStn-a very Charm
! ing fellow, but a rolling stone. Unmar-
ried. OF course he might be impossible,
! but it was worth while bearing in mind
against her return to London, She would
write Aunt Hester a letter from Cape
| n, AoII 70
would be funny if, after all, she did pull
it of. The thought Of it put her in quite
good temper again.
Don't forget you promised to show me
! the Southern Cross tonight, Mr.. Fraser" "
she said as he rose from his seat.
"Am I likely to?" he answered fer
vently.
And across the table her eyes met
Mariorie's mockingly. Really, life wasn't
so bad after all; it had humorous side.
Il But it was a side that taxed her to the
uttermOst that evening. The pachyderm
was so terribly intense and gauche. And
he would persist in barking back to Lord
4 Administers death.
: "It must be wonderful" he said hum
!, bly,, "to know all those people who are
just names to us as intimately as you
do.''
He was holding her hand at the time
and gazing at her adoringly:
said softly. But I'm glad I didn't
now"
t Sand if you had" ne puzzled it out
: you would be the-the Earless Of Ak
minister"
She gave a delighted gurgle Of laugh
II Countess" she corrected him. ''But
1 then, you see, the-the poor fellow il
= dead"
e 'But I'm sure he wouldn't have gone
). to Africa if you had married him." hi
= said gravely.
''Wen, if he hadn't and was alive. anC
had married htm-then should be tht
e Earless of Administer. You delicious per
u son!"
"And instead of that" he cried eagerly
e you're going to be-"
g Really, shed die of suppressed laughte
: in a second. The pachyderm was on tn
It verge of proposing; she looked round II
: see if by any chance Marjorie was about
y This was going to be thing too good t.
Is be missed.
what am I going to be?" she whis
Cynthia wouldn't you rather be m
Y, wife than the Countess of Administer?
E, That finished it; self-control coul
n stand it no longer. She burst into pes
le Of laughter. Then she pulled hersel
together. The thing had become bore
If so she'd punish the pachyderm now an
y. finish with it.
I "This," she said as soon as she had re
e. covered herself sufficiently to speak, "i
Ot the funniest thing that has ever oc
ot CURED to me. My poor dear young maj
are you mad? Do you really imagin'
ee even for one second, that should MARI
re yop?" Laughter again overcame her.
Id 'But you deserved a little lesson, 20
10 know. As a matter of fact, I intende
- to give you longer one, but couldn
help laughing. You were so supremel
q ridiculous" Once more she began I
ne shake.
er "No, Mr. Fraser, I am afraid that
III must decline the riotous future you off
I'd me. feel 1t would be too much Tor m
ne nerves. But as a reward for having mao
Id me laugh, I'll tell you a secret. Put IL
he excellent alternative you gave me befol
ed arjorie. Not that the poor dear is ev
likely to be countess Of anything, b'
o. still"
e. She rose with a smile, a smile whiC
ed suddenly faded from her face. For tn
it uncouth boor was lying back in his de'
k chair, literally holding his sides.
be "Rich," he almost sobbed. Not to 81
en- ripe and fruity. You're quite right, n
er dear woman; we've hurried matters. tn
he jest would have stood another thr
as days"
he "what on earth do you mean?" 81
ng said.
is And then he too rose to his feet, al
ely stood facing her.
ad Listen to me- Cynthia Delmorton,"
ng said quietly. "In the course of my wal
he derings round the globe I've met son
of pretty rotten women. You're just abo
ras the rottenest."
40 How dare you?"
sat In her stunned rage she could hard
In get the words out.
- you're going to hear one or two hor
if truths now," he went on calmly You
me calculating, mercenary snob-and y
ed killed Hedderton as surely as If you
nd shot him yourself. Only no jury, unfc
tunately, could convict you. 7 happen
,ly. to see him the night he left for Afri'
1er poor devil"
;he 'Will you kindly take me straight
&C the captain?" she said icily. 81 can OF
5he consider that you're drunk, and I WI
MS to make q complaint"
lan Certainly" he answered What {
nd you going to tell him? That was dru
,ne last night, too-when kissed you2"
act For a moment or two she stared
her him, white and rigid with rage. He
lit. got her, and she knew 1t. This comm
of man had beaten her at her own gar
She Why he had done 1t was beyond her;
md brain was still too dazed at the sud-
err turning Of the tables to think clearly
sed You set out to teach me lesso
ned He was speaking again. 81 fully intend