White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-12-19
by Evelyn Campbell
CHAPTER XIII-Continued
Copyright by Evelyn Campbell.l
WNU Service

-ZU-
"What do yon want of me?" Con-
verse asked, curiously. He saw at
once that change had come over the
younger man; that he had to do with
something new and strange in him.
He was on guard instantly. So far as
he could surmise he had nothing to
fear from this youngster whom he
could crush as easily as he had crushed
bit of shell underfoot without know
Ing how 1t came there. But he was
prepared to be cautious, for he had
learned to be wary of unexpected
blows. He felt in his pocket and pro-
duced single cigar. 1t was not a
place for smoking nor time, yet Con-
verse could not have carried on with
out this weapon. Behind its shelter
he could think impassively; prepare
his defense; strike.
"You are excited" he said
But Brian was not excited, and he
knew it. He asked evenly:
"What have you done to Mrs. Roth?'
Converse could not believe that he
had heard Alright. Done to her?' he
repeated He was little hurt. Here
was a young man whom he had recon-
mended in world where tact is the
most desirable of all qualities, and vet
he was being approached by this
protege and woman's name, mos
subtle of weapons, used as bludgeon.
He took refuge in the time-honored
Il don't known what you mean"
"Then will explain" said Brian.
He was perfectly cool, knowing that
he had already ruined himself and
content to be ruined if this would
bring him nearer his objective. "Some-
thing has happened to Mrs. Roth and
/ believe you know what it is. am
asking you to tell me-"
The emphasis was so slight that an
ear less keen than his hearers might
have missed it. Converse reflected.
1t was plain that the youngster was
little mad-through love for Linda,
doubtless. He was the sort that love
could play the deuce with. Duels
And after man is forty his veins do
not respond to thrills of unripened
adventure. He was divided between
two instincts-that Of the primitive
to fight for what he still held Of her
or to give her over as useless to him
self-knowing that all was past be-
tween them forever. Her bruised
wings had carried her too far from
him after all.
Brian vas astonished to read sad
ness in the other mans eyes.
"You are asking for my HONOR
Converse said slowly.
mot yours. Her honor"
Converse drawled: "Then it is
woman's honor am to give into your
hands. Why?"
A vein sprang out on Brian's fore
head. He was not as calm now as
the older man, who had the advan-
tages of experience and sluggish blood
81 am glad that you added ques-
ton to that" he said. Because ! will
tell you why Because love her
Because love her as she is Because
must follow her. wherever she has
gone"
Converse was firing. Their few
words had covered limitless emotion.
He felt it surglng past him with the
danntless wings of youth. Triumph
Love. All that he had lost in his
success.
"There is nothing" he heard himself
saying. 'She was little girl helped
and then she was woman wanted
MY way of getting what want is not
your way because nature gave me
this" He glanced, obliquely, at his
obese body with sort of sick con-
tempt-so he must have looked upon
himself in aloneness. His laughter
r,lmbled. II had to snare my birds.
But sometimes | failed. And this was
such time"
lie stopped, astonished at his own
lack of interest in what had hap
pened He discovered that he did not
desire Linda Roth any Longer. He had
wanted her for years, had schemed to
win her favor or to buy 1t at any
price, and now he could let her 70
YEARLY. 1t was difficult to remember
what he felt for her even yesterday.
He got up, dropping the end of his
cigar in brass bowl-wishing now
that he had not smoked, for 1t was bit
ter in his mouth.
''She took money from me for years.
you know. Then suddenly she de-
cideG that she would not nave any
more. What happens to women when
they begin to split hairs? Usually the
thing they are trying to avoid. She
was the worst kind of cheat-she
cheated herself. Probably she needs
money now"
Brian stepped back, sick and ap-
palled. He could not kill man for
giving him the truth he had asked
for. Shame surged over him in
wave and when 1t receded he was
alone.
CHAPTER XIV