The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1935-01-04

treated. At the imminent risk Of
breaking his neck--if not the kittens
Gerard lunged with the cane.
What the dickens Is going on
here?" David Schuyler demanded from
the threshold, as he knotted the cord
of his brocaded dressing gown. Jane
Mack, still in her glittering black
frock, peered over his shoulder. Ger
ard jumped to the floor.
THAT snooty kitten walked out on
u.s."
"Oh, was that it? Macky and l
thought you had corralled her burglar
at last"
Jane Mack twisted gnarled hands.
II was the real burglar, Prue," said
Rodney. II had asked Miss Mack to
get the emerald and diamonds for me
because"
Jane Mack eagerly interrupted him.
"Mr. Rodney didn't want you to know
he had them. / sneaked 'em from the
safe that morning you caught US three
coming out of this room. Mr.. David
knew about 1t. Every time you took
out those packages nearly lost my
mind for fear you would miss the
emerald Finally couldn't stand the
strain any longer, so l just worked
up that yell and burglar story, to ac-
count for them not being there"
David Schuyler slipped his hand
under Jane Mack's arm. "Come on,
they don't need US, Macky. Gerard
is the only one who can explain" He
looked back and smiled as he crossed
the threshold. Prudence waited till
the voices on the stairs were still, be-
fore she asked:
"Why did you want those stones?"
Rodney Gerard held out his hand.
On the palm glittered ring.
"Grandmother's emerald! Set in
my design! What marvellous baguettes!
Why did you do it?'
as it splashy enough? You said
you wanted the stones set, didn't you,
Gorgeous? l would like all my life
to give you what you want. You know
1 love you, don't you? You know that
I've been mad about you from the
moment I held you in my arms in the
barn. Why did you tell me you were
engaged to Jim"
He dropped the ring to the bench
and caught her shoulders. Don't turn
away. Well fight it out if l stay here
all night. Answer my question"
Il didn't want to love you.'
"Why-because of Milly Gooch?
Galloway told me that he had poisoned
your mind against me. There was not
shred of truth"
"Please-please don't tell me that.
know it. In my heart have al
ways known it"
The whiteness of his face frightened
her. His ardent eyes confused her.
She touched the ring.
snow that the emerald is set, what
are you going to do with it?"
Color rushed back into his face,
youth and gayety and laughter to
his lips.
watch me, Gorgeous, just watch
me while make my wish come true"
He caught her left hand and slipped
the ring on the third finger.
"All right with you? This means
marriage, you know-for always"
For always" she whispered.
He looked at her without speaking.
His eyes seemed to draw her heart
from her breast. She pressed her
cheek against the gardenia on his coat,
and challenged with unsteady gayety:
Something tells me that you are
letting that silly promise"
He crushed her so close in his arms
that she had barely breath left to add:
"Don't you usually kiss lady when
you ask her to marry you? Perhaps,
though, it isn't being done-perhaps
Rod"
The quickly smothered cry, half
laugh. half sob, reused the doing kit
ten. He peered over the top of the
bookcase. Yawned, Sneezed. Viewed
ingratiatingly. AS neither girl nor
man looked up, he jumped to the high
back of chair. Always with watch
full green eyes on the two humans by
the bench, the amber pendant on the
silver collar glowing, he proceeded to
remove the dust from his sleek black
paws.
1.-THE END.1