Show j v. v 1 I II I f tt J i I r f i. i i 1 I t l I 1 I CD t I fk CHAPTER XI XI Continued Continued 11 11 You haven't hav nt any real reason loyce Joyce 4 It a n reason that 1 I want to keep our engagement Just to ourselves ourselves our our- selves for fora n a few days Its It's our secret y yours and mine mine and and I dont don't want everybody staring at us Just justet yet Do- Do byan Dont Don't you you von understand f t Different here he answered jaunt jaunt- Uy I 1 want to o shout It from the house house- j w I top He ri e interrupted himself to v 1 caress her again and to kiss the little pink ear ear that alond alon was within rench reach r t Ill make maI It up to you a hU hundred J times but Im I'm Jolly well set on telling h them tonight dear s She ga gave ve up with a shrug not nor bej Lie be- j cause she wanted to yield but but because she must inuit s v ed away way J v tro from him 5 lie tl tL Je did Iio not see ee t the h I steely lo look lok k In lii ber lier eyes ees-a ees eyes eyes' wand the the hard I set Bet of tie the mouth She le S lV was ys d thinking n of ot Ja ac oue he lIe say y j I. I or Dr do when he was told Surely he li 11 1 j w would uld prot ta c er He LIe W would not give Ive 1 t. t bet be away n If It he hc e were vere a a d' d gentleman j 2 he betray h a wl woman uL But how far Ui l ot h world g goy gay y- y I eru ern- ru 7 ue He miln ti was us Ui ui ui i W Would ld th the We s savagery ie I In v him Lirett break I I bo bounds 1 f Within five minutes she he be found out Jack In n evening g dr dress S l was In ted taW with when the engaged g d c couple rc- rc entered re-entered d the room mom He Be turned the tile smile still on n his face tej to greet J oy oye e as as she slie came forward beside Verinder The little m man n was s strutting ng p pompously i toward toward to to- ward Lady Farquhar the arm arm of ot the 0 young young tucked und Under tinder r his S 'S The im eyes Jes y s of joy Joyce went ent ent str straight to In hi appeal for tor charity In Int t them len hj he e read both fear and shame as well as a l hint of defiant tion Even before the mine owner spoke every everybody ody In the room knew what had happened on the veranda eranda Congratulate me Lady Farquhar Miss Seldon SeIdon has promised to be my wife Ite Verinder san sang out chirpily There was a chorus of ot ejaculations of excited voices Joyce Joce d disappeared Into the a arms ms of her friends while Farquhar an and Captain shook hands with the beaming millionaire and d ci him Jacks Jack s hands were filled with sheet music but he lie nodded d across to h his s successful ul rival rh Youre You're a lucky man have haye to won so sofr fr true rii a heart art Mr Ur Verinder lie said composedly l t Joyce th the words and nd caught the hidden Irony Her heart was In her t throat ro t. t Did he ml i moan n to fellmore tell fell more 1 Presently It ft carne came his hIs' turn to wish her jOy Ja Jack Jac 1 k d straight at at atler er There Ther was fi a. a ara sm le on his hiS- sardonic sar- sar sar sar- donic n e I I believe the th e right man has won you MIss Miss Seldon All ni marriages es aren aren't arent t made mad jn In 1 heaven e ven but but but- Ive I've been hoping Mr Verinder would lose out because he be wasn't good enough for tor you rOUe But Ive I've changed my mind 1 Hes He's Just the man for tor you Hope you'll alwa always a love him as much a ayou as you do now Joyce felt th the color heat bent Into her cheeks She knew now that was not going to o betray her but she knew too that he be understood and despised despised de de- de- de her CHAPTER XII A Warning Joyce a n lover of ot luxury usually had z 9 a. a roll and coffee In bed as a n substitute sub sub- for breakfast st st. Sometimes she varied this b by appearing late at nt the table and putting the attendants to unnecessary trouble This she always paid for with murmurs of ot apology and sweet smiles of ot o thanks On On- On the second morning after atter tri the announcement of ot her en engagement to Dby ns Verinder she came carne down to 10 find the room dining-room empty except for forthe the omnibus She opened wide e eyes es of ot surprise Dear me mp Am I la late te 7 She glanced at the watch on her wrist How inconsiderate of ot me mel I 1 didn't realize reaUze the time Would you mind calling a walter waiter Meanwhile JoyCe began on her ber grapefruit Almost simul simultaneously a sound of voices vokes reached her Men Meni i were coming Into the parlor that adJoined adjoIned ad- ad adjoined Joined the breakfast The pitched high-pitched voice olce of ot her affianced af of- l lover was the first she tonight ill tonight I Sure ure he said tonight to- to night 1 JQ Joyce ce Judged that the r rough ugh tones of the came earn rr lO a workingman working- working man Tonight ht B HII M saId Bald He was l t iki bring nis wagon to t to at eleven and they were v ere going to l haul aul the ore to Utah A third ket evidently ly th the superintendent c cut t In In quietly f Bell inid Id It was was' to II n big ship rr nt he tie 1 I Yep Worth sixty or thousand thousand thou thou- sand he lie figured Was Bell Dell drunk I wouldn't sn say drunk lie He had bad been heen drinking n a good deal Talkative like He let It out as a a i s secret cret under I. I stand Anyone Anyon there bes beside de you you 7 A miner by hythe the l name nuie of Peale Know the man I It was Verinder that asked the question and me Bleyer er that answered I Yes A bad jot ot One of those that Insulted the young Qung ladies ladles An Anyhow V ho lie he wont won't warn Not after the mauling that young oung man gave gae him He's Hes still carrying the scars Bleyer replied with a low v laugh He added briskly after a moment mo mo- mo ment meat Wl What ut do you expect to to get out of of tills this The workman seemed to to answer answerl w l with t th some sam a embarrassment Thought you might give me that lease In the Gibson I spoke to you OU about Mr Blejer Bleyer Its yours yours yours-if if it this comes comes out as you say my m man n. n Td id give more than that to fo call the turn on Mr 1 grader KlImen Verinder Verin der promised And o 0 course you vont ont gIve It away that I I told Certa Certainly n not t The arrival of a n wait waiter r eliminated Joyce as a listener for the first thing the na as as asto as to dose close th the door between be be- ne 1 tween h- h ii tIle the P anti th the room dining But u she hr had lt heard enough nough tb 0 know that Jack Juk ri k Umen was va In dagger 1 er of Of ft f Into a a. a trap that wa wap being set for lil him rn sr h hadt d. d him at last just as he had promised that he would get jet et him No doubt they would o ld have witnesses eS and would send him i to prison frison as ns th they y had hart tl threatened eaten d. d There was a hard glitter gUtter In the eyes of the young woman Perhaps Mr lIr KlImen Y as ns Verinder had called him would not be so 50 prodigal of contempt for contempt for other people when he hest st stood od in Ia the criminal dock He had been Seen brutally unkind to her Was she to blame because he was too poor to support her properly He Be ou ought ht to thank thank her for tor having ha the good sense sense not to tie herself like a n millstone about his neck They could not Byeon live Bye on love Just because for tor the tho moment passion had kind swept them from their feet Instead of being angry at her he lie should sympathize with wih her bel for be be- ing rue We victim or ot a pressure which had anu driven her to a n disagreeable duty Her simmering anger received a D fillip from an nn accidental meeting meing with lImen I the first since the night of her her- engagement gement Jo Joyce ce and and l Io Moya 3 were coming coining out of a stationers stationer's when they came face to face with the miner Th The e eyes es of the youn man visibly I hardened ard ned He shook hands with th them m both and nd exchanged the usual l Inane ifune greet greetings as to the weather It was as ar j Just st stas as they were parting that he hen seI sent f his his dis barbed shot Into Jo Joyce Toyce ce I iI mustn't t keep you ou longer MIss Ml Seldon One can guess how keen must b be to get back to V Loves Love's young dream and that sort of thing eh eli The t Jeer e ei that at ran through l his ls masked Insolence ne e brought the angry coI the cheeks heeks of f Joyce She bit tier Jip to keep back tears of vexation but tit it was not until she was In I her room with Mo Maya Moya a that the need for tor a n confidant overflowed Into speech I Did Old you von PV ever P hear so hateful ful He lie made love to me on on I the hill I let him He lie knows I am ani fond of him I 1 t told old him that I loved him And no now l Io Maya Moya a stared at nt her In amaze Do DJ y IOU you ou mean that you ou let Mr Ill make love to you an hour or two before be hc- fore f ore you became engaged to Mr tr Verin d r For heavens heaven's sake dont don't he be a a prude Moya Joyce Toyce snapped irritably 1 t told old ou I was fond of him didn't i I How could I help his kissing me or help liking to have him hm He ought to t o be glad glud Instead he be insults me Miss Seldon's self pity reached the acute singe or oi i i was in love iove with him Wh Why Is he lie so hard hurd Perhaps he lie thinks that since h heIs he heIs Is in lo love lowith with you and you with him that gives him some claim Moya Maya su suggested suggested sug sug- dryly Of lOOt course that's what he he thinks But Dut Its It's absurd Im I'm not going to marr marry y Dob Verinder because I want to He knows that as well as you ou do doShy Why Shy does he blame me then Goodness knows its it's hard enough to marry the man without having my friends misunderstand Moya Moyn asked d an unnecessary ques ques- tion Why do you ou marr marry him then You Yon know v v perfectly well ell flashed Joyce petulantly Im taking him b bw- bw eDuce caune I must Like a tasting bad-tasting dose of ot m med med- hK- hK cine Her fer mend nodded I cant can't le let iet him go o. o I Just cant Jack ought to see that Oh he sees it but you cant can't blame him him for being bitter At the r recollection of ot his Impudence anger flared up In Joyce I J Let him be as ns bitter ns os he pleases then I happen to know something he would give a good deal to learn Mr Jack Is going to get Into trouble this very night They're laid a n plot plot plot- She stopped warned by the tense stillness of ot Moyn Yes asked the tho Irish girl Oh well I It doesn't matter Who has laid a plot Bit by bit Mo Moya Moyn a forced out of ot her the snatch of conversation sh she had overheard while at breakfast Its a secret Youre You're not to tell an anyone one 1 Joyce nice protested In her heart the Irish girl did not doubt that Jack was guilty but this would not prevent pre her train from saving him If It she could There came to her a swift vision of ot two helpless girls In n a n cabin with drinking ruffians of the lie entry of a man mun Into the picture of ot his fight against odds to save sa her and Joyce from Insult Beside this abstract justice became a pale pelle and misty virtue Of course you'll not tell teU anyone Joyce renea repented ted Have llave you ou ou forgotten that night Ight In the he cabin asked aske Moya Mya In a n low clear voice If flit 3 you ou have I I dont don't care care nn vr trl rl P petulantly Hes so 80 hard Why cant can't he be lie nice about this lila Why cant can't he be understand Instead of at me Its It's a good deal harder for me than for Cor him Think of fifty years ears of Dob ans Verinder Would you ou cate care to write Mr Kil Ku meny a note Ill I'll take It to him If yell vou like Moya Mo a suggested gentl gently Joyce considered No uNo I couldn't t I put it on on paper But you But you might tell him I dont don't think I I could could o ld quite do hat It If It It came Caine up right Just lust show him ho how Im I'm placed Perhaps Shall I tell him that you asked m me to yarn warn him hm ToY Joy Joyce e nodded e eyes es shining She was a young Joung woman oman capable of ot chang chango inc ing her mind In fn the tho nin nf of n r n Dainty and exquisite as ns apple blos bIos solos she was like n a young oung plant with delicate tendrils forever reaching out Love she slie must have and ever more of ot it To admiration she sie was sensitive in every fiber Whenever she thought of Jack contempt tears scorched her eyes eyes es I It If was was was' like Uke Moyn Moya that diat she carried her warning Immediately and directly She walked toward his boarding house thinking that she might catch him hm at lunch I A quick step on the walk board-walk behind behind be be- hind her caught the girls girl's attention Almost at nt the same moment a voice hailed her Whither away Miss Mies Dwight She turned heart beating bentIng fast taste I Ivas Iwas was vas looking for tor you Mr And you found me What luck luck luck- for Jack Jacl I His friendly JY the smile the same one that had claimed comradeship lp on the Gunnison beamed Gunnison-beamed beamed upon her with th Its hint of Irony A miner with a dinner bucket was coming toward them Moya spoke quickly I want to tv see you alone Ive I've Important to toll tell His cool eyes searched her face al' al alertly Come Corne up with me to the old ran Pandora anora ora dump They took tool toola a side street that ran up upa a hill presently came a e to t the e end of it and st stopped ped at t the p Yoot pot of ofa o a trail le leading leadIng lead lead- dIng d- d Ing to the abandoned shaft house Th The girl Ill tired fired her news at him point point- blank Mr Verinder has found out W hat v t H you JO mean to do tonight and you are are to to be trapped What I mean to do he lie repeated 1 ore ore shipping shipping it or some some- r dont don't know exactly some exactly some some- I Mr Jack Is S Going to Get Into nto Trouble This Very Night They've Laid a Plot Plot to body was drinking and talked I tl think Maya Moya watching I face saw ulI only the rhe slightest change The e eyes es seemed to harden and narrow thE least In the world Tell me all nil you know about It She repeated repented what Jo Joye e had overheard overheard over over- heard hard adding that her friend had hod asked her to tell him The fhe faintest Ironic smile touched his face Will you on thank Miss Seldon SeMon for tor me both for tOl this and many maRY other favors I You dont don't understand Joyce Y Youre You're ure I not fair fuir to her Moya Moyn said Perhaps not A sudden warmth kindled In his eyes But nut I know kw who my ray r uJ friends are Im I'm fair tall to jem neighbor The color beat Into her face but she i 1 continued loyally loyan May I 1 as- as asI I Interest In tn kindly sumo same you yon 00 have a Joyce listen to anything you care to friend Miss tell me I owe my Dwight that much She told me n little about you and her Be De fair to her Remember her ber how she has hns been brought up All AH her life ite It has been heen drilled Into her that she must make a good match it Its It's B n a shameful thing I hate It But nut what can a girl Irl like Joyce do You Justify her I 1 understand her A decision was forced on her She She had no time to choose And if you'll forgive my saying so sol think Joyce did wisely since she Is what she is Is Of or course COUrbe she did he answered bitterly Think Think of her She doesn doesn't t love lose him but she Rhe sacrifices her feeling to what she considers her duty Shall we sub substitute ambition for duty dun Is not a n It If If you like Her ner position happy one but hut she must smile and be gny ay and anh hide hille her hear heartache ch You cull can n I afford to be generous lUr ui I Ive I been a u fool he lie admitted dr dryly lyThe ly The turn that things have taken Is Ii I the best po possible one one f for r me nie But I Im I'm m not quite prepared to t thank Miss Seldon Sel Sel- don yet jet for having awakened m me She saw that his hs |