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Show f ; T' THE SALT r ruBSTOax. XT eg wish I.irvi eCEKDaxr W tobartM Ik GoereEmUloot ml xn Inborn dread of (caudal. Hr are quickly jianton in enma. Alleyn aI suaotdon tnraaad. and before their owner I fairly started aba trile Halaey aba 1 threat with him. Th train on which they are peaeentera U wrecked and failure of hi schema, Halaey. in dee pair at th concurs th idea of piannr dead " by exchaot-la- g paper with on of th wreck rirtlme. A llarn be been carried from th wreck by Spencer Hourka Their romance 1 renewed, and. suppoelng Halaey to b dead, they nr asserted. ara naturae that demand aad and takers grant. (Htrare THEREth thatworld la divided, Allayn to the giver. And becaua ah had misjudged Bourke his explanation of " th summer time party was something which she did not. In her shame, wish to hear, but which h Insisted on rendering her deslr to give to him became more Intense, This husband of bars, eo clean and decant, so cheerful, strong, generous, kindly. . . . There were times when, alone In her room, aho hated herself for having. In her Ignorant pride, turned from him to so loathaomo a thing as Bennett Halaey. Tor she wa normal; and only a sickly Sentimental abnormality believes that the grave blots out ,th ' recollection of evil. Or that It should doaa. discovered that Bourke Do, whoa Allayn seamed worried over business, she demanded to know th reason. -Its Ilka this,- - explained her husband. The Hills town Chemical Manufacturing Now company has been making money. tho postwar letdown has come along. Wo spread oat on a bfg scale this last year. Ws g felt Justified. Now certain concerns are What do you mean by up against ltT" He was her. bus- -' Suddenly the raced knowledge through her mind. Thla man was her husband- - - She rose clumsily, all the grace gone from her lithe' body, to her feet "Thats , I hare. she said, bought, through my attorneys, control of tho Hlllstown Chemical ManFurtherufacturing company. more, tho new board of directors, elected yesterday, have chosen you this morning, according to a telegram Just received by me from New York, as president of th company. Another furthermore 1s that the new company has Issued 13.000,000 worth of new bonds, which I have bought at par, and the cash is now deposited to th companys credit In New York." Allayne! he cried. "Well?" She looked at him defiantly. "You mean to tell me that you havo put your entire fortune Into the company? Without telling mo your plans?" "If Id told you youd have found some way to stop me," So I she said, triumphantly. had my lawyer do it very quietly." Didnt they advise you not to?" he demanded. She smiled again. " Fenner was up here three days ago, I told him that my fortune wa Invested In securities that had a market. If h wouldnt sell 'them and do as I wished, another firm of "lawyers would. Ho obeyed sha asked. We are an Independent He shrugged. seonoern. The big chemical, combination would like to get hold of us." -Csn It?" she asked. - If It should buy our notes from the banks snd Insist on payment O, well, well probably pull through," he said with an as- - , sumption of cheerfulness. "How much money Is need ad T" sbo demanded. me." - A half minion," ho told her. " At least that much would put us high and dry In safety. Half that would probably carry ua And I think I know where we can get It," he assured her. . That night AJlayne wrote to her attorneys ' In New York. She Instructed them to sell no matter how poor the market was certain government securities to tho extent of half a million dollars. Tour days later she received word that tho money was on deposit In her New Tork bank. That evening Bourke was without an appetite, although Allayne bad wrestled for half an hour this happened. -- Cant raise a cent," he said. prospects In ths world, We have a good recbut ord. a stable and staple Industry. But," he shrugged, "the banks arent lending and they arent renewing. Tho trust will take us over." He essayed a smile. " Do y6u suppose that my millionaire wife would stake husband to a few meals after her the trust kicks me out of my Job? Usually his taste was good. Only tbo bitterness of defeat could havo made him phrase such a question. Allaynes heart ached for him. 8he realized that his pride was ever sensitive because of her wealth. She went to him and knelt beside hint. You cheer up, young man," she said. the d "Look." Before his eyes she held a check for $500,-eopayable to tho order of tho Hlllstown Chemical Manufacturing company. " There," she said. His arms went around her. "Allayne," he told her, youre the sweetest wife in the -- world, but I cant do it." Why not," she demanded. -- 1 can't let my wife lend to a concern cant borrow from a bank," he told her. Spenser Bourke, you make me tired," she declared. Allayne Bourke, you refresh me always," he grinned. . "Spenser Bourke, are you going to tty" money?" Allayne Bourke, I cant do It." . Spenser Bourke. you are a conceited, prideful, mean old thing." " Allayne Bourke, youre tho dearest girl hr the world." She fought against tears of vexation, and also against tears of pride In him. And, being a wise wife, who knew her husband, she let the matter drop. But one week later ehe o, entered her husbands private office at the factory. He rose and greeted her affectionately. She rarely came here, and when she did It was. nearly always, to drive him homo In the roadster which sho had insisted on being permitted to buy for herself. 'But thla was the middle of .the day, an unusual hour for her to appear. . What can I do for my lovely wife?" he demanded. Rarely did she pity; the was outgrowing her seriousness, but her countenance was ordinarily grave. So that when she did .smile, when her,, eye,, of merriment, one was almost startled by the brilliant contrast And now there was mischief in her curving Ups and flashing eyes. Do for me?" She was deliciously languid. Why or if you will, Mr. Bourke, you i -- may write out your resignation as manager of tbo HHlatowa Cheaiical-eonipacy- ." A- - eltsht reqvest, hsrcatter. Mr. Bourka You wouldnt mind, of course, giving me some reason for your wish. Not, he said with an assumption of haste that It matters at ML Your lightest whim. Mrs. Bourke, is something that I, always -- -- - said;-"ArtTH- lffig ' Well, new that'e ever with, get up and litten to me.w j, t- - A v. , V. Bourko's fingers drummed nervously on the edge of his desk. Hla eyes avoided hers. - Well, ehe asked, " are you going to scold me? Are you going to continue being A stupid, silly, prideful husband? Or ars you ! going to show sense? Hla eyes lifted to meet her own. They were clear, honest eyes, and now they shone through a blur. "Allayne, youre the sweetest th gamest well, what can I say? You've shown you faith in me in a way that welL I can't voice it." Don't try she said softly. Just love ms. His arms went around her. There was no more business don by the new president of the Hlllstown Chemical company that day. Instead, worry lifted from his shoulders, ha took the wheel of the roadster, and th spring afternoon was spent In exploration of the countryside. Between them always hadbeen a barrier.' Their perfect love had made them Ignore it, but It had been there. She had possessed five millions of securities as good as cash; hs had pessesed a clear brain and a promls-In- g future. But his assets, in this prosalo world, were hot rated as highly as hers. Society would say that hs had done better In hla marriage than she had dons. Society's decision would be false, but that makes no difference. Ws recognlx that society,, or publlo opinion, Is frequently wrong, but It rules the world ws live In, and Its Judgments ars final. , nowThat Allayne fortunrhadgono into tho business In which Bourke was employed, their interests became as one. Every clever stroke of business that h might achieve would redound to th advantage of his wife as well as of himself. They wore partners financially as well as spiritually; and when perfect love and perfect faith are further assets In such a partnership, all doubts are swept away, all barriers removed. Never had Allayne eo truly loved her husband as on the following morning when h left her. Ills new position and the necessary reconstruction of Jhs concern's business policies made it Imperative that he pay a visit to New York. Allayne had suggested that ehe go along with him. Inasmuch as there was much shopping 'that she wished to do. , Eifr'valtoii.l-- ' things. Then, when dividends coma In, Ill appreciate them tho more." " Sensible girl," laughed Bourke. And when ha kissed her good by as ho left her for tho office. It was with a tenderness that warmed her soul. Shs was a giver; he was no taker; circumstances made him, temporarily, the latter, but If a lifetime of faithful devotion could over repay her. . , . To havo done something for any ono: that Is happiness. To have aided th loved one: s that la ecstasy. Allayne, packing her suitcase for the evening trip, smoothed lovingly each garment as shs fold-e- d It away. Her own things were carefully chosen to do him honor. Tho prettier she looked the prouder he would be of her. . . . The Japanese butler knocked upon th door. Allayne called to him to enter.' "A gentleman to so tho lady, ho Informed her quaintly. Allayne puraad her Ups. She didn't want to see any on this morning. She wanted to smooth her husbands clothing, look at his photographs. "What la his name?" she asked. The Japanese shook his head. American names twisted his tongue. He didnt know. Allayne shrugged. It might be a book agent. On the other hand. It might be some one whom ehe knew, whom she would regret not having seen. Reluctantly, then, she put aside her pleasant tasks, and descended to th Informal, homey living room on the ground floor. A man was standing, with his back to her, surveying through th open window th pretty- tated a moment. There was. In th heavily rounded shoulder, something vaguely famtl-la- r. And in th familiarity somehow lived a threat. Then, as the visitor turned, her hand went to her throat and she leaned against the wall, her face ashen and her eyes staring. The man advanced toward her; his lips curved In a smile that was mors evil than any frown colud have been. He held out hla hand. "Hello, Allayne, dear girt Havent forgotten me ,so soon, have you? Into the holy present leaped the unclean past. This man, Bennett Halsey, from whom she had Shrunk in loathing ear. She feU, rather than sat down, into a chair. One of her hands, th on that had gripped at bar least six months? Wheres this shopping money coming from? 4.UaynemouthxoutuledL ! .cut .my.. brtagtsrEHTlbeKraglied: Her husband smiled. Sorry? 6he smljed back at him. You know, she told him. - Well, then, ehe added, " I . wont go shopping, t I'll walk up and down In front of th shop windows and wish for ' hue-band- tier-eye- Do you realize, young woman, that while you own $2,000,000 worth of stock In th Hlllstown Chemical company and $$.000 000 worth of bonds, that you can hardly hop for any dividends from either source for at Halsey-Bourke.- r-- tfllDADdld, afternoon with the prejudices of their Japanese chef, persuading him that occasionally a plain supper of ham and oggs and apple pie. Instead of an elaborate course dinner, would be a welcome cjiange. It happened to bo Bourkes favorite menu. Tet tonight he would not touch It. And because there were no secrets between them, afterwards, In their library, he told her what had ... try" -- , liars available. Her stock in th chemical company was not a security' oa which." in thee parlous financial days, sho could realize anything. The bonds which she enquired for three million dollar could be realized upon, perhaps, but not in a moment. Further, It meant telling Bourke. . . . ' But sbo Mail tB him. Sho realized that And atlU she clung to hop that somehow She etaggared It was an evil dream, not a reality. And yet clearly, menacingly, before her sat toward tho door. HalHalsey, no figment of a disordered Imaginasey blacked th way. Where are you tion, but an unclean reality. going?" ho demanded, He rcao to his feet " Do I get It? he said. harshly. Or do I go down, this minute, to call upon Out of her horror, your er husband?" her fear, she answered Bhe gasped. She must be tho ono to tell frlm. To telephone my -- Bourke, not Halsey. Ill I'll do what I can Ill husband," ehe said. Sure of hla victory, he smiled. Her utterance was AH right I'll phono you tomorrow and well make a thick, heavy, date. Goodbye, Mrs. " naive," She could not believe In hie departure. sneered Halsey. -- Who Even after he had gone ehe looked for him do you think your - to - husband to?5 return,. She dll not k pom that Halsey feared any encounter with her husband. She Sha reeled against did not know that Halsey feared that Bourke, the wall, on hand outraged, might kill him with as UttI comsteadying her trembling body, th other punction as one kills a A Ehe did not realize that ah had only to have defied the man bold out as though to to have sent him cringing from her presence. fend him off. Of course! Shed Just But if she had realized It her thoughts realized It. This was would havo boon do more pleasant' For it hsr husband. Spenser was not blackmail, it was her own equivocal' Bourke was what position, that horrified her. was he? What wan How long she stood there, scaring at th she? Her eyes closed; chair on w,hich Halsey had sat she did not she slid limply down know. How she gained her room and picked to tho floor. up tho desk telephone she never could havo When her eyes told. .Her legs ached with th strain of opened her mind also climbing tho stairs; her eyes could not focus; her body felt as though It had boon beaten qpened to complete consciousness. She with heavy clubs. For such is the ascendancy was not In her bed, - of tho mind that a mental or spiritual blow awakening from a reacts upon ths flesh. dreadful dream; sho But somehow, the picking up of the telewas lying on the floor phone clarified her mind. Shs put it quickly of her living room, down. How could she, brutally, without staring up at the warning, notify her husband that that b Halface of was not her husband? She must think, plan. sneering sey, He had made no And as she thought and planned, undermove to Assist her. standing of Bourkes position came to her. Instead, his legs Up to now she had considered only herself. crossed, he wan quite There had been a momentary thought of tho calmly smoking a cimlro that would engulf Bourke, but mostly gar. she had thought of herself only. Now she Well, now thats to understand that Bourke would sufbegan over with, get up and fer even more than herself. He would suflisten to me," he fer more because he loved her so greatly and said. that which affected her would affect him. His Shaking In every own burden would be doubled by his effort to muscle, ehe gained her carry hers. feat Her throat And then, suddenly, the thing that Halsey was dry, her Ups knew but which had not occurred to her as burned. she listened to tho blackmailer, came fully Sit down," he orInto her consciousness Bourke might kill dered. tho man who blackmailed his wife. She shook her head She rose from the chair Into which she and retreated until had sunk and began walking up and down her body pressed her bedroom floor. Now that there was against tho wait Something definite to be done the'braln that' "You were killed." she had inherited from Harley B. Guernsey she said. to function. For there woe something began He laughed "That definite to be done. Halsey must be got out what you thought" . of the neighborhood before Bourke was told Why?" she deof his existence. manded. How? Beads of sweat formed upon her Because Why? forehead, melted together and ran down Into you were a UtUe fool, her eyes, counterfeiting tears that her dry so damn good that you eyes could not shed. hadnt a bit of mercy She was going to New York tonight with for any ona who Bourke! She shook her head. She could pure as not go. But what possible excuse, other than the real reason, could she invent? If she said she were 111, Bourke would refuse to leave her. . . . The telephone rang. Sho knew that It was . Bourke; intuition told her, and for half A miiyite, while th Instrument clanged tlvely, she stared at it, afraid to pick it up. She did so, finally. Intuition had pot lied. "Can you stand a little disappointment, asked Bourke. Allayne? For a moment her heart stood still. He r Wasnt going to New Tork! The trip was He lied; yet there something of truth postponed! In what he had said, Shs flinched from his I'll try, she said, marveling at th llght- smile. ness of her tone. That sweet, forgiving nature of yours, Just got a wire from Keenan." Keenan, that broad tolerance," he Jibed, ' hasnt done as she knew, was ths Western sales manager much for you, has it? Well, well; how times for the company.. " He has a chance to place change.' Last time I saw you you were quite a big order In Chicago. Says h needs ms to upset because Id beau living with a woman. put It over. Ordered me out of your holy presence. Her heart resumed beating again. Stop please," sho cried. Z' And you think that you ought to go? " Situation annoys you, eh? Well, It s she asked. With orders as slack as they He laughed. embarrassing for you. And for your husband, Bourke," grinned Halaey. are, I certainly do think so. And as Ill only What do you want? she asked. be there a few hours, between trains, I Halsey brushed the ash from his cigar. thought that you might not want to go." " Well," ehe said slowly, there are a lot Well, a man might want hla wife, under the circumstances. Then again, under the of things to be done about the house wed circumstances, he might not want her. go to New York later? His voice, more than his words, sprayed Of course. Its only a temporary disapher with Insult. She seemed, to shrink as pointment, dear." . wall. she pressed against the No disappointment at all, silly man," shs Halsey eyed her appraisingly. assured him. a "Then again, under the etrcumetancee, Then you will meet me at the station In fe; he half an hour with my bag? jntght be Infflfferjnt tohls-'wiShe told him that she would, and hung up might want money. He puffed at hie cigar. the telephone. Luck had been with her! Yes, money Is a good thing. Especially Bourke would be gone for the next two to a man whos In bad health, who hasn't nights; In that time she would, somehow or long to live, whos been ordered by doctors other, have got rid of Halsey. Sha would be to retire to a farm. Moneyl If a man had able to tell Bourke their dreadful predicathaj, enough of it, he might well, dlsap- - . ment without the fear that It would be made Infinitely worse by the killing of Halsey. pear." For new, oddly, she had not the slightest Again he eyed her as she stood there, mute. doubt that anything other than the killing "A couple of hundred thousand dollars. let us say. A lot to mo nothing at all to pf JXalaeyouldIpc8albly..happe Halsey-Bourk6 How ehe was going to manage this you. Suppose, my dear Mrs. Think now. Her brain bad stood all that.lt could tor shrugged, " If you dont feel like parting the present. She would endeavor to compose with that much money, suppose you teleherself. . . , Once more she marveled at phone to th man whom you call your husherself. She knew that her cheek was cool band, as you were going to do a few minutes when Bourke kissed her good-by- , that her ago." Ho leaned back complacently In his chair. voice held not the slightest tremor. It was Ho waited a full minute. Then he spoke queer, afforded one an Insight Into the complexities of life that she could see her beagain. " No? Dont feel like sending for Bourke? loved husband leave her without regret. For It was necessary that the first skirmish in I thought npt. Scandal is a most unpleasant the battle be fought by her alone. Later, thing. Isnt It? Well, then, suppose you writ when Halaey had been persuaded to leave a check." Hlllstown, Bourke could stand at her side,, 81owly she began to understand. Halsey was not here to wreck her life; he wanted but not now. She drove slowly home, for the first time money; with money he would be content, in her life summoning to her mind the figwould consent to leava . . . What difures In her check book. Memory was brutal. ference did that make? He was her husband; she was his legal wife. . . . She must It told her no cheerful little lie to ease th h B.Ttltitimt tBlI'h eFTh e frutfiTaskhs The soatadal would be Btmrka "! com known; It would kill her. . . verified It when she reached home again. She had In the Hlllstown bank exactly fifteen she had time to think, to plan what to do. . . . She was Innocent of any wrongdoing. hundred dollars, .wherewith to persuade Halsey to leave town. And ho demanded two Why must she be mired? Why must Spenser bo shamed, humiliated? Werent there such hundred thousand! There was th bitterest things as quiet divorces, carefully arranged? mockery in her laughter as she closed the book. Had Halsey come a week earlier. Couldnt scandal bew voided? Two hundred thousand dollars, said HaJ- - -- Btrt-attot--tbe- IF you havsnY tbs cash t!me that shw was wisheey again. bandy In a bank, why, any good securities, ing that Halsey had com a week earlier tliat gentleman was wishing that h had that can be turned into Immediate cash, will do. come much longer ago than that. The irony of her position cam home to His trick heart had not been bothering her. Bho hadnt two hundred thousand dol- - him much since th South African attack. band! ct can-esUn- h F you" 'their contracts. Tho banks are refuging further loans. If wo can tide over Industry. -- of. desire?" Her haughty languor was mar pronounced now. Why ah yes. I, as you know, Mr. Bourke, am not conversant with business details. I dont know exactly bow such matters are arranged. But, after you her presented your resignation, will you kindly send for a painter and havo him paint out the words on your office door, General Manager ' and substitute the title, President ?" "Delighted, Mrs. Bourke," grinned her husband. "Thoughtful of you. charming of you, to come down hors and spread sun shine and Joy. - Don't mention ft, Mf Bourke, And er your first axeoutlv act, will you kindly Instruct tho treasurer of this concern to taka up whatever not of the company ar outstanding? " "Mrs. Bourke, I will do that little thing with great pleasure. And I wish to tell Ills Jaw suddenly dropped. Into her eye had crept seriousness. He leaned forward, hie eyes wide, "Allayne! What do you mean?" Sho smiled at him. her lips trembling.' " X mean, Spenser Bourke, that when clever wife has a silly, stupid husband, it is her duty to pro-tahim from his own stupid' ity." "What have you done?" be VariUnr tear of bring talked sbont lends her. St twenty four, to msmlfy n trivial quarrel with SPUtSUt BOUHkh, her Suae, break tho nod rush Into boodle marriage with smooth crook who I at BEbSETT HOLSEY, hi reoonrre and need Allama'a aaoney. the mi th atari of tbrir hooermooa U couple are ! - At unvoted by a woman known a eon. ROSA HALSEY, who baa brew fha croak next six months or so well be all right. But If the banks not only refuse further credit but demand payment of our paper-we- ll." and he smiled wryly, well be up against It Allayne wrinkled her forehead. She was very proud of young Bourke. She was proud of the business success which he was making. Hhe understood little of financial matters, yet she realised that within lees than two years from his arrival In Hlllstown her husband had become the dominant factor In was the town's greatest the big plant-whlc- to gratify, 'Any other Bttia thing yon AKE TRIBUNE, SUNDAY MORNING; AUGUST 28r 1921V s, jdu rid-'1- ' "aTeve un- though th mans presence were some clean dream which could bo pushed away. Her other hand hung limply at her side. Somewhat of a shock, seeing me, eh?" said Halsey. Her eyes opened and she stared at him. Twenty months had not Improved hlmf th . suavity of appearance that had once been hi h'Sd'gonerfrurtnhtnr ncwr-I.tne- e thatjmlght have been Illness, but which were more th past, ware now expression of .a dissipated graven In his face. - His eyes burned as though with fever, were shifty, uneasy, yet blatantly bold. v-t-- .If s J . Ho had been careful, cautious to th degree 1 Of eOWirdlci Also. Hoaa had watched over-- j him alertly. For Rooa loved him. j Not a woman of any particular morality, th vicious things that ho did to others had no effect upon her love. Again and again she even forgave the vicious things he did to her. She had a trained. Almost to th breaking devotion which sho . point, that anlmal-llkaccorded to him when he had entered Into a But ah marriage with Allayn Guernsey. over wa the kind who refused to cry spilt milk. Halsey always came back to her; he would come back now. And when, sllnklly, he returned from th railroad wreck with his story of failure, tho fact that h cam back offset th fact that b had gone away. Wanting th man, craving him with every bit of her animal nature. It was easy for her to believe what she wished to believe. Hd never Intended to stick to Allayne; hed Intended to get her money and desert her for Rosa. As a matter of fact, th marriage to . Allayne had been moat repugnant to him. Women of th Rnaq . nrt forglvs tho un- forgivable, believe the Incredible. They want to, To get away from Now York had been their aim. They had drifted to South Africa and luck had broken badly. Halseys Illness had eaten up most of their fun da Also, th particular kind of swindling that was Hal- - , aeys long suit found no profitable field in South Africa Rosa further Impelled by tb belief that a sea voyage would benefit Halsoy, consented to try Europe. One there, Halsey told her that ho bad boon reoognized by a Parisian detectlva They fled to London. few days later he told her that he had learned that the London police were on th lookout for him. And so sho was easily persuaded to go to Now York, whence they fled eo many , months ago, One there, Halsey had pretended to meet a man from Hlllstown, told Rosa that by going to Hlllstown he would bo able to put across a profitable swlndla Rosa, timorous wherever they were, fearful leet Gelsteln or some other old acquaintance run across them, cheerfully accompanied him to Hlllstown. m Halsey would have left her behind In New Tork save for tho fact that his health was a source of constant fear to him. Rosa was more than companion; she was nurse. He was grateful for her presence in th hotel where they had registered, in the cheaper section of Hlllstown. ; For he felt another attack coming on. So a block or so from the hotel he ordered hla taximan to stop before a drug store. Another man wished to engage the car, and as it was only a few rods from his hotel, b glanced at the meter and handed the man, r as he thought, a bill, instructing him to keep the changa Then h entered the drug store and ordered a common heart depressant He drank It and felt better. But he was a- coward. Before entering A1- -. - home he had watch ed, ' and ' seen r- lay-ne'-e Bourke depart; still, while he was there, he could not know but that Bourke would return at any moment. Fear mad his heart race. Now, even the depressant which ho had taken could not quiet tho harried organ. When ha reached th hotel, after his brief walk, a porter had to assist him to his room, and shortly h was in a state of collapse. Rosa, In panic, Immediately asked the hotel clerk to send for a doctor. Th medical man, a general practitioner, managed to revive his patient. But when Halsey refused to go to bed ths physician told him some plain truths. If you want to' commit suicide, stay out i of bed," he said. "What do you meaa?" demanded Halsey, fearfully. The doctor was one who did not believe that it was fair to extend lying hope to a dying man. " I mean, he said, that youve got tho worst heart IV ever examined. You havent a week to live. If you want to die In a day get up." , Meekly Halsey climbed Into bed. He swallowed the stimulant prescribed by the doctor. Immediately feeling better he began to doubt the physicians diagnosis. He asked him to send for a consultant. Shrugging, the doctor did so. Two hours later, lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Halsey realized that he was waiting for death. Ha could hear, from the next room, the muffled eobs of Rosa But no sorrow for her was in his heart. He could think only of himself. And as he thought the veins In his throat swelled with Impotent wrath. The last two years had been years of privation, more or less. Always had been the fear of arrest;-everstrange face had been a potential officer of the law. That feeble heart of hi had leaped and pounded a eoo re of times a day,' due solely to fear. And It was Allaynes fault! So ho reasoned, half mad with dread. Had she acted like a sane woman that night on the train, worry would havo slipped forever from his shoulders. With plenty of money he'd have found no need for continuing his Illegal career. Without eternal fear his heart would, have been quieted; he could have bought a' country place somewhere, have given hi health that care which It had needed. , , . W never blame ourselves. Always It Is some one else who has wronged us, been unfair. So with Halsey now. Toward Allayne arose a tremendous bate In his heart. She, when he was dead, would be happy. ' e ' two-dolla- -- y too. r BourkehadthejhlngSJrblclLJhould have come to him, Halsey. .It never occurred to him to blame Rosa for her scene at the train gate. He never had been particularly angered at her. For split milk was something over which, with hla crooked philosophy to sustain him, he never worried- It was Allayne whom he blamed. Rosa, in accosting him at ths train gate, had boon fighting a battle for something that belonged to her. But Allayne, In sending him from her, had been acting the part of a conceited little prude, who thought all tho world was had kave herself. Tho privations, the worries of th last two years were due to her, Allayne! And when he was In his grave her life would continue He writhed at the placidly, happily. thought. The sobs of Rosa awakened In him no sympathy towartLIha rnmpenkm-- of his ups and down. He had no time to think of her. He had little time left In which to1 think of any ona He knew that the physicians told ths truth; years ago other physicians had warned him; In South Africa b had been assured that only a miracle of luck had pulled him through. Now there was no hope. He was doomed. 'Within a week he. would be dead. Through the rest of tb day and tbrotrgh-- a sleepless nlgbt the thought confronted him. Doomed! And slowly Into his hat poisoned ' mind a plan eama T be continued. , , ... I Copyright: J mi: By Arthur oawre Beefeol) ... i |