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THE OMINECA (MERALD, NEW

HAZELTON, B. C.. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1938

LEAN N.U. SERVICER

Continued from last week

Bryn put down his cup of coffee.
(inty having served them in the sitting
room. He reached inte his pocket me-'
chanically for his cigarette case. “Do
von mind if I smoke?"

Across the low round table Neborah
shoal: her head.

“You told me—and Mr. Holworthy |
told me, too, that—that a divorce is
easy to get now days.”

“Very easy,”

“T didw’t ask you,” she went on slow
Ix. “something I should have asked.
in Grandmother’s day a devorce was
dveadful. I'd searcely heard them
nientioned, A devorce was a disgrace-
ful thing. Tell me, is it a disgraceful
thing to be devorced? Does it**mark
cue?” .

“We can manage it so quietly that
ne one will know that we've been mar-
ried.”

“To wasu't thinking exactly . of my-
selt,” she snid, faint color in her cheek
“Nobody knows me. It wouldn't mat-
ter, I was thinking of you. I was
wondering if the girl you,—that is, the
«irl you care about won't mind rather
dreadfully. I don’t, quite understand
these things,” she hurried on, “but 1
think if I were she I would mind.”

“Did I say I cared for a girl?” Bryn
enquired with surprise.

“Porhaps I saw for myself that
there must be one, You spoke of sac-
rifices. You couldn't have meant your
esiteer, because you told me yourself it
was at a standstill, and would be as-
sisted by this agreement of ours, And
#287 saw quite a lot of young men,”
she said, scarlet, but determined, “and
ir seems to me that you and your pal,
Mr. Forbes, were much the same***
the most attractive. So there must be
« girl I am glad, of course. . It will
make Gary feel much better. But has
the world become so liberal: minded

_ that she won't mind your taking this
way to earn money for her?" Her
tyes lifted to his waiting.

Bryn considered. if be sald there
was no girl Deborah might take fright],
aguin, ' Gary, thoroughly consciqus of
the amount of loveliness and charm
and innocense which Deboroh Posses-
sed, would’ certainly do what he could
tu spoil’ this friendliness ‘and trust
which were beginning to spring to life,

“L must tell Tubby what Fou said
uhout him,’ he said lightly. “He will
be extremely flattered, as I am. And
erateful As for your own question—
I can assure you that no complication
shall arise: ”

She had. hegun, to anenk, pechaps to
question him further, ‘when a bell ting-}
led inside the kitchn. She rose hastl-
aly. “That's a randmother,” she explain

‘ed, and: heeled down the steps to the}:

narrow side door anto the kitchen.
Bryn sat down; jaan, lit another cig-
urette, thinkiig.

you give me some kind of an idea.of
your routine? I've got to have some:
thing to do too,” _

Gary glanced up ‘at him from under
his bushy. brows... “here's enough to
do,” he said. “But its not likely the
kind of work your accustomed to.”

“Well, I can pick cherriees. Debor-
‘ah said you could use them. I sup-
pose the strawberries in the patch are
ta be picked, tao..And I heard hens
cackling somewhere, although I didn’t
see them. I presume your fowl have
the usual set of gignals. So I can col-
lect cegs.”:

Gary sighed. He rubbed vigorously
ata plate. ‘All them things has to be
done, ” he said. “And there's pota-
toes to hoe and corn to weed, and cn-
cumbers and melons to water, and
raspberriecs. to tie up, and there’s some
branches of the aprieot trees needing
qwopping, I noticed yesterday.” He
propped his hands on the edge of the
sink and looked up. “If you want to
work.” he said, “there's plenty to be
done.”

Bryn put a foot on the chair beside
the. sink, “Had. your hands full, han-
nt you?" he said.

Gary did uct reply. He was. still
searching Bryn’s fuce. Bryn met his
eyes steadily, After a moment Gary
turned away, without speaking, and
finished washiug the sink. He was
just. untieing his apron to hang it up
when there was a light foot step at
the other end of the room, and Debor-
ah cume in. She was very pale, and
there was in her face such a took of
misery that both men stiffened them-
selves involuntarily.

“Grandmother liked. the strawber-
ries,” Deborah said dismally. “She
thought they were wonderful.” She
might have been annowicing the end
of the world. -_ 7
“What's happened?’ Gary asked, bis
face working. “What's the matter,

| heart, or something like that.

sttppose she. has” heard, of electric “re |

teigerators, , “or “vacuum cleaners, or a
radio, or aly number of. other, modern
imventions, The magazines will un-
doubtedly help, unless we go over ‘em
first and cut.out. all the advertise-

ments.” .
Deborah sprang up. “Ob, what's

the use of all this?” she cried. “I will

not have you laughiig at her. - Its no

use making fun. She ‘thinks****ghe
thinks we can manage anything now.
She doesn’t know: ' However am I go-
ing to tell her? ‘What am I going to
doe?

Gary turned away and began to go
up and down the floor, desperate. De-
borah van to the door and stood gaz-
ing out over the peace and quiet of the
Tune Morning.

“Its all we can do to pay the taxes”
Gary said at last. :

There was a silence

Deborah came back to the table.
“TTL have to pretend I’m 1,” she said
“Tl have ta say I’ve a pain in my
Some-
thing that can’t stand excitement. It’s
the only thing.”

Gary stared at her. But it was Bryn
who objected. “You might as well tell
her the truth,” he said, “because spe-
cialists come high, We wouldn't be
auy better off.”

“Let's tell her the truth,” Gary said
sharply. “Lets tell her, Miss Deborah.
We're getting in too deeep.” ‘

Bryn vose and said, “the way out
has ust oceurred to me. Mr, Hol-
worthy.” ‘

Deborah caught her breeath. “What
could he do?”

‘“He knows the clreumstances. He
could advance us the moucy we need. "

“But will he?”

We can try. I think he will. In
the meantime, we can buy the smaller
things***I havea little money of my
own, a few hundreds. I am happy to
put theem at your mutual disposal,
And when we get into town, Deborah,
‘we can mail a liter to Mr, Holworthy.”

4

“We can’t take your money.”
“Nonsense, Of course you take my
money. You: can give me a ‘note, if

ryou like, and pay me interest, I can't
possibly use it myself up here, can T?
So it's settled”. |

Gary drew a deep breath of “yeliet,
“T'd thought of borrowing. before,” he
sid. Hut until. Miss Deborah Was
married, we didn’ t have ony prospects
of paying it back. Now it’s . alright.
I. can see its alrig st, If you don't
mind lending what you have, sir.” —

ST dot, like. borrowing,” Deborah
continued to protest, her cheeks flam-
ing. “We're taking. enough from you,
We curt tuke any more. no, ,

Gary turned toward her, “If we do
not go through with it, if you tell your
grandmother now, then, this gentleman
won't get his money. at the end of the
year. You know what your grandme- |

Miss Deborah? Did you tell her? Did |
she guess about*#*" his eyes went to
Brvn. :

Deborah, shook her head. ‘Krom het
pocket she produced. a. long sheet of
paper. “There, " she said tremulously
“That's our marketing list for today.”*

‘Marketing. list?” Gary repeated,
w ‘ith utter horror, He stared at the
Paper as if it were a message of the
destruction of Mars..

“Five dozen, wax tapers, of. ‘the best
quality; Gary read out, “A. ‘cook and
three housemaids.” _ ;

‘Gury groaned. .
. “Copies of all the modern magazines
particularly, those relating to ladies’
fashions, and the new meethods of en
tertiining. ”

. Deborah swallowed, \

A plumer ‘to inspect nll the plum- |,
dng of the house, . A min to put, the
electric plant in order.”

‘He recalled himself with a atart,
and got up hastily. ‘He lifted the tabie |),

dishes‘ and all, and farried it. down to} :
“He set it inside, |
went“in- and ‘drew it across the big| 8 i

the kitchen’ door,’

: room; tothe long: white -poréeltin: sink.

beneath the: whdows. Gary wag, there, ie.

witha’ big ‘clean, apron tied* ‘over his | 1
_tvonsers, washing up. his,gwn,,break-|2
fast dishes.

“It's a beautifal ‘day, Gary."..”

7 3

"Yes; .alt.,..Welvg, dayg slike; -thig all
It geta very. hot |!
in’ the, middle of. the ‘day in August,

the ‘ough {he summer.

_ nt the nights, are always. cool.”

“Bryn picked up.n: dish towel, “What ;
ave yor going to do today, Gary? Can" “it’s a t rly

Deborah was, not in sight a

ens,” he we
“Four, or avd zardeners. ”

sa are foi em a
Bryn. look

or -entalogue- ‘of comfortable. motor-

with, anita eyes, : an

ther will do. You know. how. terrified
she is of turtune hunters.
_ kage alittle bit ef, MONEY, tor.you, and
"she'd, be ufraid to. keep... it; all, She |.
wouldn't recognize this ‘marriage. is
tou late to -mupry anyone. else; your
birthday is past... If. we told your
grandmother the whole — truth, that |
your’ “the. man, -you've. ‘married. is.. ai
stranger, paid. to. marry Ou, she would
die. It would Kil her and then, you}

your grandmother,”

snouldering. She lifted them at lust
for yourself that your offering your
Money ?",, ‘she asked. icily, , pete dette

“Something of .the sort,” Bryn sal
With truth, hy

CHAPTER. TV ast

(cea

“Bryn weeié
wing. wv here “his own”
Fag, ‘at, ty

Ft,

rhe a

| At, tagk. out wh
}gan a letter to wating aie a the

ery an mp
neck ‘and it “butler”

She can't |:

could get the money, but it would Kil:
Deborah listened, her eyes dark. ana

to Bryn, ~ “So its. just as a safeguard}:

ed out” obseqdiously by the’. sianagen:

up shins fo the “aout
yoom ‘Joy. _He en“

dhe
‘us
ual jocular greetings Bryn asked" ‘aim!
I | fo. prqeure | ten pounds. of . jasmine ten’
from ap ola Gainer fren of thet
it anode, 8.

“|, Deborah. Mayne Brynildson. .

: Te, . me eee
_T00,m listening. ghe nano was being
banged with fury., Hither Deboral -or
Grandmother was playing the Norwe- |.
glan Procession in such a. way that it
sounded like the march on Paris. |

He knocked lightly on the drawing
room door, but the piano did not stop.
He opencd the door and went in, -De-
borah was pouncing angrily on hands-
ful of keys and making them winch in
pain. Bryn stood for 2 moment watch
ing her. He was restraining an in-
puls to walk forward, slip his arms un-
derneath her, lift her from the stool
ond tiold ber firnity agalust vim while
she’ kicked and stormed and raged at
tim, while he looked down into her
dark eyes, smiling, waiting for anger
to subside. There would be a moment
the when she would lie Himp and beat-
en in his arms; and then, with her
face at his shoulder and her hair shak-
en loose over his arm, he could— *
The music stopped abruptly, in the
middle of a bar. Her hands dropped
to her lap, and she stared at him mute
and angry, , rs
“Sorry to interrupt,” Bryn said
“the music was beautiful, Such ex-
pressio, But I’m going into town,
and I jvondered if yo'd care to go.”
"Noa.

“Its ou long drive alone,” Bryn sald
plaintively.

“I'm sorry,” she fot up from the
piano stool with a swish of ‘starched
skirt. “You may ad@ something ex-
tra to your bill for the trip” ‘she said
coldyl, and turned and went from the
roou without a backward glance.

He weit vp stairs again and knock-
ed on Grandmother's door. She open-
ed it promptly, |

“T have togo to town in the car"
Bryn told her. “Would you care to
put on your ‘bonnet and come? We
ein be hack in time for dinner.” ,
Her eves opened wide, “Ga to Lyn-
dale? I? Ina ear”

“Ihe cord is pretty rough, but rll
drive carefully. Come on, Grandu-
ther, let's ¢o on a bust.”

“Why eas don’t know.” Ter bands
tlutterecad helplessly. “L haven't been
away, from here’ for: many yeurs,”

. “You lt he comfortable, Really,” he
protuised. ye
She lifted. her chin.
deep breath,
last.

“Come exavtly: as you nre, Grand-
mother. give you five minutes and
aut unother . second. Five Minutes.”
“leally,” she said helplessly, but be
did not wait. - He tan down stairs and
ont to the ear, He started the motor
and turned the. car carefully, came to
i halt again at the door, and Grand-
mother was there, her breath comlug
and golug with excitement, the hat
bexchied at a careful “angle, a pair of
gloves Ia her hinds. Bryn lifted her
gently, and put her down in the car.
‘Bryn stopped the ear’ at’ the ‘gate, Be
pushed the button on the horn. A loug
Coutinued on Paye’s (+. :
inelodious. cull. rang out. Instuntly

a et

She drew a
"Very well,” she sald ut

‘before her room. Bryn opened Grand-
‘mother's duor, and the old lady lenn-
ttl out, She waved her. handkerchief
At the girl, :

“lm yalng. ta town, dear,” she evied
ri: her thin: old voice, © aud ‘sank back.
hagain with, 2 sigh. And Bryn smiled
*Hebind his “hand “at the expression ‘of
‘horrifled inerudility that bad come ov-
oy Debornh's face, an expression, that
fortunately, ‘her #randinother | ‘edule
Wok see. ,
. Bryn had finished all the important
business which had iwought him te
town, Tle. had. been to, the bavak, had

‘4
‘
t

“|ueeonnt tyansferred from San Frantis-
Oot. few. days’ aga, ‘and, rad been bow:

himsell. “He had been to the post. of-
flee and had posted Tubby's letter, as
well ag a terse une ‘OF his “own ‘to’ Hols
‘lwarthy, ‘He had taken Deborah's Jet
F| tor to the luwyer from his pocket, look
ed -‘ateit;-hesitated; ‘and then with a:
smile had opened and read ‘it, Not ex-
actly a businesslike document, , but
clear and to the point, At the’ bottom

he received a severe “shovk, *
_“Deboruh Mayne Brynildgou.” |

» Bebor-.

ih was. his wife,:

we

Bryn’ ‘went. down ‘the, stalts
of Deborah. He"

“with ‘the’ letter ‘poniéd” in’ i ion
in’ ‘wetirel natie.’

lot the’ siotiée't the, sound of thie te ina!

"Shi "4

Deborah uppenredl on the ‘little: ‘paléony :

1 loitified. hinisele as the owner of the |

a natne Was’ Tatinba}! dna gs he” read: ii

She had | ‘taken his
t Wad; Conietous ‘of hex” $o2
hienra from. the’ front; sition; far ‘hore conscious: than ba weal

Site bbe ys re
pgeur mpd. to “tigi, “Poor tle Deborah.

Ferhaps she hated that nanie.

7; Grahdmother, was walting in the car
She lind beet’ sitting there ever since
Bryn had parked the car when they
had reached town. “her eres wide and
bxcited. From thue to tlie he eame
back to-her, two ov three times follow-*!
ed by white aprou clerks with their
arms piled: high .-with packages which
they! placed ‘in the. ‘trunk. In the rear ‘ot
the car,

“Now! he said, with .a foot, on the
running board. “how: would you like to
come out and stroll down the street,
Grandmother? : Nothing . shall | happen
to you, I promise.” |

She looked: up, ber eyes spurkling.
For a second she looked astonishing
ly Uke Deborah. “I--I don't: think 1
would be afraid, Stuart, " she said halt
ingly.

took her hand lightly in its black
glove. “Will you do me a tremendu-
ous favor?’

“Gertainiy, my boy.”

“Do you mind calling me by the’
mune ['ye always bee called’ If
you cau believe tt, almost nobody has
ever used the ‘namie Stuart, Could -
you! “bring yourself to call me: Bryn.

It's what’ my friends say, and i sear-

ely Know myself’ by Stuart.”:

“it's very strange, " she said: thought
fully.
enlled Bivins
it. As a matter of fact***Bryn, Bryn’
You know my boy, it suits: ‘you, some-

how. Stuart doesn’t. 1 ‘always felt
queer saying it: Brny mo
“Phank you, Grandmother. You

know how it is. When you are not ac-
customed to au mame?te ”

lle opened the door wider and wait-:
ed. “She gave a-little cluttering breath
and enterged slowly from her long re-
treat. ‘She stepped out inte the wor!
with a hesitating air ‘but she took the
urm be offered und erogsed the curb,

site drew herselt up slightly, and be-
cune once more the shadow of an as:
sored wont of the world.

‘Both together ‘they ‘suw the hat in
rhe window. It ivad'a sinall’ ‘window,
ulitteringly vlean, and: the’ hat hung
inside the window. Et! was’ a small
Wwinitaw ot a tiny mibinary ' shop: at the
end of the street.

Ona pedestal in the center’ was one
hat. (a model toque of grey velvet the

exact shatle of ery udimother’s hair.
Hiryu felt her ‘hand Inove on his arm.
He lovked at the hat’ aud then down
ut her fave, He’ turned. slowly, with-
ont at word, nnd teey went Into ‘the
little shop:

’ ate

“That hat in the window, please.” he
said, The glvl put the soft grey toque
on“the’ silvered baiy. Grandmother,
startled, looked at ‘herself in the glass,
aud then turned to Bryn. Her. eyes
were ‘deep: Diner and. shining: .- her
cheeks were pink.

“Woimill take“it.’ he told the rth
il handed her a bill. . .

: #And now?! ‘he ‘said happtty, “a now,
lets go shopping.” ~"~”

‘Grandmother. was i little intoxicat-

ad... She: made. no protests whatever.

. She ‘chung: Hehtly. te his arm and fol-

lowed where he led, and Bryn enjovert
hhnself. thoroughly.
long, sort wollen coat. He took her ‘to:
ay ‘flip ists and * bought hes a: buneh: ‘of

new cuit,

to match,
‘thew: were through; wag: twenty ‘years
younger, wid the pain in her
hed entirely Mlisuppenred,
“Phy procebded” ‘down the street’ to-
wird the ear.
morethings te. tue he declared. cand
Went’. Jntg Vat durifectioner's,
‘mother accompanied bine aud
walting. :
ea Ivaniti"®hestold the propriéton: ey
vohy niee: box of chocolates and i Ib.
of your hest tobacco and a gond nipe, "
“Phe proprietor: -kaew.-what was" in-
tended, “The. articles) were selected
and paid) for. “He placed Giandnioth-
erscarefally. back in‘the car.and pot in
hliiselt..O4 “Eib batdewh lk infront of

atood

he

overalls chime Mlowly.- along with x-
veiry> small, dox.on the: end.of..« Tench,
The: dog shon lke silk tn: the late” afr.
lerniiont wtih:
Hanh Ive i

‘Deborah Mayne’ Brynlldgon**somehow
thi. fact! that; she. bore his: name, hadn't» .

-Continne next: week.

Bryn came to a sudden decision. He -

a @ don't understand why you're -
‘But I don't: mind using |

He -bonght her,a -®

purple, ‘scented vidlets ite pir on the §
He bought her five pairs
of er ey loves anda navy ‘suecle purse |
Giaidimother, by the time |

heart @

“Pye got one or two :

Grand ;

the cay fi ‘ginal boy In clean faded ‘bine "

i at sniffed the stein q

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