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About Mt. Scott herald. (Lents, Multnomah Co., Or.) 1914-1923 | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1923)
I \ B lind M ai ^ s E yej BY WILLIAM M ac HARG'* EDWIN DALMER- Illustration* by R.H. Livingstone J ^4<jSEL.ÏLJtiZiî^££Âato»£rewssi«a» «■■»«»J SYNOPSIS ite ù Partorbad •t: hl* t/r CH A mt it VI - Sinclair raeoenlssa tnjnr-.l man aa Beall «aatofae. who. thouah Wing la a utter powar ta financial world as advlaar to "big Intar- aata " Hla recovery la a matter of doubt CHAPTBIt VII • Cireumelaaoaa point la Baton aa Mantolno'a waaailanL CHAPnen VII! Eaton la practl ollr Staaiii under arraat. Ha rafuaae lo malta ■Maaattaaa aa te hla prevteua mova Hata baierà hoardlng tha tratn. but ‘ waa tha man whe callad on ar<Un th la nlphl tha tlnanelar wwa tour gBIABTWR TX.— Baton plaada wllh Har- Rantolila la withhold luilgmaot tail ing har ha la In aorloua danger, though innoc ant of the crime agatnat her father Ha reale the girl ballevae him. CHAPTER X -danlolna recover» aufll- rlently to queation Baton, who refugee to raioal hla identity The Bnanclor re- quirea Baton to a< company him to tha Aantolne home, where he to la the Poet tton of a aemi prtaoner CHAI-TEH XT—Baton meet« a reeldant at the houaa. wallaro Blatrnford and a young girl. Mildred Harla, with whom apparently ho la acquainted, though they conceal the fact Baton's mission la to aocura certain documenta which are vital to hla Intareeta. and hla being admitted to the houaa la a remarkable atroko of luck The girl agree» to aid hlra. lie becomea deeply Inlarealed la Harriet Ran tolna, and ahe Ml him CHArTKR XIL-Rarrtot telle Baton aha aM Donald Avery act aa "azaa" to han tolna. reml Ing to him the documenta on which ho baaeg hla ludgmanta While walking with her. two mon tn an auto mobile deliberately attempt to run Eaton down, lie eorapee with alight Injurlaa The girl rocognlaee one of the mon aa having been rm the train on which they came from Boattla. CHAPTKIt Xlll.—Bantolno queetlona Halon rloaety. but tha latter la reticent Tha blind man tolla him ho la convinced the attack made on him on the trnln waa the reault of an error, the attacker hav ing planned to kill Eaton Hanlnine talla Harriet alir 1» to take charge of certain papers connected with the "Iwtron loop- artlea." which had hitherto been In Avery*» charge (Continued from laat week.) Aa »he approached, ahe recognized ( Avery*» lithe, »lert figure on one of the ponies; with a deft. quick stroke Ae Rhe Approached th« Recognized Avery*» Lithe, Alert Figure on One ef the Ponlee. he cleared the ball from before the feet of an opponent’s pony, then ha looked up and nodded to her. Harriet drove up and »topped be»lde the bar rier; people hailed her from all altlea, and for a moment the practice waa atopped aa the player» trotted over to »peak to her. Then play began again, and ahe had the opportunity to look for Eaton. Her father, ahe knew, had Inatrncted Avery that Eaton waa to lie Introduced aa hla guaat; but Avery evidently had either carried out theae Instructions In a purely mechnnlcal manner or had not wlahed Eaton to be with other» unle»a ha blmaelf waa by; for Harriet dl»cover»d Eaton ■landing off by hlmeelf. Rhe waited till ho looked toward her, then alg- tialed htm to come over. Rhe got down, and they »food together follow ing the play. **Tou know poloF’ »he questioned him, •■ ah« raw th« expression of appreciation In hla far« aa a player daringly “rode off" an antagonist and aavad a "cross." Rhe put the que» lion without thought before ahe rec- ogulzed that ahe waa obeying her fa ther*« Instructions. **I undaratand the game somewhat," Eaton replied. “Hare you ever playedF’ “It seems to deeerve Ita reputation aa the summit of »port." he replied. He answered ao easily that ahe could not decide whether he waa evad ing or not; and ootnehow, juat then, alio found It ImiHMndble to put the afmple queetluu direct again. "Good I Good. Don I” ahe cried en thualaatlcally and clapper! her hand« aa Avery suddenly raced before them, caught the ball with a a winging, back- handed atroko and drove It directly toward hla oppouent'a goal, blatantly whirling hla mount, Avery raced away after the ball, and with another clean atroko acored a goal. Everyone about cried out In approbation. “He's very quick and clever, isn't her* Harriet aald to Eaton. Eaton nodded. **Tee; he*» by all odd» the most »kllifwt tuau eo the field, I ahotild »ay." The goueroalty of the praise Im pelled the girt, somehow, to qualify It. "Hut only two otliara really hav» played much—that man and that" "Yea. I picked them aa the experi enced one»." Eaton »aid quietly. “The other»—two of them, at least— are out for the first time. 1 think.** They watched the rapid course of the ball up and down tha field, the •curry »nd acat»i>er of the ponle» aft»r It, then the claah of ■ melee. Two ponle» went down, and their rider» were flung. When they aroee. on» of the len»t experienced boys llmpetl apologetically from the field. Avery rode to the barrier. "I »ay, any of you fellow», don't you »»nt to try ft? We're Just getting warmed up." Avery looked over to Eaton and gave the challenge direct. "Care to take a chance?" Harriet Rantolne watched her qpnt- panlon; a eudden flush had come to hla face, which vanished, as she turned, and left him almost pale; but his eye» glowed. Avery*» manner In challenging him. a» though he must ■•fuse from fear of such a fall aa he Juat had witnessed, was not enough to explain Baton's start. “How can IF* lie returned. "If you want to play, you can." Avery dared hint. "Furden"—that waa the boy who had Just been hurt— '•will lend you some things; ills'll Just about fit you; and you can have hla mounts." Harriet continued to watch Eaton; the challenge had been put so as to Ive him no ground for refusal but timidity. "You don’t care toF' Avery taunted him deftly. "Why don’t you try ItF* Harriet found herself saying to him. lie hesitated. She realised It was not timidity he was feeling; It waa something ileeper and stronger than that. It waa fear; but so plainly It was not fear of bodily hurt that she moved Instinctively toward him In sympathy. He looked swiftly at Avery, then at her, then away. lie seemed to fear alike accepting or re fusing to play; suddenly he made a decision. *1*11 play." Ho started Instantly away to th» 1 1 ' | hla mallet to drive the ball away from In front of Eaton. But as Avery'* club was coming down, Eaton, Ilka a flash »nd apparently without lifting hla mallat at all, caught the ball a sharp, smacking stroke. It leaped Ilka a bullet, straight and true, toward the , goal, and before Avery could turn, Ea ton was after It and upon It, but he did not have to sirika again; it bound ed on and on between tha goal peats, while together with tha applause for the stranger aroee a laugh at tha ex pense of A very. But aa Donald halted before her, Harriet saw that ba waa not angry or discomfited, but was •millug triumphantly te blmaelf; and as she called In praise to Eaton when he came cloea again, she discovered In him only dismay at what be had done. The practice ended, and the players rode away. Hhe waited In the club house till Avery and Eaton come up from the dressing rooms. Donald’s triumphant satisfaction raemed to have Increased; Eaton waa alien! and preoccupied. Avery, hailed by a group of men, started away; as he did so, be saluted Eaton almost derisively. Eaton'a return of the aslute was open iy hostile. Rhe looked up at htm keenly, trying unavalllngly to deter mine whether more had taken place between the two men than she heraelf bad witnessed. "You had played polo before—and played it well," ahe charged. "Why did you want to pretend you hadn't F* Ha made no reply- Aa she began to talk of other things, she discovered with surprise that hie manner toward her had taken on even greater formal liy and constraint than It had had •Inca hla talk with her father tha day before The afternoon waa not warm enough te alt outaida; In the club house were gathered groups of men and girl» who had come tn from the golf course or from watching the polo practice. Rhe found herself now facing ooe of these groups com|>osed of some of her own friends, who were taking tea and wafers In tha recess before some win dowa. They motioned to her to join them, and she could not well refuse, especially as this had been a port of her father's instructions. The men rose, as ahe moved toward them, Ea tou with bar; ahe Introduced Eaton; a chair was pushed forward for her, and two of the girls made a place for Eaton on the window seat between them. As they seated themselves and were served. Eaton's participation In the polo practice was the subject of con vereatlon. Rhe found, as ahe tried to talk with her nearer neighbors, that she was listening Instead to this more general conversation which Eaton had Joined. Rhe saw that these people had accepted him aa one of their own sort to the point of Jesting with him •bout hla "lucky” polo stroke for a beginner; his ms on er toward them waa very different from what It had beeu Just now to heraelf; be seemed at ease and unembarrassed with them One or two of the girls appeared to have been eager—even anxious—to meet him; and site found heraelf oddly resenting the attitude of these girls Her feeling waa Indefinite, vague; It made her flush and grow uncomfort able; to recognise dimly that there waa In It some sense of a proprietor ship of her own in him which took alarm at seeing other girls attracted by him; but underneath It waa her un easiness at his new mqnner to herself, which hurt because ahe could not ex plain It. Aa the party finished their tea. she looked across to him. "Are you ready to go, Mr. EatonF' ahe asked. "Whenever Mr. Avery la ready." “You needn't wait for him unless you wish; I'll drive you back," she offered. “Ilf course I'd prefer that. Miss San tolne." They went out to her trap, leaving Donald to motor back alone. Aa soon as she had driven out of the cluh grounds, »he let the horse take It» own gait, and she turned and faced him. “Will you tell me." she demanded “what have 1 done this afternoon tv make you class me among thoee whr oppose youF* “What have you done? Nothing Miss Santoine." "Hut you are classing me so now." “Oh. no." he denied so unconvinc dressing rooms; a few minutes later, ingly that she felt he waa only put when lie rode onto the field. Harriet ting her off. was conscious that. In some way, Ea Harriet Rantolne knew that what ton waa playing a pari as he listened had attracted her friends to Eaton to Avery's direction« Avery appointed himself to oppose Eston wherever possible, besting him In every contest for the ball; but ahe saw that Donald, though he took It upon himself to allow all the other players where they made their mis takes. did not offer any Instruction to Eaton. One of th» players drove the ball close to the barrier directly be fore Harriet; Eaton and Avery raced for It, neck by neck. Eaton by better riding gained a little; as they camo up. she saw Donald's attention was not upon the ball or the play; In stead, he was watching Eaton closely. And ahe realized suddenly that Don ald had appreciated as fully as bar- •elf that Eaton'a clumslnesa was • pretense. It was no longer merely polo the two were playing; Donald, suspecting or perhaps even certain that Eaton kuew the game, was try ing to mnke him »how It, and Eaton waa watchfully avoiding thia. Just In front of her, Donald, Issuing forward, awept the ball from In front of Ea ton'a pony'a feet. For a few momant^ths play wns all at the further edge of the field; then the ball crossed with a long curving "You Needn’t Walt far Him Unlaaa You Wish; I’ll Driva You Back,” •hot and came hopping and rolling Sha Offered. •long the ground close to where she stood. Donald aud Eaton raced for IL "Stedman I" Avery celled to a team was their recognition of hla likeness to themselves; but what had Im- mate to prepare to receive the ball tj>rqesedJther tn seeing him with them after he had struck It; and he liftoff waa hla difference. Was It some mem ory of bls former life that seeing these people had recalled to him. which bad affected hie manner toward bar I Again she looked at him. "Were you sorry to laava the clubF* Cha naked. "I waa quite ready to leave.” be answered Inattentively. "It must have been pleasant to you. though, to—to be amoag the sort of people again that you—you used to know. Miss Furden"—she mentioned one of the girls who had reemed most interested In him, the slater of the boy whose place he bad taken In the polo practice—“la considered a very attractive person, Mr. Eaton. I have heard It said that a man—any man— not to ba attracted by har must be forearmed against her by thought—or memory of some other woman whom be holds dear." "I'm afraid I don't quite under stand." The mechanicalness of his answer reassured her. "I mean. Mr. Baton"— she forced her tone to be light—"Miss Furden was not aa attractive to you as she might have been, because there has been some other womsn In your life—whose memory—or—<r the ex pectation of seeing whom again—pro tected you," “Has been? Oh, you mean before.” “Yes, of course." ahe answered has tily. "No—none.” he replied simply. “It*s rather ungallsnt, Mias Santoine, but I'm afraid I wasn't thinking much about Mias Furden.” Rhe felt that his denial was the truth, for his words confirmed the Im pression she had had of him the night before. She drove on—or rather let the borae take them on—for a few moments during which neither spoke. They had come about a bend in the road, and the groat bouse of her fa ther loomed ahead. A motor whizzed post them, coming from behind. It was only Avery’s car on the way home; but Harriet had jumped a little In memory of the day before, and her companion's head had turned quickly toward the car. She looked up at him swiftly; bls lips were set •nd hla eyes gazed steadily ahead after Avery, and he drew a little away from her. A catch In her breath— almost an audible gasp—surprised her, and she fought a warm Impulse which had all but placed her hand on hla. "Will you tell me something, Miss SantoineF' he asked suddenly. “Whatr "I suppose, when I was with Mr. Avery this afternoon, that If I had attempted to escape, he and the chauf feur would have combined to detain me. But on the way back here—did you assume that when you took me In charge you had my parole not to try to depart F' She was silent for a moment, thoughtful. “Do you mean that you have been considering this afternoon the possibilities of escape?" “It would be only natural for me te do that would It not?" he parried. "No." "Wny not?" "I don't mean that you might not try to exceed the limits Father has set for you; you might try that, and of course you would be prevented. But you will not” (she hesitated, and when she went on she was quoting her father) “—sacrifice your position here." "Why not?” “Because you tried to gain It—or— if not exactly that, at least you had some object In wanting to be near Father which you have not yet gained." She hesitated once more, not looking at him. What It was that bad hap pened during the afternoon she could not make out; Instinctively, however, she felt that It had so altered Eaton's relations with them that now he might attempt to escape. They had reached the front of the house, and a groom sprang to take the horse. Rhe let Eaton help her down; as they entered the house, Avery— who had reached the house only a few moments before them—was still in the hall. And again she was startled In the meeting of the two men by Avery*» triumph and the swift flare of defiance on Eaton's face. She changed from her afteruoou dreas slowly. Aa ahe did »a. »he brought »wlftly In review the events of the day. Chiefly it waa to the polo practice and to Eaton'a dismay at hla one remarkable stroke that her mind went. Had Donald recognised In Eaton something more than merely a good player trying to pretend Igno rance of the game? The thought sud denly checked and startled her. For how many great polo player« ware there In America? Were there a hun dred? Fifty? Twenty-five? She did not know; but she did know that there were ao few of them that their names and many of the particulars of their lives were known to every follower of the sport. Rhe halted suddenly In her dressing, perplexed and troubled. Her father had sent Eaton to the country club with Avery; there Avery, plainly, had forced Eaton Into the.polo game. By her father’s instructions? Clearly there seemed to have been purpose In what had been done, and purpose which had not been confided to her self either by her father or Avery. For how could they have suspected Eaton would betray himself In the game unless they had also suspected that he had played polo before? To suspect that, they must at least have some theory aa to who Eaton was. But her father had no such theory; he had been expending unavalllngly, ao far, every effort to ascertain Eaton's connections. Ro her thought» led her only Into deeper and greater perplex ity, but with them came eudden—and unaccountable — resentment against Avery. At seven Harriet went in to dinner with her father. The blind man waa alone; he had been awaiting her. and I “But you were not able to majjts they were served at once. All through reply." ” « * the dinner ahe waa nervous and "I was able to receive all that was moody; for she knew sha waa going oeceamry." to do something »be had never done Rhe considered for a moment "What before: she was golug te conceal de you want me to do?" something from her father. Rhe told "Either becauae of m> preaenca or of Eaton’s reception at the country becauie of what haa happened—or club, and of hie taking pert la the perhaps normally—you have at leaat polo practice and playing badly; but four men about the grounds, two of of her own Impression that Eaton whom seem to be constantly on duty knew the game and her present con to ohaerve anyone who may approach. victlon that Donald Avery bed seen I wish you to order them to let me even more than that, ahe aald noth paw and go to a place perhaps ten ing. She watched her father's face, minute«* walk from here. If you do but site could see there no cimaclous- ao, I will return at the latest art th In ness that she was omitting anything half an hour” (be glanced at hla In her account watch) "—to be definite, before a quar An hour later, when after reading ter of elevm.” aloud to him for a time, he dismissed “Why should I do thl»r her, she hesitated before going He came close to her and faced her. "You*ve seen Donald?" she aaked. "What do you think of me now, Mia» "Yes." Rantolne V “What did he tell youF' “Why—" "The same as you have told, though "You are certain now. are vou not not quite so fully.” that I had nothing to do with tha at She was outside the door and In tack on your father—that la. In any the hall before realization came to other connection than that the attack her that her father'» reply could mean I might be meant for me. I denied yes only that Donald, like herself, had terday that the men tn the automobile concealed hla discovery of Eaton's meant to run ma down; you did not ac ability to play polo, Why Donald had cept that denial. I may aa well admit not told, ahe could not Imagine; the to you that I know perfectly well they only conclusion she could reach was meant to kill me. They are Ukeiy to that Donald's silence In some way try again to kill me." menaced Eaton; for—suddenly now— “We recognize that loo.” »he an It came to her wbat thia must mean to Eaton. All that he had been so careful to hide regarding blmaelf and hl» connections must be obtalnab!« by Avery now, and Avery, for some purpose of his own, was withholding betrayal to make use of It a» he might see fit. She moved once more to return to her father; again she stopped; then, swiftly, she turned and wcùt down- stairs. Rhe looked hurriedly c^ont for Avery. She did not find him, nor at first did she find Eaton either, Rhe discovered him presently in the music room with Blatchford. Blatchford at once excused himself, tired evidently of bls task of watching over Eatuu. Harriet caught herself together and | controlled herself to her usual man ner. "What shall It be this evening. Mr. Eaton?" she asked. "Mwric, bllllanUr “Billiards. If you like,** he respond- ed. They went up to the billiard room. and for an hour played steadily; but her mind was not upon the game—nor, she saw, was his. Finally, as they ended a game, he put hla cue back in the rack and faced her. "Miss Santoine,” he said, "I want to ask a favor." "What la Ur “I want to go out—unaccompanied. “Why?" "I wish to speak to a friend who will be waiting for me." “How do you know?" "He got word to me at the coun try club today. Excuse me—I did not mean to Inform on Mr. Avery; he was really most vigilant. I believe he only made one slip." “He was not the only one observing yoa." “I suppose not In fact. I was cer | udn of It However, I received a mes- ; sage which was undoubtedly an then ■ tic and had not been overseen." Th. aa watch about th*« hpuse ate wera«| to protect yo« as wail aS wetcb you?“ “ t “I appreciate that". "But are they all yon have to fear. Mr. EatonF* She was thinking of Donald Avery. Ha seemed to recognise what was In her mind; hla eyes, ae he gased In tently at her, clouded, then darkened still more with some succeeding thought “No, not all.” “And It will aid you to— to protect yourself If you see your friend te- nlghtr “Yes." "But why should not one ef Fa ther's men be with youF "Unless I were alone, my friend would not appear.” “I see.” He moved away from her, then came back ; the Importance to him of what he waa Baking was very plain to her—he waa shaking nervously with It “Miss Rantolne." he said Intently, "you do not think badly of me now. I do not have to doubt that; I can see It; you have wanted me to see It I ask you to trust rue for a few minutes tonight. I cannot tell you whom I wish to see or why. except that the man rente« to do me a service and te endanger no one—except thoee trying in titre me." (Continued Next Week.) YEAGER THEATRE ------------ LE N T S------------ HOTTÈN fl COMING SUNDAY AND MONDAY (The greatest laugh producer you ever looked at. > I » RVICE is the badge of the great and there is no Great- n e s s without it — Henry Ford. I ilI I It is our opinion that he <6 who SERVES need not worry about the DOLLARS. They will follow as the night, the day. » t 7 4- TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY You have never seen ita equal. TheColumban Press, Inc. PRINTERS— P V BLI SH ERS— LIN OT YPBRS BROADWAY 2242