Part 51 (2/2)
”That's unthinkable! Besides, Evelyn was then pledged to marry me”
”It looks as if you didn't know Lance yet; I'ether know Evelyn Anyhow, I saw her and stopped the thing I think she got a bad jolt when I told her about the punt”
Jim looked at the date on the note ”When did you see her?”
dick told him and he pondered Then he said, ”She wrote to h you i”
”I've got to be frank,” dick replied ”Evelyn is not like Carrie; she takes the easiest line I I until she had quietly married Lance Then we'd have been forced to accept the situation” He paused and his face got red as he resumed: ”I'm thankful I was not too late, but I'm sorry I could not find Lance”
Jim was silent for a time He had believed in Evelyn after illuination had cheated hi
Now he had got a jar Evelyn was not the girl he had thought; it looked as if she were calculating, unscrupulous, and weak If she had let hiiven her e with himself It was for Evelyn's sake he had lost Carrie, as tender, brave, and staunch
By and by he roused himself and asked: ”Have you told your mother?”
”I have not I felt I was forced to tell you, but it would be better that nobody else should know Florence, hom Evelyn stayed, will not talk”
Jim nodded ”You can trust h; Evelyn iined she could not be happy with ood sort, Jie you feel sore It costfor one's sister is hard”
”It's done with,” Jiot up a servant caram for Mr Halliday,” she said ”As Mrs Halliday was not at hoht it on”
The servant went out and dick laughed harshly when he read the telegra, but not to Lance,” he said ”Well, I expect e is good”
”Then, you know the man?” said Jim, who sympathized with dick's'
bitterness
”I do,” said dick, very dryly ”He's rich and getting fat, but on the whole, I iood a husband as Evelyn deserves I soht he wanted her and she quietly held him off; it looks as if she had lost no time now” He paused and the blood ca rules, this is rotten bad forht to be thankful you hadn't the misfortune to marry into our family”
Jim put his hand on the other's arm ”Stop it, dick! You have been honest and we are friends But I think you have said enough”
”Then givehas knocked me off my balance”
”Here you are,” said Jilass
”Good luck, Jim! You are lucky, you know But if you're not a fool, you'll ain, looking straight in front, with knitted brows He did not kno long he lanced at him curiously when he indicated a chair, and for a few ave her Evelyn's note
”After all, there is no reason you shouldn't read this,” he said
Carrie took the note and Jiht her hand trembled when she returned it