Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-11-06
CHAPTER III.
WHILE THE IRON WAS Hor.

Maj. Crawshaw was not in "good form"
that particular evening. He Rad been
wanting in pe%rspicuity; he had Numbered
egregiously, and now, facing the enemy
whose Vaccinations he had come to
Battleton especially to circumvent, he
felt himself still more at a loss. he
did not know what to say on the spur
If the moment; the real Miss DAILY
was not at all the Miss Daily whom he had
expected to find, but a calm. self-possessed
young lady. whom service behind a refresh
ment stand had not spoiled or rendered
"flashy." This quiet being might have been
taken for a lady anywhere-might have
held her place in any society, he thought, If
she had had the discretion to hold her
tongue. For, Of course. she would be as
sharp and jerky as Miss Racket when she
began to discourse-all refreshment stand
maids conversation being essentially jerky.
keeping time with the money as it ratified
in the till. No; he was mistaken again;
Miss Days voice had not an atoms worth
Of jerkiness in it.
"Your name is DAILY" the major said, for
tho want of a better question to start with.
ayes, sir. What do you require of meT'
II should he glad Of a little private con-
versation. Miss DAILY" he said. AT what
llillo w you IeuV0 LulS pluC9!
Miss DAILY looked somewhat astonished,
and oven doubtful of his motive for address.
ing her: A scarlet flush Aickered on her
steady and inquiring. She did not actually
there had been oil kin,is Of strange beasts
providing about her path since her novitiate.
Tile eyes that encountered hers were clear
IND sharp gray eyes, that were difficult tc
associate with any guile. For the present,
at least, and despite the singularity of his
question, she could afford her interlocutor
the benefit Of the doubt.
"Have you any particular reason for ask
ing me!' she said.
II have."
"What is It'll"
Il wish to speak to you on business of i'm.
portnnce."
VI do not believe in any business Of i'm
p~ortance hatween you and me" said Miss
Daily. cody. Sunless" she added, quickly
sunless you have l,ear.l from my uncle
bave been :ont to tell me NIL the news"
II have not the honor of knowing any
member y! yo,r family. Miss DAILY" said
the major, and the business Of important &c
to when | nliudel affects my family rather
than your own"
II can have nothing to do with it."
"Un ortunately you have"
elf you will kindly ex,lain|
"Nos here" said the old soldier, very
sternly; certainly not at this counter, and
wiau these ,"ang women listening to u.s."
"You nav. my full permission to speak
out. SIR"
"Where DO you i've when away from this
place.
~ 10 not feel called upon to tell you," was
the crave reply.
sand you will not tell me, posstblyf"
"No sir, l will not"
"Confourl it" he blurted forth, "what are
you afraid of"
II am not afraid of you, certainly" said
Miss DAILY. very calmly. II hardly doub,
you. but l ann not disposed to put my trust
in y.u."
aft must surely strike you that there are
topics OF conversation which might be dis
cussea III Il more fitting place than thisa" h.
said.
II ain not afrail of any topic" was the
reply, a you, as a stranger, have no right
TO make q mystery about it."
"You distrust me?'
II distrust any one who Is not s%traightfor-
ward" replied Miss Daly.
VERY well-verv weil,' said the major,
turning worry red, "this is tho first time in
all my life I have been told I was not
straightforward. IL can't mention the
an object Of ridicule to the rest OF the young
ladies pre- sent. They are listening now for
thai matter. Look at them"
Mss Daily laughed pleasantly and momen.
tari!y at this
"Ah! yes-they listen a little; and" with q
sigh, ",hey don't like me much. l am not
one of hem quite"
II hope you'll never be such a young fool
rs to Try and initiate their ways" said the
major.
"Oh. they are not as they seem," said Miss
Day. They are very good and kind some.
times; they are honest, and hard working,
and they take care of themselves bravely.
considering What defenseless women most Of
them are.n
@Bravo! Miss De!y," said tho major. "Let
me shake hand, with you for sticking up for
your class"
Miss DAILY did not accept the invitation
she was indignant now, and disposed to turn
from him
by Jove! you're a brave little woman"
he continues; and 1t was beastly unfair Of
me to sneer in that fashion at you. Not
hat l i meant to sneer exactly-I intsnded to
aavisH you, a. your own father might do
en1 I'm old enough to be your father, nv
cnno, remember that; and HoNo, YOU
~. WA the devil brings you down hsrer
"dooi CAD! uncle. Is that YOUR And
young Todd came to q full stop. and re.
manned with his mouth open and his small
eyes d~istended, as at an apparftion which
had suddenly confronted him
yes, 1t is l." said his uncle.
DO they know you are coming, up at tn.
house7" asked Mr.. Todd.
y thought l would give them an agree
able surprise" was the uncle's evasive
answer; sits q year and a half since I was
at Battleton last"
80 long as thatr said the uncompli.
! mentsry nephew. u shouldn't have THOUGH.