The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-04-18
only GIRL At OVERLOOK
By FRANKLIN FYLE&

Copyright. All rights reserved.1
the p11inlJlvcly constructed desk Or nlgn
counter to crafty her curiosity. There
she saw that Gerald had carved hand,
her own hand, as she instantly perceived.
The small and shapely member was re-
produced in the fresh pale wood with
rare fidelity. She had unconsciously
posed it while working the key Of the
Geographic instrument under the jack
knife sculptor's eyes, and there had been
ample time for him to whittle fac-simile
into the birch.
"He is almost as impertinent as you
are" she said, and turned to see how
Ravelli took the comment.
But Ravelli had disappeared.
Then, being alone, she laid hand OF
her own coquettishly alongside its wood
en- counterpart, and critically admired
the likeness.
lit was an unwarranted liberty" she
said to herself, ''but he did it very WE'LL"
The delicate fiber of the wood had
favored the carver's purpose. The imi-
tation hand bore 2 shade Of dattery in
the barely tinted birchen white and in
the fine grained satin slnoothness that
the keen blade had wrought, but this
was not too much for more than rea-
sonable compliment. As to the model.
ing, that was sincerely accurate, and
the fingers rested ON the key precisely az
Mary had seen them during many hours
Of many days. II is an excessively vain
xirl who admires herself as actually as
she does a portrait, and the telegrapher
really saw more beauty In the birchen
hand than she had ever observed in the
live one. As she contemplated it Ra-
velM returned noiselessly behind her.
LA wish to say something, Mees War
riner."
The Italian accent of Ravelh grated
with unnatural harshness on Mary's ears,
and if he had been an intruder upon her
privacy instead of man in really pub
lie place she would not have been sur
prised into deep flush. She snatched
her hand away from its wooden counter
part and clasped it with its mate behind
her as she leaned her shoulder against
the carving to hide It.
IF you have . message to send" shs
said, II can't get it on the wire too
soon. It's within five minutes Of time
to shut off,"
She started to go behind the desk. He
stopped her with q touch upon her
shoulder and she shrank away reprov-
ingly, although it was solely the mans
earnestness that made him do it.
"No, no. It ees not words fora re
wire Eat have-a for you," he said. ~
wish-a to tell to yourself something.
Will you leesteny'
"Yes. if it is something that I ought
to hear"
"Thees eez it. am a-more than I
seem here-deef-e-rent- so deterrent
yon would hardly know-a me. In zis
place am only q contractor for ze Ia
borer. anna as common as my gang
ina clothes-in.a manner too, CHI? But
cen one hour-een one minute-I could-a
conveence you Eat anna something finer. u
Mary did not show in her perfectly re-
gained composure that she was SO much
rs puzzled by tho mans cnigmatic talk.
She said, II don't see how it could be
worth while, Mr.. Ravclli."
''Oh, yes. I beg-a pardon for 60 con.
tradic-tion-yes. it ees worth-a while.
Away from-a here, Mary, would-a be
SO deterrent Eat you above mo-"
''Stop, Mr.. Ravelh-stop!'
The command was positive, but it was
not obeyed. u,
II love-a you
He caught her by one wrist as he be
gan. She was utterly unresistant. II
she had struggled or cried out he would
have gone on with his voluble, excited
declaration, but her placidity was in
comprehensive to him.
''Mr. Raveli," she began, after q mo
ment, ''you understand English?'
Perfectly, Mees Warmer"
-"Well, here is plain English for you
+ I would use Italian if could, SO that yor
mightn't mistake me. You are to let *
Of my hand"
He did it.
''You are to 80 away instantly ani
never come here again except on bust
ness. Go ut once"
That he did not do.
''For what-a did You come here, into
one camp oof men, cef'-
IF I didn't expect to DO unsafe? II
tell you. It was mistake. Operator
No. 0 WAS ordered to this post. No
had been II man who within IA week hai
been discharged and his number giver
to me. by an oversight no alteration
was made in the record to show the sex
of the new No. 0. l couldn't afford tt
lose the work. Besides
''Wel, a-besides''-
''Besides, l reasoned that every man al
Overlook yvOnld nrotact ,no apainst al
the other men, if