Evening star., 1900-09-29

/ "Oh, nothing
Yes. you was. r saw-it" He laughed
| stood against 1t.
/ please don't loolcI' 4
Don't you tell me all your secrets?'
| ''Oh. well, look IL you want to-"
Il don't, unless YOU want me to, Jess.
She opened the drawer and drew out the
paper. 1t was illustrated with plans for
/ cheap cottages.
whats the matter with this?' he asked.
/ What are you afraid Off
Nothing. Sometimes think it's kind of
fun to pick out theshouses I'd like-just for
what one do yon like?"
ooh. don't know. I Fas just thinking
that maybe some day we'd She stopped
/ and turned away. Hunchf thought that she
was joking and he, took her shoulders and.
gently turned her around, She was crying.
'Why-what's the matter, Jess?
She buried her face on his coat. Huncn
| could not follow her sudden changes. Now,
he looked down at her hair puzzled, walt
Ing for her to explain. Finally he said:
| You got to tell me what's the matter,
Jess"
Il was only thinking-one of the girls
said-said you didn't love me, John-she
said" Hunch tried to break in. but she
| went on. You weren't going to-that wed
said anything about getting married. john.
| Hunch looked over her head at the wall
He could not tell her that he had not al
lowed himself to think about 1t. that ne had
| thought of it. And I'd thought mybe
| you'd speak about it and we'd talk about
| house-and l wanted that-that one on the
| front page with the shingles on the front.
| It's beautiful house, john"
Hunch stood silent for long time
why didn't you say something? on,
John. 1t isn't true, is it? You do love me,
John?"
| mo" said Hunch, at amt true. Well
| be married just as soon as you're ready,
| Jess"
She didn't look up for a long time. When
she did her eyes were still wet.
Don't you think 1t would be kind OF
| fun, John, to talk about the house,"
| They went over the plans, sitting on the
| sofa by the front window. and talked out
every detail of the house. Hunch agreed
| with nearly all of Jess suggestions, even
| to the CRATE in the front room, an expen-
| sive feature.
| When they were out in the entry. and
| Hunch was putting on his ulster. Jess
stood before him with her back against the
| door.
Say. do you want me to tell you some
| thing?'
Course"
| "Oh, I-don't you laugh, John. 1t amt
| funny. It's mean. It's what somebody
| said. She said if a man really loves girl
| like ring, or something She laughed
nervously. "And I just told her that /
wasn't engaged on her account, and II she
| thought l ought to wear ring she needn't
mad"
Hunch was silent.
"Now, don't you be cross I don't want
| ring. John. anyway, untii-well, until
when two people love each other like you
and me do Good night you old boy. Now.
don't go and be cross. And don't forget
| we're going to the dance tomorrow night"
Hunch laughed little, and kissed her
| Then he walked slowly down the street
At noon on the following day Hunch went
- 4rf fHna
| and looked at rings. There was one large
| ring. with two diamonds set in snakes
| head.
How much is it?' Hunch asked
Ninety dollars. Best ring we've got.
| There amt another like 1t this side of
| Grand Rapids
That's the one I want. then said
| Hunch. "Wil you put it by for me?"
Take 1t right along, Mr.. Badeau.
| There's no hurry about the money"
No" said Hunch. Il won't take 1t un-
| til pay for it,.
"All right. Mr.. Badeau, we'll put 1t aside
| for you
| BY a second loan Hunch had let Bruce
| have nearly all his ready money, so that
| he lacked a large part Of the 800, but he
| was determined to have the ring within
| a week or two. He was walking slowly
| down the street when he met Jim Bart
| lett.
Hello. Hunch."
''Hello, jim"
Say. come into Herye's minute. I want
| to see you. rs-"E .t-
| When they were seated at one Of the
| round tables Jim said:
| II s'pose 1t amt none Of my business.
Hunch, but when you've known a fellow
/ all your life you can't help being kind of
interested. 1 knew you was sort OF look
| ing after Bruce Consdine once in while.
| 1 know he used to work for you. and 1t
| seemed to me lately that ne 8 getung i-t-
| tie off the track.
sWhat's the matter? What's Bruce
| done?"
| "Well. hear about 1t from two or three
| places. You know Billy Riggs folks live
| next door to Bruce, and this morning Billy
came up to the lookout while 1 was on the
| watch and told me little about 1t. Billy 8
| always known Name Banks, you know. L
think he used to be kind of stuck on her."
what about IT."
BILLY says Bruce Is drinking right along
mot jagged you know. but kind OF ugly:
| him hit Name last night weren't none
of her business, of course. She heard 'em
| talking and was looking through the win
dow. Going on down the street,"
| mo" said Hunch, after silence, "1'n
| sit here awhile
"All right. So long, Hunch."
| Hunch did not work at all that after
noon. He went to the docks and watched
| the men at work on the foundation OF the
! new grain elevator. Once he started back
| up town, thinking that he might find Bruce
at Herve's saloon. He got as far as me
| planning mill and stopped wondering what
| he could say to Bruce If he should meet
| him. Then he went back to the docks.
| After supper he walked rapidly out to the
| eastern limits of the town. where the pave
| nent ends and the yellow sand begins. He
| had forgotten about Jess and the dance.
He went back to Herve's and looked In at
| the door. Bruce was sitting at one of the
rear tables. playing poker with some of the
| elevator men, Hunch stepped back and
| stood outside the corner For the first
| time since he had known Bruce he felt like
| leaving him go to the bad. He wanted
/ to do something himself that would make
| Mame's life easier.
He suddenly turned and walked out to
| Bruce's house. He was excited when he
| knocked on the door. He heard some one
say ''Come in,' then he was inside the
| door with his hat in his hands Mamie was
| sitting by the cradle rocking 1t with her
| foot.
.How dye do, Mis- Considine? Is-Bruce
| home?"
mo: he's gone to the doctors. Won't
| you sit DOWN."
Thanks; / dunno. Bruce, he amt been
| very well lately, has he?"
'Why, yes"
| 81 heard he wasn't. been kind of wor-
| rfed about him. Say, it amt none of my
| business, but he was my man for good
| while, and If he amt doing the right thing
| by you. why, I want to know 1t, and I'll
learn him he can't cut no monkey shines"
Mamie had Stopped rocking and was