Evening star., 1900-09-29


eyes. you was. r saw It." He laughed
and started to open the drawer, but she
stood against II.
Please don't lookx'
Don't you tell me all your secrets?
"Oh, well, look If 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 witA this?" he asked.
What are you afraid off,
Nothing Sometimes think it's kind OF
fun to pick out theshouses I'd iike-just for
what one do yon like?'
"Oh, / don't know. IWas 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. Hunch
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 we'd
never get married. And you-you never
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 he had
been drifting steadily further from the
thought of it. And I'd thought mybe
you'd speak about it and we'd talk about a
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 a long time
why didn't you say something? On,
John. it isn't true. Is it? You do love me,
John?"
mo" said Hunch, sit ain't true. Wen
be married just as soon as you're ready,
Jess"
She didn't look up for long time. When
she did her eyes were still wet.
Don't you think II 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-dont you laugh, John. it amt
funny. It's mean. It's what somebody
said. She said if a man really loves a girl
he gives her something, so folks IL know
like a ring, or something" She laughed
nervously. "And I just told her that
wasn't engaged on her account, and If she
thought l ought to wear ring she needn't
look at me, that's all. She was awful
mad"
"Now, don't you be cross. I don't want
a ring John. anyway. until-well, until
we're married. 1t don't mean anything
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 a little, and kissed her.
Then he walked slowly down the street.
At mon on the following day Hunch went
into the jewelry store near the post office
and looked at rings. There was one large
ring with two diamonds set in a 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 1t by for me?"
Take it right along, Mr.. Badeau
There's no hurry about the money"
NO" said Hunch. Il won't take 1T un-
I'll can pay for it,"
"All right, Mr.. Badeau. We'll put it 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 SD, 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 Heryes minute. want
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 3 fellow w
| all your life you can't help being kind of
| interested. / knew you was sort or look
ing after Bruce Considine once In while.
| l know he used TO work for you. and 1t
! seemed to me Lately that mes getung d -
| tie off the track"
whats the matter? What's Bruce
done?"
places. You know Billy Riggs folks live
| next door to Bruce, and this morning Billy
| came up to the lookout while was on the
watch and told me a little about 1t. Billy
| 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
not jagged, you know, but kind OF ugly.
| And he says his little sister says she saw
him hit Name last night weren't none
| Of her business, Of course. She heard EN-
talking and was looking through the win
| dow Going on down the street?''
mo" said Hunch. after silence, "1'll
| sit here awhile"
"AI 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 Herves saloon. He got as far as the
!
| he could say to Bruce II 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 on 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
| Mamie's life easier.
| He suddenly turned and walked out to
| Bruces 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
| homer"
mo: he's gone to the doctors. Won't
| you sit down?'
Thanks: l dunno. Bruce, he amt been
very well lately, has hep
| 'Why, yes
| 81 heard he wasn't 1 been kind Of wor-
| ried about him. Say, 1t amt none of my
! business. but he 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"
| boa cfop rockinu wa