Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-09-07

was not we'll and it was so dashed hot.
Shove me those mortgages, a pen
copy will do
Il intend to work after hours to
make up for lost time 1 will be able
sponded quietly.
Tom Hamlin got up impatiently and
began moving about. He had a sneak
ing sensation of being somewhat in
awe of this silent, absolutely upright
assistant. 1t was after Office hours
and he was free to enjoy the drive he
had been longing for. She had a key.
But Hamlin lounged against the win
dow idly watching the swift fingers
flashing over the keys and fell to re-
viewing his dream again. So vivid had
it been that even now he could almost
feel the dashing of the spray. AS for
that other sensation-that slight pres
sure against his sleeve, it had been
with him ever since he awoke. Oh,
well dreams are fantastic things. Ham
lin looked for a long moment at the
clear-cut profile turned toward him
and then abruptly took down a book.
Were her eyes always like that, he
wondered, tired as though she had
looked upon death and the dreariness
of it? Was it over-work or some
thing worse than work? If she should
look in reality upon that glorious bit
of wild waters. would that jaded light
pass or would it deepen? Dash it all.
why couldn't he have dreamed a mo-
ment longer"
Excuse me. Is this correct?''
Hamlin's quick glance met the tired
eyes then dropped to paper on which
her pencil rested. There in his bold,
reckless hand her name smiled up at
him provokingfy. He caught the pen
ell from her and made a hurried cor
rection while dark flush warmed his
brow. He detested a mistake.
The ceaseless clicking began again
and Hamlin read on as though his life
depended upon the contents of the
book. Had he done that fool thing
more than once? AS fate would have
| it, scarcely ten minutes passed before
another sheet was at his elbow and
an inqufring pencil point rested ex-
asperatingly impassive upon. This
| time Hamlin made the correction with
dignity and added with a desperate
smile:
Please pass me the rest of those
sheets. I seem to be determined to
mortgage all you possess"
From time to time his pencil de-
scended with vicious dash and the
| dark red on his brow deepened. At
last, when he felt cooler, he showed
the sheets across to her and glanced
carelessly at the thin face bent over
the machine A moment later he was
standing in the hall waiting impa-
| tiently for his order.
Il wonder if she would die rather
than admit to me that she was hui
man being. This heat is killing her
| would be to take her by the shoulders
and put her out of the off1ce-'' Then
| his order came and he went back to
the mouth.
placing dewy glass at her elbow
Thank YOU
1T is so hot" he commented.
1T is indeed" she assented rather
absently.
Hamlin tried hard to think of some
| thing else. Her tea was vanishing
with a speed that bespoke more than
natural thirst
Like as not she has had fever on
her all the afternoon" he reflected.
Il had a pleasant dream last night, =
he remarked as she put aside her
glass.
'-Yes?" she returned politely.
.Dreamt we were standing on . clin
watching a storm at sea, the spray,
and all that 1t was delicious We
were standing together"