The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-05-06


window sill was jar filled with bios
soming daffodils. They looked pretty
In the sunshine. Stafford was 30 en-
crossed In watching them that he did
not notice the girl standing at the half
opened door until the nurse had left
the room, and she came to the front
Of the bed and smiled down at him.
"Was it yesterday" asked Stafford.
She laughed.
"You have been bad, haven't you!
It was day before, day before, day be
fore yesterday Last Tuesday"
Stafford stared steadily up at her.
Last Tuesday! And he should have
turned in the interview by Wednesday,
so Curtis could hustle the Illustrations.
did you wire to New York
.sWe couldn't. We didn't know
where to wire. You're the Prince In
cog, you know. We don't know a
blessed thing about you. who you are
or where you came from. It's very in
teresting."
$50 it u.s." assented Stafford seri-
ously. MAY ask If Mr.. Houghton
has seen me?'
"Oh, yes. He came up the very
| first thing, and he thought you were
all right. We didn't want Raff1es,
you know. One must draw the line
somewhere But papa said you were
| all right, so we kept you. Otherwise
| he would have sent you to hospital
| and settled the damages with you
later. AS it is, you are here, and have
daffodils, and"
"No damages"
She laughed at him again.
"Oh, you might even collect dam
ages, in spite Of the daffOdils. What
shall tell papa you wantY'
"TeH him I want an interview" said
| Stafford, grimly And say, will you
please give me the pad and pencil in
the inside pocket Of my overcoat-no,
| the other Observation-Disclosures he
comes up?"
When Houghton entered he gave the
occupant of the bed quick, direct
look. The girl was behind him. Stafford
punched another pillow back of his
head and tried to sit up.
Keep STILL" said Houghton. "Grace
will take your notes for you. Is this
what you came after?'
Eyes. From the 'Record-News,' New
York" Stafford fumbled weakly to
get his old grip on the pencil 1--WE
want your view on the strike situation.
ole %r1
| and the subway followed them Tues
day morning. II the surface men go
out it will tie up the whole town.
Bixby heads the committee Of arbitra
ton, but they say you are back Of him
and won't arbitrate."
Houghton opened his mouth to speak
and shut it again, as he looked down
at the white, logged young face on
the pillows. When he left the room
half an hour later Stafford held eleven
pages of notes the girl had taken down
for him. 1t was the broadcast inter
view old Hought0n had ever given out
to any newspaper. Stafford smiled
lazily at the daffodils and thought first
OF what Curtis would say, and second,
Of how the sunlight had danced and
flickered around certain girls blonde
head, as she sat by the window taking
notes.
1t was six weeks before he left
Brakesmere. He had not noticed the
time. It had been February when he
had dropped over the stone wall. 1t
was April before he wired the Record
News he would be back at work Mon
day.
Houghton went himself to the sta
ton with him. The two men had
passed many comradely ten minutes
together during Staffcrd's GONZALES
cence, and it made things q little easter
for Stafford, as he told Of Grace and
the promise he held from her.
ITS all right, Tom," said Houghton.
Nothing to say at all. I've got six Of
them married, and they've married
everything from broker to a duke.
I am inclined to compliment Grace on
her choice. You ought to see the rest
OF them, especially the duke. He's
taxing me for damages yet. But about
that interview, you left out one Inn
portant feature. You wanted my views
on the strike situation, didn't you, and
you thought was holding Bixby back
on the arbitrat ion?''
well, weren't your" demanded STAFF
ford.
MY boy, that strike was arbitrated
and settled and called of the night
Grace ran you down with her auto.
But you can hold up your head in
town all the same. That was the only
interview. gave out. and it clinched
Bixby's stand. So I guess your dam
ages are about settled. eh?''
Stafford smiled, but ne was thinking
OF girl standing among the daffodils
in the garden, her face appraised to his.
Settled in full, for injuries re-
ceived." he said. Sun.