Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-28
CHAPTER v1-(continued3

jerks spoke Will 4uleI OAltCA uSo'.
The girls words had evoked sudden
flood Of recollection. For the moment
he did not notice how he had been
trapped into speaking of himself, nor
did he see the quiet content on Iris
face when she ELECTED the information
that his chief foe was man. A GER
tain tremulous hesltancy in her man
ner when she next spoke might have
warned him, but his hungry soul
caught only the warm sympathy of her
words, which fell like rain on parched
soil.
"You are tired" she said. won't
you smoke for a little while and talk
to meY'
He produced his pipe and tobacco.
'"That is first rate pipe" she de
clared. "My father always said that a
straight stem, with the bowl at right
angle, was the correct shape. You evil
IDENTIFY agree with him."
Absolutely"
"YU will like my father when you
meet him. He is the very best man
alive, am sure"
"You two are great friends, then?"
"Great friends! He is the only friend
possess in the world"
"What! Is that quite accurate?
"Oh, quite OF course, Mr. jerks, !
can never forget how much ! owe to
you. l like you immensely, too, al
though you are $3.50 gruff to me at
times. But-but-you see, my father
and l have always been together. l
have neither brother nor sister, not
even cousin. Ny dear mother died
from some horrid fever when was
quite little girl. Ny father is every
thing to me-"
"Dear child!' he murmured, appar-
emily uttering his thoughts aloud rath-
or than addressing her directly. $50
you md me gru6. eh?"
"A regular bear when you lecture me.
But that is only occasionally. You can
be very nice when you like, when you
forget your past troubles. And pray,
why do you Gull me child?'
'Have I done so?"
.Not a moment ago. How old are
YOU. Mr.. jerks? I am twenty-twenty
last December"
"And l." he said, twill be twenty
eight in August"
"Good gracious!" she gasped. II am
very sorry, but really thought you
were forty Mt le0St0
II look it, no doubt. Let me be equal
" candid and admit that you, too,
show your age markedly
She smiled nervously. what lot
of trouble you must have had toto
to give you those little wrinkles in the
corners Of your mouth and eyes" she
said.
wrinkles! How terrible!'
II don't know. / think they rather
suit you. Besides, 1t was stupid Of me
to imagine you were SO old. suppose
exposure to the sun creates wrinkles,
and you must have lived much in the
open air"
early rising and late going to bed
are bad for the complexion" he de-
clared solemnly.
II often wonder how army officers
manage to exist" she said. 'They
never seem to get enough sleep, in the
east at any rate"
$50 you assume l have been in the
army"
II am quite sure Of it."
'May l ask whyw
"Your manner, your voice, your quiet
air Of authority, the very way you
walk, all betray you"
''Then," he said sadly, II will not at
tempt to deny the fact. / held COM
mission in the Indian staff corps for
nine years. It was hobby Of mine,
Miss Deane, to make myself acquaint-
ed with the best means Of victualing
my men and keeping them In good
health under all sorts Of fanciful con-
ditions and IN every kind Of climate,
especially under circumstances when
ordinary stores were not available.
With that object in view read up
every possible country lin which my
regiment might be engaged, learned
the local names Of common articles Of
food and ascertalned particularly what
provision nature made to sustain life.
The study interested me. Once, dur
ing the Sudan campaign. 1t was really
useful and procured me promotion"
"Tell me about II"
During some operations in the desert
It was necessary for my troop to fol-
low up small party Of rebels mounted
on camels, which, as you probably
know, can 60 without water much long
er than horses. We were almost with
In striking distance when our horses
completely gave out, but luckily no
ticed indications which showed that
there was water beneath portion of
the plain much below the general level.
Half an hours spade work proved that
was right. We took up the pursuit
again and ran the quarry to earth, and
got my oaptaincy."
"Was there no fightY
He paused an appreciate time be
fore replying. Then he evidently made
UP his mind to perform some disagree
able task. The watching girl could
see the change in his face, the sharp
transition from eager interest to angry
resentment.
Eyes" he went on at last, "there was
a fight. 1t was rather sti6 affair, be
cause q troop Of British cavalry which
should have supported me had turned
back owing to the want OF water al.