CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1905-08-31


yond the rim of light rays from the arc
lamp. Twill you be kind enough to re-
turn 1t to me?"
"The devilr' calculated Dorton under
his breath. starting guilty and drop
ping the unIucky skate to the ground
1t fell Gathering under the bench, and
the doctor dived after It with ostenta-
tious haste.
You fool- he swore in Dorton's un-
comfortable ear as he went down on
all fours in his quest. "And this was
our only chance-first woman's voice
that's ever addressed US since we came
west We might have scraped an ac-
quaintance, but now you've made
mess Of IT."
Bigger fool you," Dorton rejoined
fiercely, humping heads with his col
league as he. too. stopped to recover
the bone OF contention, hoping In some
measure 20 retrieve himself In the eyes
of the invisible unknown. shes not
that sort at all. I can tell. by her
voice"
well. even nice girls sometimes un-
der such circumstances"- began Mel
ford in an injured tone. but Dorton
cut him short, having found the skate
and held II out toward the voice In
question. But the young woman be-
longing TO II made no move to recover
her property. remaining obdurately in
the friendly darkness
''will you be so good as to bring IL
to me?" Her tone was as siivery and
distant as the strains from the band
80 a - 10. Lab
1--WE got 10 see her face" thought
the big fellow to himself. "and gain
time to square myself somehow"
He took step forward and suddenly
measured his full length al her ma
ligned feet. with the skate still clutch
ed In his hand.
My ankle" he moaned when she
bent over him. all womanly solicltude.
her momentary piaue gone Only anx-
ity and pity were visible in her lovely
sace-quite the ioveliest he had ever
seen. Dorton thought. as he closed his
eyes.
"oh. I'm afraid he's tainted He's
hurt. and it's my fault-' cried the girl.
tearing of her mittens to rub snow on
the cheeks that looked so pale In the
white light Can't you do something
for him! He wouldn't have been hurt
II II hadn't been for my skater she
quavered. feeling in some way to
blame please go for n doctor"
Il am a doctors recent arrival in
the city," replied Melford. III we could
get him somewhere and cut his shoe OF
and bandaec his foot
Yes. yes" put in the girl eagerly.
call a cab aud take him TO my home
Its Just around the lake yonder"
Janet Tuttie. where are your We've
been looking for you-snd your skate
everywhere Did you find itT''
The girl was still explaining. amid
furious bushes. to her friends who had
gathered In a curious circle around her.
when. TO her relief. the doctor ap-
preached and announced that a cab
man was waiting.
With the help OF Ianets brother. who
was in the party. Meiford got his dis
abied chuIn into the carriage. Janet
gave the drivsr her address and seated
herself with q sort OF defiant shyness.
At the door OF the big house where
they drew up her mother greeted. with
CONSERVATION. her early appearance
18th two strange men. but this quickly
rrned to motheriy concern when sss
beard Of the accident. She hnstened to
supply Iiniment and bandages and how
cred uutside the closed door Of the
wide. old fashioned bedroom WHITTIER
the injured man had been conducted
and waited anxiously with Janet while
the doctor attended to the injured an
kle.
Now. doc. do be careful" they
heard Dorton groan as the door closed.
but they could not hear the rather Curl
gus dialogue which began a moment
later. Mclford got up from his task
and faced his friend with accusing
eyes.
Paul! You aren't really hurt at all.
SAY. what's your game anyway And
he glarcd at his pseudo patient. who
sat in state. propped in pillows. That
young mans audacious gray eyes
closed gently. while an ingenious smile
wreathcd his smooth countenanee.
ssh. he said. 'IIi tell you my game
the old. old game of hearts, and
you've got TO help me. NUNS the
word. There was no other way. oh.
don't look 80 savagei mean business" !"
And the level lips spelled grim deter
mination as they also closed firmly.
"You don't mean you want to marry
a girl you've never seen In your life
before tonirhtf"
That's exactly what do mean" re
turned the other gcnially. III she'll
have me-"
"weii. I'll be-hangedl' calculated
Melford, dazed.
"No. you won't-at least hope not
but that blessed sknte will be. and that
In the most conspicuous place on our
library wall. I said our. Did you