Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-05

"0h don't shoot me, grandfather; put away
your pistol, pleased Oh, OH"
What have you done with them? Give them
back to me-"
"They are. in the boat-house."
"Im glad TO hear IT, Why did you take them q
Desire fell to whimpering again. 'They looked
so pretty; meant to put them back, grandfath-
er, really did" Cressingham devoutly thanked
Providence that he was not the only thief.
'Hs, hal OF course Little swine, they look
ed pretty did they7 One might take you for
grill" It would be impossible adequately to de
scribe by words the fendish and malicious sneer-
ing Of his voice.
But Desire was stung by it to recklessness.
"You know I am grill" she flashed hotly.
'In-deedY
eyes, and you can't deceive me any longer.
am girl, and I shall he treated a girl. I am
going to make mother dress me like girl, and
won't be beaten any more. If you touch me
again. shall kill myself, and then you can build
your engines without me-"
The Count spoke again after a moments in
tense silence, but his voice had grown quite soft
and almost caressng. 'Who was it put this
business into your head, Desire2"
"No one"
Don't lie to mel'
"I'm not lying I-I-mother told me last
night"
"My sweet pet, 80 the secret is out, is it? Yes,
you are a girl, Desire!"
"I knew it."
"I suppose YOU wonder why I've made you act
the boy these years, eh?
"Ill never forgive you for it, grandfather, new
er!"
Bah wait till you are asked"
"Why did you do it?' demanded Desire.
"Ah. bahl women are all cursed, hateful crea-
lures like you lazy pigs and brainless as blocks
of wood"
"But you like mother grandfather"
"She is little better than the rest, and has
learned to do what she is bidden."
"Why do you hate much? I have al
ways done what you have told me to do"
"Pschutl You could not understand if I were
to tell you"
"I'm not the fool you pretend to think me, you
know | am not"
"That touched you, did it? Ha, ha! Well,
Desire, 1 wanted your mother to be boy; put
up with the Disappointment | received on that
occasion. hoping that she in time might give
birth to a son. When you came it was too much!
/ have always wondered since why | didn't kill
Avou on the spot. But you give me too much
credit never wanted you to be dressed up like
that; it was your mother She turned you into
boy to spare my feelings I suppose, perhaps
because she thought the device might save her
cubs life. 1t is possible she was right. At any
rate, if you are offended you must blame your
mother for it."
"My mother!" The two words we're uttered
with such depth of wonder and affection that
Crossing CHAM was thrilled to hear Them and wish
ed ardently that he might see Desires face, but
he dared not move, he dared hardly breathe for
he knew the Count was armed, and that once he
guessed the presence of enemy his life would
be forfeited on the instant
"Yes your mother!" said the Count. "But
come we waste time here. Sapristi! Ha, ha hal"
He gave vent to grim cynical chuckle. ''I have
lost my servant now | suppose. Well, leave the
things there, they not of any consequence 4
And see here, Desire I don't beat you again; you
shall be treated henceforward as woman, but
on one condition, girl"
"What is that?
"That you finish those engines for me. Ssh,
not so fast think before you speak, and under
stand if you refuse your hours numbered
I'll not be baked for nothing by a whining girl
"1'll do them, grandfather, but want to dress
like woman.
"See your mother about that l don't care,
though I'd prefer you to continue as you are.
Come on now and get the jewels at once.
Damnation, here's half a morning wasted and
not a thing DONE All, the lazy swine that
women are!"
His voice became gradually thinner and faint
er,. and Cressingham realized that he was being
abandoned in the cavern without lamp and
without chance of escape from his position, as
Desire had surrendered to the Count her key of
the tunnel door, and he knew that he could never
find his way through the of passages toI
the other exit without assistance, for his store Of
matches almost gone.