The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-07-20
CHAPTER xxI.-Continued.

and then something in the arden
gaze he bends upon her, causes Paul
inc to blush, the blood leaping to necl
and forehead instantly. Dick never
saw her look so distractingly lovely.
They have a good padre in the set
Element here, capable of doing his
duty; become my darling wife. Hea
ven knows I don't deserve you, Paul
inc, but you love me even as do you |;
have even gained your consent to
naming an early day. Let us be mar,
ried at the mine.
His daring proposal almost takes
her breath away.
Butt is so very sudden-we have
not known each other much more
than a month";" she gasps.
81 feel as though l had known you
for years-that life was nothing be-
fore you crossed my Faith. Our COM
paratively brief acquaintance Is no
valid objection, my dear girl"
With a wooer's determination he
pushes the question, and the woman
who celebrates is lost.
81 have no rousseau; l must make
preparations, for you know the ordi-
nary person only gets married once
in life time, and then it is an event
of considerable Importance" she Of
fers as last excuse, which Dick, see
ing victory near at hand, brushes
aside as mere bagatelle.
Hang the preparations-begging
| von,, ,,ordor NV dnar pau1ipo. hut
you understand that we are not like
| other people; we desire no show, and
yet our love will last to the grave. 1t
| will assist your cause, your power
| here, to have a husband, and the
man you have promised to wed will
| be only too delighted to assume the
position of husband and guardian. to
the dearest girl ON earth"
mot so loud. Oh, Dick, if they
should hear?"
What of til? he demands, stoutly.
No doubt honest Bob would only too
willingly drop into line and follow a
| good example. Promise me, Pauline"
What are the terms?" she asks, de-
murely.
Unconditional surrender. Let us
| be married to-morrow-it will be
| gala time at the mine. and I'm sure
all will rejoice with me. Do not say
no, l entreat you"
She loves him, and after all, what
essential difference does it make
whether she becomes his wife in
twenty hours or as many days? Be-
sides, as Dick has said the knowledge
that she has legal protector may
tend to calm the rage of the Senior
Lopez, and cause him to bring to
close his strategic movements for
gaining a possible control of the Ell
Dorado mine.
81 consent" she whispers shyly, but
loves ears are keen, and Dick hears;
his face shows the great pleasure he
feels, but the moment is hardly au-
spicious for what he would like to do,
so he simply squeezes her hand.
"Then tomorrow shall be a gala
day, if we get through the night" he
says.
You look for trouble?" she asks,
quickly.
well, it would be useless trying to
disguise the fact from you, Pauline,
useless and without reason, since you
are so brave, and have so deep an in
terest in the matter. We do expect |
trouble, for they are all here, bag and
baggage, from the greatest to the
east, even little Professor john"
She smiles at mention of the name,
and then her face becomes grave |
again, for she feels that the danger |
lowering over them is great.
Dick is asked many questions and
succeeds in giving quite succinct
account of how matters stand. They
are glad to have the assistance of the
brave men who came with them on
the trip, for, according to the way
things look they will need every hand
they can raise. .t
A woman looks at things in diff
ferent light from a man, and then
Pauline is enabled to offer suggestions
that strike Dick as something worth
and be consequently
makes a note of them in his memory.
He has grown rather uneasy while
talking, for the recapitulation of the
dangers attending their presence at
the mine has made him more than
ever alive to the emergency.
"You will pardon US. Pauline, II we
leave your agreeable company now.
There is no need of saying we tear
away, since you already
know the fact"
Go, and Heaven watch over you,
Dick. my darling" she murmurs, turn
ing away to hide the tears that spring
unbidden to her eyes.
Bob understands what is wanted
when his name is called. and that
the summons is one to danger. He does
not possess the same delicacy or BASH
fitness that prevents Dick from salut-
ing his lady love with farewell kiss.
but catching the inimitable Dora in
his arms, he gives her a sudden re-
sounding smack that rather aston
lshes the girl and brings out a small
scream.
"Oh, you wicked Bobl" she cries.
trying To hide her blushing face, while 4