Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-12

with happiness, but this morning she
showed no traces Of sleeplessness. There
was an unwonted color on her little fair
face, and her blue eyes were like Jewels
under her dropping lids.
They were nearly through breakfast
when the door which led into the kitchen
was abruptly thrown open. and Aaron
stood there. In his hand he fourished
dramatically a great streaming mass Of
black Told you So" he observed. with
certain triumph. The others stared at
him.
..What on earth is THAR" asked Gordon.
THAT new horses tail; 1t comes off," re-
piled Aaron, with brevity. Then he chewed.
Comes off?"
Aaron nodded. still chewing.
Gordon rose from the table, saying
something under his breath.
THAT amt ALL" said Aaron, still with
an air Of sly triumph.
What else. for heavens sake?" cried
Gordon.
"WeH he cribs" replied Aaron. laconic-
ally. Then he chewed,
THAT was why he didn't want to take
the bride off?'
Aaron nodded.
Gordon stood staring for a second, then
he burst into a peal of laughter. Bless me
IL / ever got so regularly DONE" said he.
Say, Aaron, that was a smart chap. He
has talent, he has,
Aren't you going to try to find him?"
| asked James.
wen, we'll keep a LOOKOUT on the way TO
Wardville," said Gordon; land, Aaron, you
may as well put the chestnut in the old
buggy and drive Stanbridge way. and see II
you can get sight of him.
Hes had a half-hour's start" said Aaron
You might track a fox.s but you can't
him."
IT guess you are about right" said Cor
don. but we'll do all we can. However, I
It's good chance. : ri drive the new
horse to Wardvilie. Aaron, you just tie
that tail on again and fasten it up so as to
keep it out of the mud"
Aaron grinned. Coin to get even for
that white horse?
I'm going to try It."
Gordon was all interest. James regarded
him as he had done so many times before
with wonder. That such a man should have
such powers of assimilation astounded him.
He was actually as amused and interested
in being done, as he called 1t, and In trying
In his turn to wipe off some old score. as
any countryman. He seemed, to the young
man, to have little burrows like some des-
perate animal, into which he->could dive,
and be completely away from his enemies.
and even from himself, when he chose.
He hurriedly drank the remainder of his
coffee and was in his office getting his
medicine-case ready. James fingered. in
the hopes of getting word and a kiss from
Clemency. But the child the moment her
uncle went out, fed 1t was odd. She
wanted to stay and have a minute with
James alone more than she had ever want
cd anything, was Tor just that very
reason that she ran away
James felt hurt. At that time the mind
of girl, and its shy workings, were en-
tirely beyond his comprehension. He saw
no earthly reason why Clemency should
have avoided him. He followed Gordon with
rather downcaSt face into the office, and
began assisting him with his medicines
Gordon himself was too full of interest in
the horse trade to remark anything. At
times he chuckled to himself. Now and
then he would burst out anew in a great
peal of laughter. Hang 1t all! don't
like to be done any better than any other
man. but that little red-haired scamp was
clever and no mistake, he said showing
me that little sore. 1 believe he had san
papered the poor beast on purpose. He took
me in as neatly as l ever saw anything
done in my life Well, Eliot. you wait and
see me get even with Sam Tucker 1 have
been waiting my chance About two years
ago he worked me. and not half as cleverly
as this either He made me feel that /
was a fool The red haired one needed the
devil himself to get round him, and see
through his little game. Sam Tucker sold
me- or rather traded with me a veritab.e
fiend of a horse for an old mare. The
mare was old. but she had a lot of go in
her. and was sound, and the other. well
Sam had bought him for a song, because
nobody would drive him. and he had killed
two men. He was a white horse with ds
wicked an eye as you ever saw, and ears
always cooked for mischief, like the arcn
fiend's horns. Well, Sam, he made some
kind Of a dye, and he actually dyed that
animal beautiful chestnut and traded him
for my old mare. l even paid little to
boot. Well. next morning 1 sent Aaron
down to the store in soaking rain. and
the horse bolted at a white rock beside the
road. and the buggy was knocked into kin
ding wood. Aaron wasn't hurt. He al
ways comes out right side up. But when
he came leading that snorting, dancing
beast home. the chestnut dye was pretty
well off. and knew him in minute. Well.
he was shot. and I was my old mare and
some money out. I wasn't going to have
mems lives on my conscience. But this Is
another matter. Now I've got my chance