The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-17

icon .tinued From Last sunday.)

icon tinued From Last Sunday.)
His b and upon her arm, une look d
oad Jus given her, his air of assumes
propriei .orship-above all, that new
and WI lgar something in his manner
as If be real soul Of the man wa
showing for the first time-flled he
with disgust.
She did not speak again until thel
reached the gate. Then she said, with
out locking at him, Good night"
He put his hand over hers on th'
latch. "Oh, say" he exclaimed, witt
laugh, this isn't square deal
Gus. Aren't you goin' to ask me inY
She tried to snatch her hand away
but he held 1t fast and, leaning across
the gate, threw his arm about hel
waist and drew her toward him.
.'There~ he cried exultantly. This
rs more like it. This is more like
friends. Give US a kiss. You're too
high and mighty to be the prettiest
girl on the Cape"
stood painting. "Oh," she whispered
with shudder, as she realized the
truth-"oh, you've been drinkingv'
d6 lduRucu IOOiSuly duO BIZ uSkCu
his shoulders. ooh, what's one glass
between friends?" he said. Il stopped
into Webs a minute, and he set 'em
up. First drink I've had since I left
New York. Thought you was too SEN
sible to have blue ribbon notions.
Come; be more sociable, that's good
girl"
She was afraid Of him now-not
afraid Of physical violence, but as she
would have feared the contact with
something loathsome and unclean. A
sense Of utter loneliness came over her.
She longed for protection and help.
She thought Of Bradley. He would
have helped her. She could have trust
ed him. But she had driven him out
OF her life. and this fellow
"Gor' she cried. "Go!'
Sam ceased to smile Other girls
had told him to go, but never in that
way or with such quivering scorn. He
began to realize that this was the end
Of his game. He had lost the prize.
But he made one more effort.
"Oh. say" he cried. don't get mad,
Gus. I was only fooling. Don't be
such an old maid. Come here"
She turned on her heel and, without
replying. walked toward the house.
Hammond swore between his teeth.
opened the gate, took one step in her
direction and then stopped. He laugh
ed short, ugly laugh and nodded.
"You mean it, do you?" he asked
"Want me to clear out, hey? Well. /
don't you fool yourself that / don't
know what ails you. You can't come
the high moral game on me, my lady.
You're whining after that sneaking
Sunday school kid, Brad Nickersou,
the fellow that didn't care enough
about you to lift his hand, but stood
still and let me walk Off with his girl
as if she was as common as dish
water. The whole town thinks you're
going to marry me. Whatll they say
when l show 'em I'm done with your
He laughed again and put his hands In
his pockets. Z
I'm going" he said. "I'm going all
right You go to bed and dream about
Brad. Dreams come true sometimes,
they say. Maybe I'll dream about him
too"
He pulled his hat over his eyes and
walked rapidly away. Gus watched
him go. Then she went into the house.
threw herself into a chair beside the
able and laid her head upon her arms.
Sam plunged straight on through the
mud and wet grass until he reached
the back door of the billiard room.
Web Saunders came hurrying to see
who it was that had knocked; only the
tried and true were admitted at that
door.
Hello, SAM he exclaimed, with
ook of relief. "Why, what's the mat
ter?"
Nothing" replied Hammond gruffiy.
Where's that jug of yours, Web? I'm
lying for another drink"
After cautioning his visitor against
speaking so loud Mr.. Saunders indicat-
ID the whereabouts of the jug. Sam
poured out a liberal dose of the viii
ainous cheap whisky and drank 1t
forthwith. Then he poured out an
,ther.
He refused to go home that night,
Ind Web put him to bed upon one of
he settees in the little back room.
And in that back room he stayed
Iuently, in spite of his friends pro-
ests. and growing more ugly with ev
,ry drink.
That next day, Friday, was wet and
oggy. with occasional cold showers,
tut there was no wind worth men
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