Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-28
Bv BOOTH HARRINGTON,
Author Of "cherry" Monsieur Beauca re," Etc.

thrown heavily upon her back IN such
a turmoil of snow that she seemed to
be the mere nucleus OF white comet.
She struggled to get up. plying knee
and elbow with very anguish OF de-
termination, but her opponent held her,
pinioned both her wrists with one hand
and with the other rubbed great hand
fuls Of snow into her face. sparing nei-
ther mouth nor eyes.
You will.' he cried. you will tear
up my pictures! A dirty trick, and you
get washed for it,
Half suffocated, choking. gasping,
she still fought on, squirming and
kicking with such spirit that the pair
Of them appeared to the beholder like
figures of mist writhing in fountain
OF snow
More violence was to mar the peace
Of morning Unexpectedly attacked
from the rear, the conqueror was seiz-
ed by the nape Of the neck and one
wrist and jerked to his feet, stimuli
taneously receiving succession of
kicks from his assailant. Prompted
by an entirely natural curiosity, he es-
sayed to turn his head to see who
this might be. but a twist of his fore
arm and the pressure of strong fingers
under his ear constrained him to re-
main as he was, therefore, abandoning
resistance and, oddly enough, accept
ing without comment the indication
that his captor desired to remain for
the moment incognito, he resorted
calmly to explanations.
"She tore up a picture of mine," he
said, receiving the punishment with
out apparent emotion. "She seemed to
think because she'd drawn 1t herself
she had right to-"
There was slight whimsical droop
at the corner of his mouth as he
spoke, which might have been thought
characteristic Of him. He was an odd
looking boy. not Ill made, though very
thin and not tall. His pallor was
clear and even. as though constitution
al; the features were delicate, almost
ehildlike, but they were very slightly
distorted, through nervous habit, to
an expression at once wistful and hui
morous: one eyebrow was shade
higher than the other, one side of the
mouth slightly drawn down; the eye
lids twitched a little, habitually; the
fine, blue eyes themselves were almost
comically reproachful-the look Of
puppy who thinks you would not have
beaten him IL you had known what
was In his heart. All Of this was in
the quality OF his voice, too, as he
said to his invisible captor, with an
air of detachment from any personal
feeling:
"What peculiar shoes you wear! I
don't think ever felt any SO pointed
before
Of Offering to help the prosecuted
damsel to arise; instead he frightened
his grip upon the prisoners neck I'M
til, perforce, water-not tears-started
from the latter's eyes.
"You miserable little MUIR said the
conqueror. What the devil do you
mean making this scene on our front
lawnY
"Why, it's Eugene! exclaimed the
helpless one. ''They didn't expect you
till tonight. When did you get in?'
"Just In time to give you lesson.
my buck" replied Bantry grimly. Gin
good time for that, my playful STEP
brother"
He began to twist the others wrist,
q treatment of bone and ligament in
the application Of which schoolboys
and even freshmen are often adept.
Eugene made the torture acute and
was apparently enjoying the work
when suddenly, without any manner
Of warning, he received an astounding
blow upon the left ear, which half
stunned him for the moment and sent
his hat flying and himself Keeling, SO
great was the surprise and shock Of 1t.
1t was not slap, not an open handed
push-nothing like it-but 2 fierce, we'll
delivered blow from clinched fist
with the shoulder behind 1t, and it
was the girl who had given 1t.
"Don't you dare to touch Joel" she
cried passionately. "Don't you lay
finger on himy'
Furious and red, he staggered round
to look at her.
"You wretched little wildcat. what
do you mean by that?" he broke out.
Don't you touch Joe! she painted.
"Don't you Her breath caught and
there was break in her voice as she
faced him. She could not finish the
repetition of that cry, "Don't you
touch Joe!'
But there was no break in the spirit.
that passion of protection which had
dealt the blow. Both boys looked at
her, somewhat aghast.
Eugene recovered himself. He swung
round upon his heel, restored his hat to
his head with precision, picked up his
stick and touched his banjo case with
1t.
"Carry that into the house." he said
indifferently to his stepbrother.
Don't you do it!' said the girl hotly
between her chattering teeth.
Eugene turned toward her, wearing
the sharp edge Of smile. Not re-
moving his eyes from her face, he pro
duced with elaboration fat silver
box from pocket, took therefrom
cigarette, replaced the box. extracted
q smaller silver box from another pock-
ct, shook out Of 1t fusee. slowly lit
the cigarette-this in splendid 81
,.,.a shiloh hA f3nallv broke to say