The Delta independent., 1907-01-18

on tne poTcH alteT supper, ana drew
chair close to where the supern-
tendent of the Apple-Dumpling mine
was incoming.
Did them strikers raise any rum
pls to-day?" she inquired.
Grafton shook his head. "Stan-
wood was with the committee all af-
ternoon," he said; they've compro-
missed their differences. and the men
come back to work tomorrow. OF
course few sore-heads are hanging
off, but we can get along without
them. Our five-day strike is done
with"
You don't look none too cheerful -
Mrs. Cree hinted.
Grafton shrugged his shoulders.
The mines not worrying me-" he
said shortly. The owners presence
Strengthened out the muddle."
And don't you think his daughter
Cree innocently inquired.
Grafton shot a suspicious glance at
her. She mapped out her father 5
speeches. l suppose" he grunted.
The landlady chuckled as she set
tlet herself more comfortably In her
chair; and though 1t was chuckle
| of amusement there seemed to run
an under chord of sympathy through
it.
She's up there in her bedroom
now" Mrs. Cree said, "a-sewing by
her window, and alooking out over
the hills. Seems kind of down In the
mouth and dispirited. poor thing. like
as II the hills wasn't as pretty this
year as last. Why. last summer when
she was here, she was just like a
kitten. playing all over everything.
and not giving a gracious what she
did or how she did it. You and her
was always trottiLg up the cricks and
over the rocks-don't you remember?
And this summer she don't even say
how-de-do hardly, especially to you.
Mrs. Cree paused moment. You
was down at her home in Denver last
winter. wasn't you?" she broadly
limited.
She is a girl of moods" Grafton
said shortly.
But sech moods amt natural. Jim.
mie."
The strike worried her." Grafton
stood up.
Now, you set down again." Mrs.
Cree said with sharp decisiyeness.
The young superintendent meekly
obeyed
You've been boarding with me
going on six years" Mrs. Cree re.
sumed, and I've got a sort OF hearty
feeling for you. Jimmie. And Madge
Stanwood's been stopping with me a
few weeks every summer. going on
six years. too. I've seen her growing
up, just as you have. and I've sem all
along just what you was calculating
for later on. That later on came this
winter. dawn IN the city, didn't It?
With unpleasant results?"
Grafton made wry face. oh.
what's the use?" he said. irritabIy.
Talking about 1t won't mend u,lt.
ters. She turned me down. hard.
But what's the use of threshing out
chafr? She dislikes me. and that s
the cold fact"
III she thought 1t was ended" Mrs.
Cree said sagely, shed be down here
on the veranda right now. and Id "a
seen her dimples all day, stead of
them white cheeks. 1t amt ended.
Jimmie"
Grafton grunted again.
"Oh. you men are aggravatin'."
Mrs. Cree cried In exasperatiob. You
can't tell body anything Well,
don't! 1t amt any OF my affairs"
But"
There. trot along down town and
see II you cant absorb a little life. II
you come back in an hour. I'll try to
huve her out here. settin' In the twi.
light and pertending she amt wait.
ing for you
Grafton obediently started down the
steps. but he hesitated an instant end
returned.
1T was when I visited them last
winter" he said quickly. There was
another fellow. l lost my head,
guess. didn't manage rightly. He
cut me out. somehow. and got the
sore-head. She's nothing bat a
nirt"
He turned and savagely strobe to
ward the gaze. but Mrs. Crce's benev
olent chuckle followed him with
something like mockery.
He was agitated and dIstraught
and his unpleasant reverie closed In
upon him, shutting out the struggling
mining town from his vision, 80 that
he neither saw nor cared where his
steps led him. Some one hailed him
from over the way. and he crossed
the street.
THAT you. Mr.. Stanwood7" he in
Guired. We'll. l won't have any
more trouble In the Apple.Dunpling
That's a cinch."
Stanwoods thin. nervous face bore
n worried expression. II don't know,