Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-01-03
The other smiled. ITS g mement,

an UNUSUAL impulse OF ut
erves to remind me that l am not ex-
empt-that | have been fooled like
other men"
That implies Il woman!'
eyes" Again Loder looked at the
scar on his finger. II seldom recall the
thing, it's so absolutely past. But 1
rather like to remember it tonight. l
rather want you to know that I've been
through the fire. It's a sort of guaran-
tee"
Chilcote made Il hasty gesture, but
the other interrupted it.
"Oh, I know you trust me. But you're
giving me a risky post. l want you to
see that women are out of my line
quite out Of it,"
"But, my dear chap
Loder went on without needing.
'"This thing happened eight years ago
at Santasalare,' he said, "a little place
between Luna and Pistoria-a mere
handful of houses wedged between two
hills; a regular relic of old Italy crum-
bling away under flowers and sunshine,
with nothing to suggest the present
century except the occasional passing
Of a train round the base of one of the
hills. l had literally stumbled Upon the
place on q long tramp south from
Switzerland and had been tempted into
a stay at the little inn. The night after
my arrival something unusual occur
red. There was an accident to the
train at the point where it skirted the
village.
There was a small excitement. All
the inhabitants were anxious to help,
and l took my share. AS a matter of
fact, the smash was not disastrous;
the passengers were hurt and fright
ened, but nobody was killed."
He paused and looked at his compan-
ion; but, seeing him interested, went
on.
Among these passengers was an
English lady. OF all concerned in the
business. she was the least upset. When
I came upon her she was sitting on the
shattered door of one of the carriages
calmly arranging her hat. On seeing
me she looked up with the most charm
ing smile imaginable.
~ have just been waiting for some
body like you,' she said. My stupid
maid has got herself smashed up some-
where in the second class carriages.
and l have nobody to help me find my
dog
"Of course, that first speech ought to
have enlightened me, but it didn't. l
only saw the smile and heard the voice.
l knew nothing Of whether they We're
deep or shallow. So I found the maid
and found the dog. The first expressed
gratitude, the other didn't. l extricat-
ed him with enormous difficulty from
the wreck OF the luggage van, and this
was how he marked his appreciation"
He held u his hand and nodded to-
ward the seal.
Chilcote glanced up. 80 that's the
explanations
Eyes. l tried to conceal the thing
when l restored the dog, but l was
bleeding abominably and l failed.
Then the whole business was changed.
1t was l who needed seeing to, my new
friend insisted: | who should be looked
after and not she. She forgot the dog
in the newer interest of my wounded
finger. The maid. who was practically
unhurt, was sent on to engage ooms at
the little inn. and she and | followed
slowly.
THAT walk impressed me. There was
an attractive mistiness of atmosphere
in the warm night. a sensation more
han attractive in being made much of
by q woman of ones own class and
country after five years w%anderiMg.'
He laughed with a touch of irony.
but | won't take up your time With
details. You know the progress of an
ordinary love affair. Throw in a few
more flowers and a little more sunshine
than is usual. a man who is practically
q hermit and 4 woman who knows the
world by heart and you have the whole
thing.
she insisted on staying in Santasa-
lare for three days in order to keep my
finger b%andaged. She ended by staying
three weeks in the hope of smashing up
my life.
ION coming to the hotel she had Civ
en- no name, and in our first explana-
lions to each other she led me to con-
clude her an unmarried girl. 1t was at
b end of the three weeks that I learn
ed that she was not a free agent. as
had innocently imagined, but possessed
a husband whom she had left i'll with
malaria at Florence or Rome.
1.-THE news disconnected me, and |
took no pains to hide it. After that the
end came abruptly. In her eyes l had
become q fool with middle class prin-
ciples; in my eyes But there is no
need for that. She left Santasalare the
same night in a great confusion of
trunks and hatboxes, and next morning
l strapped on my knapsack and turned
my face to the SOUTH"
And women don't count ever after?,
Chilcote smiled, beguiled out OF him
self.
Loder laughed. That's what I've
beer trying to convey. Once bitten,
twice shyw He laughed again and
slipped the two rings over his finger
with an air of fnals+v