Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-02-27


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 napc of the neck and one
wrist and ierked 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 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 it herself
she had a right to-"
There was Il slight whimsical droop
at the corner of his mouth as he
spoke. which might have been thought
characteristic of him. He was an otd
looking boy, not ill made, though very
thin and not tall. His pallor was
clear and even, as though constitution
al; the features We're delicate, almost
childlike. but they We're very slightly
distorted, through nervous habit. to
an expression at once wistful and hu-
morous; one eyebrow was shade
higher than the other, one side of the
mouth slightly drawn down; the eye
lids twitched little, habitlally; the
line, blue eyes themselves were almost
comically reproachful-the look of
PUPPY who thinks you would not have
beaten him If you had known what
was in his heart. All of this was in
the quality of his voice. too, us he
said to his invisible captor, with an
air of detachment from any personal
feeling:
What peculiar shoes you wear.
don't think ! ever felt any SO pointed
before"
The rescuing knight took no thought
of Offering to help the prosecuted
damsel to arise; instead he frightened
his grip upon the prisoners neck un.
til, perforce, water-not tears-started
from the latter's eyes.
You miserable little muff!' said the
conqueror. "What the devil do Won
mean making this scene on our front
lawn?
"Why, It's Eugenev exclaimed the
helpless one. "They didn't expect you
till tonight. When did you get IMP
"Just in time to give you lesson
my buck" replied Bantry grimly. "In
good time for that, my playful step
brother"
he began to twist the others wrist.
a 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 tEe 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 reeling, so
great was the surprise and shock Of it.
1t was not slap, not an open handed
push-nothing like it-but fierce, well
delivered blow from clinched fist
with the shoulder behind it, and 1t
was the girl who had given IT.
"Don't you dare to touch Joe! she
cried passiOnately. Don't you lay
finger on him!'
Furious and red, he staggered round
to look at her.
you wretched little wildcat, what
do yon mean by that" he broke out.
Don't you touch joel" she painted.
Don't YOU Her breath caught and
there WAS u break in her voice as she
faced him. She could not finish the
repetition of that cry, Don't you
touch Joel"
But there was 10 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
it.
Garry that into the house." he said
inditferently 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, lie pro-
duced with deliberation a fiat silver
box from a pocket. took therefrom
cigarette, replaced the box, extracted
Il smaller silver box from another pock-
ct. shook out of it n fusee, slowly lit
the cigarette-this in splendid ST.
lence, which he finally broke to say
languidly, but with particular distinct
ness:
ariel Tabor. 90 home!"
The girls teeth stopped chattering,
her lips remaining parted; she shook
the hair out of her eyes and stared at
him as If she did not understand, but
Joe Louden, who had picked up the
banjo case obedently, burst into
cheerful laughter.
THAT'S ii, Gene" he cried gayly.
"That's the way to talk to her."
STOW it, YOU young cub" replied
Eugene, not turning to him. do you
think I'm trying TO be amusing?"
II don't know what you mean by
stow it," Joe began, "but if
Il mean" interrupted the other, not
relaxing his family smiling stare at
the girl-"I mean that Ariel Tabor is