The Irish standard., 1908-02-08

the sake of the two white faced girls
who sat there in his stiff Office chairs.
You are an old duffer. Paul" he
said. in pretended annoyance. You
treat me like child. won't stand
it always. You'll see. Some day I'll
arebel-and-then-"
Meanwhile, I'll just trot these
ladies back to the hotel" said Lang.
ford. But you must promise to keep
your head inside. We're fixtures until
We have that promise"
What, lock me up and run of with
all the ladies! guess not! Why
didn't we round up that way, I'd like
to know? This isn't Utah. Paul. You
can't have BOTH"
Paul meant for him to lie low, then.
He was also in hurry to get the girls
away. Evidently the danger lay here.
There was Tightening of the firm
mouth and an ominous contraction Of
the pupils of the eyes. He stirred the
fire. then jammed huge, knotted
stick into the sheet-iron stove It
seemed as If everybody had sheet.iron
stoves in this country. The log caught
with pleasant roar as the draught
sent flames leaping up the chimney,
But Paul made no movement to 20.
Then he, Gordon, had not understood
his friend. Maybe the menace was
not here, but outside. II so, he must
contrive to keep his guests interested
here. He would leave the lead to
Paul. Paul knew. He went back to
his living-room and returned, bringing
two heavy buggy robes.
"You will find my bachelor way Of
living very primitive" he said, with
his engaging smile. He arranged the
robes over two of the chairs and
pushed them close up to the stove.
Il haven't an easy chair in the house
prove it by Paul, here. Haven't
time to rock, and can't afford to run
the risk of cultivating slothful habits.
Take these, do," he urged, "and re.
move your coats"
Thank you-you are very kind"
said Louise. "No, won't take of my
jacket" spot of color staining her
cheek when she thought of her gay
kimono. Involuntarily. she felt Of her
throat to make sure the muffler had
not blown awry. eve shall be going
soon, shan't we, Mr.. Langford? II
Mr.. Gordon is in any danger, you must
stay with him and let us 20 alone. It
is not far"
Surely" said Mary. with big sink
ing of the heart, but meaning what
she said.
mot at ALL" said Gordon, decidedly.
"1t's just his womanish way of boss.
ing me. I'll rebel some day. Just
wait! But before you go, I'll make
tea. You must have gotten chilled
through.
He would keep them here q while
and then let them go-with Langford.
The thought made him feel cheap and
cowardly and sneaklng. Far rather
would he step out boldly and take his
chances. But if there was to be any
shooting, it must be where Louise
and Mary, too-was not. He believed
Paul, in his zeal, had exaggerated evil
omens, but there was Louise In his
bachelor room-where he had never
thought to see her; there with her
cheeks flushed with the proximity to
the stove-his stove-her fair hair
wind.blown. No breath of evil thing
must assail her that night-that night,
when she had glorified his lonely habi-
tation-even though he himself must
stink into a corner like a cowardly
cur. A strange elation took possession
of him. She was here. He thought OF
last night and seemed to walk on air.
II he won out maybe-but, fool that
he was! what was there in this rough
land for girl like-Louise?
"Oh, no, that will be too much
trouble" gasped Louise, in some alarm
and thinking of Aunt Helen.
"Thanks, old man, we'll stay" spoke
up Langford, checrfully. "He makes
excellent tea-realy. I've tried it be.
FORE You will never regret staying.
Silently he watched his friend in the
inner room bring out battered tea.
kettle, fill it with steady hand and
put it on the stove in the Office, COM
ing and going carelessly, seemingly
conscious of nothing in the world but
the comfort of his unexpected guests.
True to her sex, Louise was curious
ly interested in the housekeeping ar
rangements of genuine bachelor es
tablishment. Woman-like, she saw
many things in the short time she was
there-but nothing that diminished
her respect for Richard Gordon
The bed in the inner chamber where
both men slept was disarranged but
clean. Wearing apparel was strewA
over the chairs and tables. There was
litter of magazines on the floor. She
laid them up against Langford; she
did not think Gordon had the time OF
inclination to cultivate the magazine
habit. She did not know to whose
weakness to ascribe the tobacco pouch
and brier-wood pipe placed invitingly
by the side OF pair of gay. elaborate
ly bead-embroidered moccasins, cozily
slowed away under the head Of the
h,J. h,,k sI>o rofhor Soo <<