The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-11-13

nance deeply bronzed by weather out
of which his wide, blue eyes laughed
increasingly. His flannel shirt. open
a little az the base OF the strong
round throat and his broad felt hat
indented with yeritable Denver
poke gave him cowboy effect. He
was perfectly cognizant of this and
traded on IL with the maids at the va
rious houses on his beat. before whom
he staggered not little. dropping
hints OF western past, suewn with
Indian scalps.
And was you ever there. now. Mr.
Brannigan2" one OF them once asked
him, and he answered ambiguously:
Jaw, an If | hadn't been how
would get the wownd on me crown p"
What wownd on your crown? Go
on"
I'm show it We if yen step over
here"
Brannigan bent his FURNISHED curls
and pretty Nora stretched on tiptoe to
meet them. But just as the two heads
reached one level the hero lifted his
own quickly and kissed the fresh-col-
ored face that looked so intently at
him.
Sure. the situation was that con
vaynient | couldn't help it," he urged.
fleeing TO the door with a smart cuff
ringing in his ears Brannigan called
this sort of thing Passing the time"
Ii is only fair TO add that he passed
IL in no worse ways. But he was 10
learn that there was type of woman
hood demanding more differential APP
proach.
The first time he saw Alma was on
hot afternoon in August. when she
had just come down from Nova Scotia
and was feeling the atmosphere OF the
south end oppressive Her mother.
who kept a boarding house. and had
combined with that responsibility the
care OF a shiftless second husband and
his two small boys, had written TO
Halifax that Alma was needed. and
Alma, who had a good place there, had
dutfully responded TO the maternal
summons. She was a slender, dark
haired girl. with a delicate complex
ion, and slim. ladylike hands
Brannigan. swinging in with his
huge ice-block, took a swift, apprecia-
tive look at her. dumped the ice in it's
receptacle. and stopped on the return
swing for conversation.
It's warm day"
Dreadful" said Alma. listlessly.
Il didn't see We before?"
No, I've just come"
Yell not stay here: the old lady
can't kape no gyurl more than a week:
tbs hole of a place."
Alma looked gravely at him, and he
wondered. until she said:
IN Mrs. Browns daughter from
Halifax"
Brannigan went away at that, sud
denly speechless.
He saw her nearly every day after,
but did not seem TO make much head
way. A packet OF chewing gum, which
had appeared to him a graceful atten-
ton suitable from any gentleman to
any lady, was received with disap-
pointing GOODNESS.
It's very kind OF you" she said.
but never use IL. Mrs. Daily, where
/ lived in Halifax, thought IL was com
mon
But Brannigan was hard to snub.
Like Antaeus, he rose the lustier for
has falls.
One day. about month after her ar
rival, he found Alma alone in the
kitchen-her mothers large and SLOW
ly person was usually we'll in evil
dence-and marked with concern that
her eyes were red with crying Now,
BTannigan had a mans philosophy re
garding tears.
Aren't We well at all?" he asked.
coming up beside her.
I'm all right" said Alma, holding
her head down and plunging her thin
little arms into tub OF soapsuds
The next moment she was startled
and scandalized by the clasp Of an
arm about her waist and the touch OF
a brown mustache on her cheek.
"Ah, cheer up" whispered Branni-
gan tenderly. 1T don't sthorm livery
day"
Alma freed herself with a quickness
that threw him on the defensive In
his experience, where there was no re-
Spouse in kind. there were active re-
prisals. He stepped back 10 avoid the
expected slap. but the girl made no
sort of demonstration. She simply
stood there with a white face and
looked unutterable reproach.
Tactics Of so novel a kind were dis
composing. Brannigan's bronzed cheek
famed and the laugh died out OF his
eyes.
Say, I'm right sorry" he muir
INJURED; Il niver thought but ye'd like
It, The gyurls mostly does, an It's
no harm at all"
I'm not that kind said Alma,
sternly.
Brannigan was already convinced OF
this. He regarded her sheepishly and
ran his hand through his jungle OF
sunny curls.
I'm mighty sorry" he repeated,
and. as Alma showed no signs OF re-
lenting. went dejectedly to the door.
Twas sweet what | got of IT," he
unused, an tbs bad luck III get no
more, She's not that kind. it's true
for her"
The next few times that he carried
ice TO the house he did not see Alma.
and when he did. on the fourth day.
her manner was excessively dignified.
But, as has been said before, Branni-
gan was hard TO snub. And now he
was more so than ever for the spirit
and selfrespect OF Alma had wrought
in his impulsive heart the mystery Of
love. Instinctively he reconstructed
his too-horid vocabulary and altered