Mexico Missouri message., 1908-06-11
CHAPTER vll.-cortinued.

CHAPTER Vll-Sortinued.
sally g. saw lis disappointment.
and came quickly 10 his rescue. Go
With wy Viola here. she'll show 50.
You can make the house across the
Eu.cl b. - minutes Nj Sark,i WAS
killed Joy blast the Other day. yvu
EauU. az StylIa's ben with the wiGd"r
s,uo, Iut YIN stay with her an
y..a Stella can talk a heap IN a half
hour Walk this way. an slow All
ven still. have a quauorhour tur yer
iiIlrg lore "a, stage leaves. Hu'y
uu.-. pulls out today hen give yc
40 extra minute or two"
Alfred flushed at sally BIS Ion!
plans H., had found instant favor .a
Ter eyes Ills obvious superiori,,
20 the men that swarmoi W.
welcome about Stella AZ every uI
yortuni,y decided Sally 81 20 aid him
with Stella. Tn, sooner they settle.
things The better II would Dee for her
Ru, she had 10 conception Of u.
complexities OF Alired's nature am
rearing She could not have c1mpTe
herded had he explained Il. his sen,i.
ment for Stella did not dream OF the
cause Of his flush OF annoyance as he
left her-au annoyance that lasted
and made him a silent companion IN
the quick walk.
Viola. glaucing shyly at his angry
eyes registered against him con.
clusion he might have needed 10
reckon with had not the vision OF Stel.
la In the doorway banlshed gloom and
evoked a smile that the child was
quite old enough 10 read and glory in
Breathless, Viola explained her com.
ing with such bald Caudor that Stella
went forth dumb with embarrassment
She had lived hard the past few
weeks: Alfred realized II al once. But
now she was tonguc.tied. The con.
straint born OF separation was upon
her Intuition read TO her a little Of
the record OF Alired's experiences: OF
his different and engrossing cares
Also. the impact OF lives and ex.
periCuCCs surrounding her had created
an inComprchcnsIblc atmosphere
through which she saw Alfred as
through a veil, a different Alfred.
He felt her dIitdence and construed
It as kind Indifference. She did not
love him; she wished him to recognize
the absurd situation Viola had thrust
upon them. yet she was too gentle to
hurt him with speech.
And thus the feet minutes wancd
while these two dumbly sought each
other. like lovers at a bal masque.
clasping hands yet sundered by a
domino
They came down the path to town
and mounted the high. uneven side
walk. Uncle BILLY had just dashed
up to the express office the Curvetting
six under the spur of his mysterious
skill still showing of proudly to the
admiring bystanders. Gideon was In
the barrOom doorway, his glowerIng
eyes fixed on the approaching pair
Alfred dlscerned the hate In Gideon s
surly greeting, saw the loutish loers
and nudges OF the lOungers, Stella
burning cheeks; he even mistook the
satisfaction In Uncle Biliys hearty
urging.
Get outside OF yo' dinneh at a two.
forty gait. Vincent The Overland
CANT wait, and Uncle Billy CANT miss
yo' company. Sabe?"
At the dining room door Stella
paused and held out her hand.
mo; it's not goodbye" Alfred said.
though he took her hand. Il shall stay
over shall see you to-nIght-and-"
Hello. Vincent! You're the very
man ! wanted to see. Had your din.
ner?' Superintendent Crocker breezed
out OF the dining room, his eyes giving
sincere admiration to Stella, his voice
hearty welcome to Alfred.
NO, sir" Alfred answered hesitat
ingly. Il"
Eat quick, then. Billy Dodge don't
walt for passengers, important or 9th
erwise. The greatest luck this. ex
pected a dull trip over-always ex
cepting the driver" He waved O
smiling apology TO Uncle Billy and
climbed to the seat beside him.
Alfred felt his body grow leaden
and he startled Stella with his strained
voice.
Very well. Mr.. Crocker; I'll be viii
you in a minute"
lie turned 10 Stella. There wal
something IN her unguRrded face tina
sst his every nerve atingle: tha