Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-06-11
CHAPTER xvIlI.-continued.

eur. A strange elation took possession
.1g him She was here. He thought of
East night and seemed to walk on air.
&c he won out maybe-but, fool that
he was! what was there in this rough
Gahd for a girl like-Louise?
NOh, 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, cheerfully. He makes
excellent tea-really. I've tried it be-
fore You will never regret staying"
Silently he watched his friend in the
timer room bring out battered tea
iesttie, fill it with a steady hand and
put it on the stove in the Office, com
tng and going carelessly, seemingly
conscious of nothing in tire world but
the comfort of his unexpected guests.
True TO her sex, Louise was curious
sy interested in the housekeeping ar
EaBgements of a genuine bachelor es-
Ssblishment. Woman-like, she saw
many things In the short time she was
there-but nothing that diminished
her respect for Richard Gordon.
Ehe bed In the inner chamber where
Both men slept was disarranged but
clean Wearing apparel was strewn
over the chairs and tables. There was
a litter OF magazines on the floor. She
kaid them up against Langford; she
did not think Gordon had the time or
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
~ bead-embroidered moccasins, cozily
stowed away under the head of the
bed but she was rather inclined to
Fay these, too, TO Langford's charge.
The bowling tempest outside only
served 10 enhance the coziness OF the
rumbiing fire and the closely drawn
blinds
But tea was never served in those
bachelor rooms that night-neither
that night nor ever again. 1t was a
little dream that went up In flame
with the walls that harbored it. Who
first became conscious that the tang
OF smoke was gradually filling their
uOstrils, it was hard to tell. They
were not far behind each other In that
consciousness. 1t was Langford who
discovered that the trouble was at
Ehe rear, where the wind would soon
have the whole building famed into
9Ames. Gordon unlocked the door
quietly. He said nothing. But Paul,
springing in front of him, himself
threw it open. 1t was no new dodge,
This burning a man out to shoot him
as one would drown out a gopher for
the killing. He need not have been
Alraid- The alarm had spread. The
street in front was rapidly filling.
One would hardly have dared to shoot
--thsn-if cne had meant to. And he
did not know. He only knew that
sisUltry had been in the air for Cor
dan that night. He had suspected
more than he had overheard, but it
bad been in the air
Gordon saw the action and under
stood 1T. He never forgot it. He
said nothing, but gave his friend an
illuminating smile that Langford un-
<3erstooG. Neither ever spoke of it,
can quick impulses bind-forever.
Outside, they encountered the judge
En- search of his delinquent charges.
~Fm sorry Dick" he said Dead loss
my boy. This beastly wind is your
s1nfoing."
I'm not worrying, Judge" respond
cad Gordon, grimly. Il intend for some
,Ao0e else to do that"
Heliity damn, Dick, hellity damn!"
SssIoIoded Jim Munson in his ear. The
wards came whistling through his lips,
osEskEht and whirled backward by the
Ifay of the storm. The cold was get
dus bitter, and fine, cutting snow
Was at last driving before the wind.
Gordon, with set face, plunged
BACK into the roon-already fire-lick.
sd LRngford and Munson followed.