Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-07

ously, to the visible detriment OF the for
| mer's nose and left eye. when the sound
| of approaching footsteps caused him to
| release his hold In haste.
''Cheese 1t! De boss" he cried.
Both boys dashed to their pals and re-
sumed their grooming operations with
| great industry.
| The next moment young girl entered
the stable. 1t was plain from her de-
meanor that she was not pleased.
You boys are perfect nuisance" she
| complained. i've been calling you the
last ten minutes. Breakfasts been ready
for an hour
| The Shrimp turned his head and scowled
| at her.
''Oh. all right" he growled.
| Her quest and mission ended. she was
about to go when she caught sight OF
| the Dukes face and noted its flushed
and swollen appearance.
You've been fighting again." she COM
mented. suspiciously.
"Ow. now, not what you'd cawl fightin'.
| Miss Nora" the Duke assured her. with
a cheerful grin 1T wus little scrap.
friendly like. for exercise. donchernow.
Yes. we WIS fightin'. fightin' for fair.
an II you hadn't butted In I'd "a knocked
his block off, contradicted the Shrimp.
surlily. You're always pokin' your nose
| where you're not wanted"
We'll, / lke-your-cheek! said the
| girl. looking him up and down with
naughty Indignation. Pop said II he
Caught YOU lS5IitlHs again iiC All DClI VI
you, and I'm going to tell him. SO there"'
Go ahead. Go ahead" he retorted. in
a tone of defiant menace. Maybe l
| won't have sumpn' to tell him about you.
I'm goin' to put him wise to yer carryin' S
on this very minute unless yer coughs up
dat dough yer owes me-"
| Yer tongue shall be split.
An all the little puppy, dawgs
Shall ave little bit
recited the Duke in a sinesong voice
| Initiating child.
You Shut up or III wipe you over the
kisser." warned the Shrimp.
earn" retorted the Duke. with q
hooking grimace. "if I wusn't a lydy I'd
push yer fyce in
Further argument was prevented by the
advent OF Mallory. accompanied by Mr..
Crawford and O'Brien.
Fur hiv'n's sake, but l thought you
| bhoys was at brikfast long ago." said
O'Brien. "Ye'd bitter git over to the
house at wanst. or it's precious little yell
be gttin'. I'm afther thinking"
The boys slipped out. and Nora would
gladly have followed them. but her father
stopped her.
Me daughter. Mr. Crawford. sor: me
daughter. Nora he explained. his hon
| est. ruddy face beaming with pride.
Nora blushed and. with downcast gaze.
| stood before the stranger.
| Crawford. with easy politeness doffed
| his hat
| Il am aWfully pleased to meet you. Miss
! Nora he said. in a soft, low voice, add
| ing. You are very fortunate to have such
| a charming daughter. Mr.. O'Brien.''
| The old man regarded the visitor with
| dubiousness which was quickly sue
| ceeded by positive disapproval He did
not like this sudden change from the
| brisk business manner with which Craw-
/ ford had previously comported himself,
| and somehow the mans information and
| attitude Jared upon him. struck dis
cordant note in his heart. Up to that
moment in his eagerness to further Dan S
| interests by representing everything In a
| light as favorable as possible he had not
| paused to analyZe impressions. but now
| that the personal factor interviewed he de-
| cided that he did not like the prospective
| partner Of his son-in-law to be. He
! could not have said just why. 1t was
| purely instructive.
| AS to Nora. encouraged by the unac-
customed gentleness and courtliness OF
his speech, the girl ventured to look at
him. and as timidly she held out her
| hand and he clasped it with a warm
| pressure she encountered his gaze OF min
| gled amusement and admiration.
| Noras eyes were large and dark and
| expressive. Crawford thought he had
never seen any more beautiful. But they
were not BY any means the girls only
| charm. She was distinctly pretty. with
| small. regular features and blush-rose
complexion, which her dark hair. worn