The Ordway new era., 1908-04-24
of established order and De.o. :, -.

COW country" " 'n'
I-i-don't understand. your hon.
or, ialtered the woman ir great trsni.
dation. Would his honor consider hor
hopeless stupid? But what was the
man talking about? Louise looked nm
nush OF color staining her cheeks.
maybe fire'brand would suit YOU
yo.'er' madame? My young friend,
'he hre-brand.' resumed the Judge.
rising. THAT is good-flre-brand. la
ne NOT melting the populace to open
reoeilion. false doctrine and schism?
~ II not because OF him that roofs are
burned over the very heads OF the
helpless homesteader?"
FOR shame. Uncle Hammond" ex
GAINED Louise. still flushed and with
mutinous little sparkle In her eyes.
fou are poking fun at me. You
haven't any right to. you know; but
mat your way. ! don't care, but Mrs.
HIGGINS doesn't understand"
Don't you. Mrs. Higgins?" asked
the Judge.
NO. don't" snapped Mrs. Hig.
gins and she didn't. but she thought
she did. Only II you mean Mr.. Rich.
ara Gordon. I'll tell you now there
AIN no one in this here God .forsaken
country who can hold a tallow candle
10 MIN Just put that in your pipe and
smoke 1t. will your"
She piled up dishes viciously. She
did not wait for her guests to depart
before she began demollshing the
table II was n tremendous breach OF
etiquette. but she didn't care. To have
an ideal shattered ruthlcssly Is ever
n heartbreaking thing.
But my dear Mrs. Higgins" ex.
postulatcd the judge.
You needn't said that lady, short.
ly. Il don't care" she went on, III
the president himself or an archangel
from heaven came down here and
plastered Dick Gordon with bad.smell.
in names from the crown of his little
toe to the tip of his head. I'd tell 'em
To their very faces that they didn't
know what they was talkin about,
and what's more they'd better go
back to where they belong and not
come nosin round In other peoples
business when they don't understand
one single mite about II. We don't
want 'em putin their fingers In our
pie when they don't know thing
about us or our ways. That's my
say" she closed. with appalling sig.
niiicance. iattering herself that no
one could dream but that she was
dealing In the most off.hand general
tiles. She was far too polite to an
tasonize and withal too good a wom-
an not to strike for u friend She
congratulated herself she had been
true to all her gods--and she had
been.
Louise smiled. in complete sympa.
thy. challenging the judge meanwhile
with laughing eyes. But the Judge
he was still much OF boy In spite OF
his grave calling and mature years
just threw back his blonde head and
shouted in rapturous glee. He
laughed till the very ceiling rang in
lOuu response, luuSHeu tllI tnc teaTs
shone In his big blue eyes. Mrs. Hig-
gins looked on in undisguised amaze
ment. hands on hips.
Dear me. suz!" she sputtered. "is
the man gone clean daffy?"
Won't you shake hands with me,
Mrs. Higgins" he asked. gravely. Il
ask your pardon for my levity. and l
assure you there isn't a man in the
whole world | esteem more or hold
greater faith in than Dick Gordon-Or
love so much ! thank you for your
championship OF him. would that he
had more friends like you. Louise,
are you ready?"
Their walk to the hotel was silent
one. Later, as she was leaving him to
go to her own room, Louise laid her
head caressingly on her uncle's
sleeve.
Uncle Hammond" she said. impul.
sivcly. you are-incorrigible but you
are the best man in all the world"
The very best?" he asked. smiling
ly.
THE very best" she repeated. firm
ly.
Ito Be Continued.)
z.,,a, l,nn ,curINc oI AMT