The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-21
allor. q think-that he is splendid

| palor. q think-that he is splendid" l Though she almost whispered it, yet Jackson heard, and he plumbed greater l 6eeps of mortihcation when, few min utter later, he offered Gilson insincere con- ! gratulations. "You are out of my class. lie said with a hollow laugh. 'Id sized | them up as impossible and was going for help"
 1 Gilson measured him with unwavering eye. Nobody sick was there?' "No-but the men" Jackson unwisely | blundered on.
 '-ohl the men? Yesi We'll you needn't bother. They'll be very well after they've worked your liquor out of their systems" !"
 Laughing uneasily, Jackson concealed | his fury till he was alone in his office. | There, alone with his naked soul, he was not pretty to look upon. "Oh, you" Beyond blasphemy, he shook both fists in | the air "Oh, you-I've fooled too 1ong," 1 Sitting down, he dashed a letter off, chewing viciously on his mustache the while.
 "rhere." he finished. "That ought 10 do your business" "He is splendid!" said Miss Mabel. But who shall explain the subtilties, contradictions, unreason of the complex feminine heart? She had never treated Gilson more coldly than she did at table that evening, and during the month that elapsed before an answer came to Jack sons letter continued to walk and ride with the latter.
 The letter was very much to the point. we beg to inform you that owing to the unprecedented falling off in the | field work, as shown in the report of | MT. Jackson we have decided to dis pense with your services; dismissal to l take effect end of current month. ''The beast!" Bender commented when Gilson showed him the letter few days , later Pretty raw work I thought he'd make a better job-cover his tracks Gson nodded
 "He thought to report me to Jackson pere, and have me fired for cold reasons of state. But it appears from one of Fleming's letters that the old chap was sick and the vice-president acted in his absence.'
 "Does Jackson know of it?'
 "Only that Pm fired. l spent whole evening with him discussing the sanity of the Chicago office" And the folks?'' Gilson laughed. "He was so good as to suggest that I had resigned, and they believe it. What am I going to do with this?' He patted the letter. Save. it for a right proper season.
 The season came the following Sun
 
 tendent of La Luna; and no stage man. ager could have been more careful in the preparation of his climax. Having or [ dered the cookhouse detail back to the fields, he came into lunch confident that Mabel would not let the event pass un- challenged.
 q cannot imagine what constrained you to do it," she said, but in a tone so gentle that he felt compunction for do vvDc in the first hint of the value she had placed in his concessions.
 He answered quietly, "The men are needed in the fields"
 "Oh we'll" She glanced at Jackson. "It isn't worth while-now. Things will soon be changed" "You think so?" Selecting his dis missal from a handful of papers, he handed it across the table Then he watch ed-watche the red tide sweep from the lace at her throat up under the fluff of her hair cracking of paper marked deep emotion as Jack sons hypocrisy was flashed upon her. But she gripped herself in the time re- quired to read the letter twice.
 Thank you" she said handing it back. How very interestingl I'll trouble you for the butter
 Her marvellous coolness drew his ad-
 
 have increased hundred fold could he have seen her, an hour later, crying into her pillow tears of anger and nor tification; the latter for herself the former for him. It was all his fautl Of course! If he hadn't spoken so flip panty under the Palazio balcony nor turned her small attempts at revenge with his imperturbable front? As for this crowning outrage, she would never forgive him.
 Having come to this conclusion, she rose, for 1t was hot and stuffy in her bedroom, and adjourned to a nest she had made in the roots of a big saber down by the river, tn ere to take further census of her feelings. Catching the fiutter of the white skirt as she went by his office, Gilson looked after her. and after moments hesitation fol- lowed. He had better stayed No well-regulated girl cares to be dis tnrhed when she is trying to get eve,, with her feelings. Her glance was coldly interrogative when. looking up. sle saw him beside her.
 Hesitantly he began: q wanted-so apologize. It was brutal of me to spring that letter on you. If"
 She interrupted with a weary gesture What does it matter? I have come to expect anything-from you'
 nd Is there no pardon?" He spoke very gently. T had hoped-when we met -Ep there is Mexico City, that He stopped, chilled by the ironical uplift of lie. Eruws
 ''The hope you so candidly expressed under the Palazio balcony? She as- sisted his puzzled look. You remember, you had hopes.''
 Drmbfounded, he stared. then a low whistle escaped him as h.s mind laid hold of that forgotten incident. The whistle was not offensve-particular But when sis mouth puckered-that was a crime She grew hot, all over.
 I'm surprised" he began.
 I'm not" she promptly interrupted. Everything you do lacks that element even this intrusion'' "S-o?' He waited little while she