The Ordway new era., 1908-05-29
iord' He stepped to the windows and
urew the blinds closely.

-, t'pPeu W tne windows and
urew the blinds closely,
:, NO" mat have you safe" he said
"sh'iy' III confess had an old
"oiiiah scare. 1t came to me that
10 'o"B as you are not. strictly sneak.
'nS' on KIND and loving terms with
''e'S one west of the river-and this
pe'hs such an all.round nasty night
anyway. why. I'd Just spirit Won home
anu give the charged atmosphere n
chahce OF clearing little"
'ofdon looked at him steadily n
moment. His face did not pale, Yet
II" knew that Langford had heard
Ut SuSpccted-moro than he intended
4 l" t'Il-then. 1t was good to see him
ahr"H ms shoulders in unconcern for
the sake of the two whIte.faced girls
VINO sat there in his stin office chairs.
You are an old duffer, paul" he
said, In pretended annoyance. "You
treat me Ike child. | won't stand
II always. You'll see. Some day III
I -and-thcn--"
Meanwhile, I'll just trot these
ladies' back TO the hotel" said Lang.
FORD. But yen must promise to keep
your head inside. We're fixtures until
We hav" that promise"
4 What lock III" up and run of with
all the ladies, guess not, WHY
dldnt W" round up that way. I'd like
to know This isn't Utah. Paul. You
can't have both"
Paul meant for him to lie low. then.
lie Was also in Il hurry to get the girls
away. Evidently the danger lay here.
lher" was tightening of the firm
mouth and an ominUus contraction of
/ the pupils OF the eyes. He stirred the
hr", then jammcd huge. knotted
stick into tho sheetiron stove 1t
seemed as If everybody had sheet-iron
stoves in this country. The log caught
with pleasant roar as the draught
sent iiamcs lcaping up the chimney.
l'nt Paul made no movement to go.
/ lhen he, Gordon. had not understood
| his friend. Maybe the menace was
not here. but outside. II so. he must
cOntrivc to keep his guests interested
here, He would leave the lead to
/ Paul. Paul knew. He went back to
/ his livingroom and returned, bringing
| two heavy buggy robes.
You will find my bachelor way OF
! living very primitive" he said. with
his engaging smile. He arranged the
! robes over two of the chairs and
/ pushed them close up to the stove
| Il haven't an easy chair in the house
/ prove 1t by Paul. here Haven't
| time to rock. and cant AFFORD to run
the risk OF cultivating slothful habits
| Take these. do" he urged. and re-
move your coats"
Thank yOu-you are very kind"
said Louise. NO. | won't take or my
| jacket" a spot Of color staining her
| cheek when she thought of her gay
kimono. Involuntarily. she felt of her
throat to make sure the muller had
not blown awry. We shall be going
/ soon. shan't we. Mr.. Langford? II
! Mr. Gordon Is in any danger. you must
| stay with him and let us go alone. 1t
is not far
Surely" said Mary. with big sink
/ ing of the heart. but meaning what
| she said.
Not at all said Gordon. decidedly.
] II y just MS way Va JUDO
ing me. I'll rebel some day. lust
wait, But before you go. I'll make
tea. You must have gotten chilled
| through.
He would keep them here while
and then let them go-with LanSford.
| The thought made him feel cheap and
cowardly and sneaking. Far rather
would he step out boldly and take his
chances. But II there was to be any
shooting II must be where Louise
and Mary. too-was not. He believed
Paul, in his zeal. had exaggerated evil
omens, but there was Louise in his
bachelor room-where he had never
thought to see her: there with her
cheeks flushed with the proximity to
the stove-his stovc-her fair hair
windblowu. No breath of evil thing
must assail her that night-that night.
when she had glorified his lonely habi-
tation-even though he himself must
stink into corner like cowardly
Ito Be Continued)