The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-06-11
CHAPTER xviIl.-continued.

CHAPTER xvlll.-Continued.
cur. A strange citation took possession
of him. She was here. He thought OF
last night and seemed to walk on air.
II he won out maybe-but. fool that
he was! what was there In this rough
land for q girl like-Louise?
"Oh, 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 1t be-
fore. You will never regret staying"
Silently he watched his friend in the
inner room bring out battered tea
kettle, fill 1t with a steady hand and
put it on the stove in the office, COM
ing and going carelessly, seemingly
conscious Of nothing in the world but
the comfort Of his unexpected guests.
True to her sex, Louise was curious
ly interested in the housekeeping ar
= ngements of genuine bachelor es-
Enlistment. Woman-like, she saw
many things In the short time she was
there-but nothing that diminished
her respect for Richard Gordon.
The 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
laid 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 a pair of gay. elaborate
~ bead-embroidered moccasins, cozily
slowed away under the head of the
bed; but she was rather inclined to
lay these, too, to Langford's charge.
The bowling tempest outside only
served to enhance the coziness of the
rumbling 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
little dream that went up in flame
with the walls that harbored 1t. Who
first became conscious that the tang
of smoke was gradually filling their
nostrils, 1t was hard to tell. They
were not far behind each other in that
consciousness. 1t was Langford who
discovered that the trouble was at
the rear, where the wind would soon
n.ave the whole building famed into
mes. 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 gopher for
the killing. He need not have been
afraid. The alarm had spread. The
street in front was rapidly filing.
One would hardly have dared to shoot
-then-if one had meant to. And he
did not know. He only knew that
deviltry had been in the air for Cor
don that night. He had suspected
more than he had overheard. but it
had been in the air.
Gordon saw the action and under
stood it. He never forgot it. He
said nothing. but gave his friend an
Illuminating smile that Langford un-
derstood. Neither ever spoke Of 1t,
neither ever forgot 1t. How tightly
can quick impulses bind-forever.
Outside, they encountered the Judge
in search of his delinquent charges.
I'm sorry, Dick, he said. Dead loss
my boy. This beastly wind Is your
undoing."
I'm not worrying. Judge" respond
ed Gordon, grimly. Il intend for some
one else to do that
''Hellity damn, Dick. hellity Damn"
exploded Jim Munson In his ear The
words came whistling through his lips.
caught and whirled backward by the
play Of the storm. The cold was get
tipS bitter. and q nne, cutting snow
was at last driving before the wind.
Gordon. with set face, plunged
beck into the room-already frelick