Evening star., 1909-06-19
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.


with knots of men and women. Among
the idling groups the girl had recognized
Lefty standish and Caine. Jack Ha-
warden who was sitting with the couple,
ran down the steps to welcome the new
comers.
There are two extra chairs at our
table he said. eagerly. land l believe
they're the only two left on the whole
yeranda. / wondered why no one TOOK
them Now l see it was providential.
Caleb hesitated. glancing in doubt at
Desiree The girl. little to his SURPRISE
assented with perfect Willingness 10
Jacks suggestion. and led the way be-
tween several bevies Of frankly admir-
ing men and openly curious women. to-
ward the table where Caine and Lefty
were seated. Miss Standish's cheeks were
flushed as she noted their approach. Nor
did her gentle face wear quite its best
expression. But Caine. masculinely OBJ
1use was very evidently glad to see them
He signaled waiter as Caieo ana De-
stree seated themselves.
when Providence ordained hot days
like this" said Caine. oracularly. He
mercifully devised seltzer lemonades to
go with them. Would you rather nave
a Scotch and soda. Conover?"
mo. thanks demurred the Fighter
NO use in spoilin two perfecy good
things like booze an water Dy HZZln eiu
up together.
That is So" agreed Caine, tritely.
Mixing whisky with water Is like merg-
ing love into matrimony. 1t
Lefty gigged appreciation. She had a
marvellous ear for humor, and could al
most always tell by a speakers tone
when he had said anything funny II
was a natural gift many girls envied her
he 1atrc a NJ
bered Desirees presence and fell back on
her defenses of gentle reserve
Caine was hailed from another table
and went across to reply to some ques-
ton Jack, too. was for the moment
leaning over to speak with some one on
the lawn below. Caleb. left alone be-
tween Desiree and Lefty, racked his
brain for something to say. For once,
Desiree did not help him. She was
gazing out with dreamy joy at the
beautiful grounds. her eyes resting long
est on the stately avenue of trees that
wound up to the house. Thus 1t de-
volved upon Lefty to save the CONVEX
sational ship from utter wreck.
Il hardly thought to see you here.
Miss Shevlin.' she observed. wI.h gra-
ciousness that did not. however, leave
accented.
why not?'' asked Desiree. simply Il
hear some really very nice people come
here-sometimes.
feel at home" persisted Lefty, walking
round eyed toward destruction.
oh, | don't" Desiree assured her. with
childlike smile AT home l never
rail. And l never see women drinking
whisky there. either" she added. with a
glance toward nearby table, whittier a
tray of high-balls had just been borne.
Il wonder you came. them sputtered
Lefty. with a despairing effort at cold
reproof.
''One goes anywhere nowadays" re-
piled Desiree. And besides," she sighed,
raptly, II love the country. Everything
about ii always has a charm for me.
From trees like those splendid old oaks.
down to her eyes swept the scene for
an antithesis; accidentally resting for the
remotest instant on Letty's profile as she
finished down to the funny little rab
bits with their ridiculous round bodies
and bullying. scared eyes.
Gee. groaned Caleb to himself, glanc-
ing helolessly from one girl to the
other, lit must be hell to be Mormon!
For a moment Lefty pondered on De-
siree's harmless speech.
Then, all at once, queer gurgling
little sound rumbled far down In her
throat, and she slowly grew pink. Her
nose Qulvered a mute appeal to all man.
kind. Caine mercifuly returned at this
juncture. All unconscious of the smolder-
ing fires, he proceeded. manlike, to stir
up the Goals.
You have made one more of an
endless line of conquests Miss Shevlin."
lie announced General Greer, Miss
Standishs uncle, you know. called me
over to his table expressly to ask who
you were, and to demand in lurid die
tion. why he had never met you before.
He is coming over here in a moment. if
you'll permit, to be introduced to you.
You don't mind?
Why, CT course not. said Desiree, in
sweet effusion. Miss Standish knows
how glad | am to meet any one con-
nected with her. BY the way, she and
have been raving over the joys of
country life. We
Lefty was saved by the advent of
an elderly man. apoplectic of mien,
stumpy Of gait. who hobbled across TO
their table and greeted her with a bluff
manner he had spent many busy years
IT mastering. Then, without waiting
fo"' her reply. he nodded to Jack and
looked expectantly toward Caine. The
latter rose TO the occasion.
Miss Shevlin," he said trying 10 make
tEe act seem bred OF All unexpected meet
ing. may ! present Gen. Greer?''
The general bowed low: his best old
world air and mis- corpulenCe battling
doughtily for supremacy in the saIutation
He was about 10 follow up the bow with
some remarks of fatherly yet admiring
nature. when Caine. with malice afore-
thought. broke ia:
And. general. may | introduce Mr.. Ca
The old mans honeyed words collided
with snort that sprans unbidden from
his throat, resulting in a sound that was
neither old-World nor fatherly.
ronover eh?' he raped out Heard
cf you. sir, Heard of you.- Too Otter.
IN fact You're The fellow that's always
buying NJ olir Legislators, aren't YOU
WHY do yo,. 90 it, SIR?
Because they're for safe said Caleb.
uarIfiied = guess that's bout the only
reason I'm able TO-
You mean 70 accuse the men who rem
resent our interests "a the capitalize ac-
cIlse them o. being willing. untempted to
sell theIr Vote?"
:wered Caleb with tolerant grin They
vote. Some Of 'em prefers 20 rent il cut
by the year.
~ --ou want me 10 believe such libe,
on our statesmen" declaimed Greer ION
the men we
Pm not exactly coaxin You 70 believe
anything. replied Caleb. pleasantly. AN
amt liable TO lay wake nights moanin'
because you doubt it, II the people didn't
want to he run by a lobby. they wouldn't
be. That's all there is to it,
81 didn't come To discuss ethics with a
man OF your stamp " sneered the general
bat ] can tell YOU YOU are wrong
wrong, sir-in thinking the people will al
WAYS stand such conditions as YOU and
your kind are thrusting upon them. Only
YESTERDAY one of my clients was telling
me that il lie Could not curb your legisla-
ture influence by fair means he would"
Come to YOU for help" finished Caleb
bIandly-
Gen. Greer stared al him speechless
apoplectir. ! city. who despite years Of
Tin