Evening star., 1909-06-15
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

lne DOy 8 DTOWS COHtI dCtcu a. Souie "
the false note in Caleb's voice He look
ed at the Fighter long and with frank
criticism. Caleb bore the scrutiny with
visible discomfort. He was not fond OF
children and did not understand them
Having had no childhood himself. he could
nowhere meet them on equal terms. Yet.
as this slender. Eton-suited youngster
was apparently a relative of Letty's and
| a member of the same household, he
sought to improve the acquaintance.
4 know little rat about your age"
he began with elephantine geniality; his
Sharp as whip. Ever meet him?''
NO. SIR replied Give. Il think not. :
NO? You wouldn't be likely to-
s'pose. While you're home evenin's learn
in hymns he's out learnin' life Spends
most of his evenin's round at the fire.
each engine in town the minute he hears
'em whistle
Clive's eyes grew wistful with envy;
yet abated none Of the unconscious criti-
ing the Fighter. His lack OF response
confused Caleb, who started OF on a new
track.
Yes. Billy's a great boy. He used to
have lot of cunnin' tricks. too. when he
was little. He's outsrowin' 'em now.
Used to tiptoe up behind me an put
both his dirty little hands over my eyes
an say: Guess who's here? An then
I'd guess Gen. Grant an Abe Lincoln
and Queen Victoria an Tom Platt' an
den I'd guess Billy Shevln. An he'd
squeal out Yes" Not much sense in It..
But kind of cute for such little Teller. l
| remember some folks were calm there
game to show off before 'em. But he was
kind Of bashful and wouldn't. An that
made me mad; so l cuffed him over the
head An since then, somehow. he's
never played it any more.
Il don't wonder!'' gasped Give. "-ex-
cuse me. SIR" he caught himself up, i
didn't mean to be rude
Go ahead" laughed Caleb. THAT amt
rude. It's bein' honest. Don't let 'ep
make Miss Nancy of you by teachin
you to pologize an say please an
Sir an all those foldefols.
II like to say them.'' retorted Give.
And I'm not Miss Nancy. Last week
thrashed a boy two years older than l
am"
Look out. Conover!' warned Caine. SOL
emnly. He may pick you for the next
victim
At the sound of the name, Give had
glanced sharply at Caleb.
II beg your pardon" he put In. now.
But you aren't Brute Conover, are
you?"
"Clive!" admonished Caine, with what
severity ne COulQ summon I'D.
Il b'lieve I've been called that a few
times" answered Caleb, in high good
humor. "Why?"
Because" said Give, backing toward
the door, from what l read in the news
papers about you-and from something /
once heard grandpapa say-I don't thin.
care to know you, Mr.. Conover. I'm
sorry. Good night
Caleb Conover had not known there
Y~s~-
From his oyster plate they stretched away
to the left in what seemed an intermi-
nable vista. Had Desree told him to be-
gin with the left-hand fork and work in
was it the right-hand fork he was to
begin with and work outward? A fur
tive glance at Lefty, on his right, solved
the problem.
Then. the same glance sweeping the
table, he found he was the only person
whose doubled napkin had not disappear
ed. He pulled 1t unnoticed down to his
knee. A roll fell from its hidden interior
and crashed to the floor with report
that sounded to him loud enough to shake
the house. But the sound passed unheard
in the ripple of talk. Caleb kicked the
offending bit of bread further under the
table and somberly attacked his oysters.
A cocktail had heralded the meal. This,
with his glass of dry sherry. now began.
little by little to cut away the Fighters
crust Of straight self-consciousness. He
was not wont, of late years, to touch
liquor at all, although In early days his
Gargantuan drinking bouts had been the
wonder of the local underworld On his
unaccustomed senses the slight stimulant
now acted with redoubled force. 1t sharp
ened his wits, banished his first feeling
of stiff discomfort. enabled him to come
out Of himself and take note of what
went on about him.
Caine. talking animatedly just oppo-
site. was nevertheless looking unobtru
sively at Conover. So were Reuben
standish and others at the table. To
big, silent man had perpetrated thus far
none of the capers which comic stories
ascribe to parvenus. He handled his
soupspoon with an inward sweep. 1t Is
not wholly unaccustomed to civilized
methods. Desiree's long and stern train
ing was standing him in good stead.
Lefty, emboldened by these repeated
signs Of housebrokeness. ventured few
perfunctory remarks to him. Caleb re-
piled briefly. but without embarrassment.
He even answered a question put him
from across the table with the same self
possession. Caine relaxed his nervous
vigilance. His reluctant admiration for
the newcomer was increasing.
Conover, with the true fighters intui-
ton. noted all the tokens of his own we'll
being. and his dawning self-possession
grew steadily stronger
The talk at his end Of the table had
turned into musical channels.
We we're able to get Miss Tyson for
the musical after ALL Lefty was say
ing. She was to have sung at the
Worcester music festival. you know. but
at the last moment they engaged some
one else
we are SO grateful" chimed in Mrs.
Standish. managing to inject just little
recognition OF the divine into her tone
She has wonderful voice. In Munich
she once sung the Forest Bird music
in performance Of "Siegfried." Just
think! One of our own townswomen,
too"
She cast a vitreous beam athwart the
table as she spoke. Caine used to say
that when Mrs. Standshs glasses diff
fused that look he was always sore
Amen.
Yes" prattled the Saint. hers is
heaven-sent gift. l believe that singing
may often bear a message
It's easier. l should think" put in
Caleb. suddenly finding his tongue as
he set down his empty wine glass, for
a woman to sing like forest bird than
for a bird to sing songs made up by
humans.
''F'r instance he proceeded. with re-
newed courage. mistaking the general
hush of surprise for gratifying inter-
est, there's a lady l know here in
Granite who has canary bird that sings
all about the death of Ase. Sings it
fine, too"
Lefty giggled.
so you are Grieg fiend. like SO many
over?" said she.
''Me?' Caleb exclaimed. in genuine as
tonishment. No. indeed. ma am. / leave
dope OF all sorts alone.