The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-01

spellbound for a space. and, when
he in the end found speech, he
stammered stupidity, his own face
flushed. Had It been feasible he
would fain have turned back, and
come to her again after he had re-
covered his composure. But to
have done so then might have cost
him his anxiously sought oppor-
tunity. That he must seize and
make the most of. He clutched at
courage, desperate, and spoke.
I'll beg your pardon" he
said, bowling with deepest Difference.
Il didn't know that the beach
was impossible here. lin afraid
I startled you?"
JCShe had been scanning him
fclosely while he stood bare headed
before her in the mellow sunshine,
had known at once that he was the
same man she haa seen In Mar
TINS. and her recoIlections Of him
had ben none but grateful. This 1t
was, perhaps, which influenced her
to answer him pleasantly rather
than rebuff him with a chill cour-
tesy, as she might otherwise have
felt impelled to do.
The creek comes as a surprise
the first time one turns this cor
ner," she said, and her lips parted
slightly in a.swift, fugitive smile as
she looked down to where, in the
ripple, two ivory feet were half i'm.
bedded among the sand. Then she
stepped ashore and a swirl of her
skirts sent them out of sight alto
gether.
II dropped bracelet coming
across" she explained in a matter
of fact tone, and Quaintance was
conscious that fortune beyond his
widest hopes had befallen him. He
would find that never sufficiently
to be recommended bangle for her
IL he should have to spend the rest
of his life there. He had already
sat down, was untying his shoes.
There's a bridge not very far
up" she advised him gratuitously,
but he was deaf to the hint. His
way was clear to him now, and he
had all his wits about him again.
81 know" he replied. II came
across 1t an hour ago. l was on my
way to the bungalow ON this side,
to look at a motor"
He considered q moment, won
dering whether he dared. And he
did.
TITS yours, isn't it," he asked
courageously, rising.
She nodded careless assent, but
corrected herself in words.
Mrs. Smiths" she asserted in
differently. She was waiting until
he should go on his way, to resume
her search.
Whereabouts did you drop the
bracelet?" he questioned, but she
shook her head.
ooh, can easily find II myself
she demurred. "You mustn' I
trouble about it. I thought you
were merely going to cross the
creek"
He turned and entered the
water, leaving shoes and socks be-
hind him. His purpose was suffi-
GENTLY evident. He had conveyed
to her that protest would be super
flouous. She had no option but to
acquiesce, and did so with little
moue, half petulent, half amused.
Which he did not see, since his
back was toward her now.
I've no idea where 1t may be"
she warned him contradictorily. 81
only noticed its loss when l sat
down to pull on-when ! returned
to this side"
Don't fret" he answereSaG sM3r.
Oh OH s,.,,.assss~sof YOU"
l.r-s ssIfined again, half pleased,
lalf displeased. He was so big and
,trong-so self confident. A wom-
ms intuition had told her that she
might trust him. She priced the
ornament for much more
than its intrinsic value. AS soon
as he should have found it-and
she had already spent full half