Evening star., 1909-06-18

| was Stunned like a pesthouse by every
one who could avoid going thither.
| The Office boy. official martyr of the
day, shook visibly as he sidled into the
room, about three that afternoon, and
| laid on his chiefs desk a sealed un-
stamped envelope. Conover's scowl
vanished as lie noted the handwriting.
The Office boy breathed deeper and his
knees grew firm.
ANY answer" asked Conover. and
for the first time since his arrival his
voice sounded scarcely more menacing
than that of a sick bear.
NO. sir" piped the youth with a
propitiatory grin. Il asst the mesnger
an he said"
Clear OUT" mumbled Caleb. his eyes
and mind fixed on the sheet he had
clumsily withdrawn from the envelope.
The boy departed: staggering into the
ism of a lion-tamer. The door, wind
caught, swung shut behind him with a
slam that turned swagger into helpless
panic. But no dreaded voice howled a
reprimand through the panels. Caleb
Conover was reading and re-reading a
few scrubbed lines in exaggeratedly large
writing. The Fighters face softened as
he read Then. glancing about in shame
faced caution. he hastily lifted the note;
brushed it across his lips with a furtive.
yet careless mien; as though the gesture
might have been employed to cover a
yawn. Contemptuous of the first covert
loverly deed of his career, he cleared his
throat and for the sixth time read the
Scrawled words. Half audihly, he per-
used them: smiling to himself.
Please I'm good now. l don't think
I'm ever going to be bad again. Wouldn't t
it be fine if you would come and take
me for walk this afternoon? D. S"
Isn't she the dandiest ever?'' Caleb
a sked himself gleefully as he Strengthened
his tie before the Office mirror and jam
med his felt hat down over his forehead.
why cant the Lefty girl be like her?
Then there'd be some pleasure in gettin
married. Hope she and Dey'll be friends.
II they amt
He strode through the outer office, look
ing SO human that his expression. COM
bined with the far more important fact
that he was evidently depar, ing for the
day. put the whole staff INTO the utmos
good humor for the rest of the afternoon
1t was a very natural, self-controlled
Desiree who met Ccnover on the porch o.
the Shevlin cottage. If hers had been
the muff1ed sobs that had sent him home
with lump in his throat-if she had lain
wide-eyed, tortured, till broad daylight
there was no hint of such excess In her
flower face nor in the rlish vigor of he
pose. Conover. doubtful as to how he
might best refer to the quarrel of the
previous night. for once did an absolutely
wise and tactful thing. He made no men
ton whatever Of the affair.
at was such a gorgeous day." Desiree
WaS saying INdL L 1tIt i ought 10 10
you know what beautiful weather 1t was
You'd never have thought to look. for
yourself. You know you wouldn't. Now
take me somewhere. Anywhere, SO long
as it's far enough. And j want to walk:
not drive. Where are we going? It's go,
to be somewhere outside OF this SOU ny.
hot old town. Out where there's whole
skyfull of air."
How'd you like to walk out to Ara
reek?" he suggested I'VE can sit on the
stoop there and drink seltzer lem'nade an
watch the paretics chase gutta percha
pills over the golf links. Would you care
about doin' that? There's big view there
for folks that cares for that sort of rot"
She assented gayly and they set Off
walking close together and chattering
like a couple of schoolgirls on holiday.
Caleb felt oddly young and buoyant. The
girl had ever the power of imparting to
him. when they were alone together.
something OF her own youth and gaye,y.
Today the spell worked with double force.
because of last nights scene. 1t would
have needed a far cleverer onlooker than
Conover to detect any artificiality In De-
sirees high spirits. She bullied him,
petted him. cajoled and instructed him by
turns as was her wont, until they had
entered the Arareek grounds. Then Of a
sudden she fell silent. :.
(To be continued tomorrow