The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-21

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HE asked IL arm tone, though erf
dentiy amused
Who me you turned the ell III
she showed herself quickly back.
against the pillows and drew tie GOV.
ers close under her chin looking iii
him oddly over their top.
she done been cuttin' up somefin
awfulI'- Mandy explained as she tried
to regaiI enough breath for a new en-
counter.
Cutting upl You surprise me, Mis-
Polly, . he said, with mock seriousness
How do you know I'm PollyF the
little rebel asked, her eyes cleaning
large and desperate above the friendly.
covers.
IF you win be very good and KEEP
very quiet, ! will try to tell you,n he
said as he crossed to the bed.
81 won't be quiet, not for nobody
Polly objected. with a bold disregard
of double negatives. q got to get a
move. II you amt goin' to help me
you needn't butt In"
II am afraid can't help you to &c
Just YETI Douglas replied. he was be
ginning to perceive that there were
tasks before him other than the shap
ing of PoIly's character.
What are you tryin' to do to me
anyhow she asked as she shot a
glance Of suspicion from, the pastor to
Mandy What am I up against?"
Don't you be scared. honey" Man
dy reassured her. "Youse jes' as safe
here as you done been In de cIrcus.n
Safer, we hope" Douglas added
with smile.
Are you two bug?" Polly ques
toned as she turned her head from
one side TO the other and studied them
with a new idea. "Tell, you can't
get none the best of me. Lean get
away all right, an l will too"
She made a desperate effort to put
one foot TO the floor, but fell back with
a cry Of pain.
Oar, dar," Mandy murmured, put.
ting the pillow under the poor,
cramped neck and smoothing the tan.
gled hair from Polly's forehead. "You
done hurt yo'sef for suah dis time"
The pastor had taken step toward
the bed. His look of amusement had
changed TO one Of pity.
you see, Miss Polly. you have had
very bad fall, and you can't get away
just yet nor see your friends until you
are better"
ITS only scratch" Polly within.
pered. 81 can do my work; l got to-"
One more feeble effort and she sue.
cumbed, with faint "jlminy crlck-
etsw
"Uncle Toby told me that you were
very good little girl" Douglas said
as he drew up chair and sat down
by her side, confident by the express
sion on her face that at last he was
master Of the situation. do you thInl;
he wonld like You to behave like this?'
81 sure am on the blink" she sighed
as she settled back YEARLY upon the
pillow.
You'll be nil right soon." Douglas
answered cheeriIy. Mandy and will
help the time to 60"
81 recollect now" Polly faltered
without hearing him. ut was the last
hoop. lin seemed to have Il bunch
was goIn' to be in for trouble when !
went into the ring. Blngo must "a felt
1t too. He kept a-pullin' and a-ierEin'
from the start | got myself together
TO make the last jump. AM can't re-
member no more" Her head dropped,
md her eyes closed.
II wouldn't try Just now IL were
you," Douglas answered tcnderly.
Its my wheel. amt ft?" Polly ques-
toned after pause.
"Yohh what. chile?" Mandy exclalm.,
ed as she turned from the table. where
she had been rolling up the unused
bandngcs left from the doctors call the
night before.
81 say it's my creeper. my paddle"
Polly explained. trying to locate few
of her many pains. Gee, but that
! hurts!' She tried to bend her ankle.
rs It punctnred?"
Only spralned,- Douglas answered.
striving to control his amusement at
the expression on Mandy's puzzled
face "Better not talk any more about
It,"
"Ain't anything the matter with my
tongue. is thereT" she asked. turning
her hend to one side and studying him
qulzzicaily.
81 don't think there is" he replied
good natIredly.
How did come to fall in here any.
how" she asked as She studied the
walls Of the unfamiliar room.
1--WE brought you here"
ITS swell place" she conceded
grudgingly.
I'VE are comfortable ne admitted
as telltale smile again lowered about
his lips. He was thinking of the
changes that he must presently make
In Miss Polly's vocabulary.
as this the big topT" she asked.
'The-what?" he stammcred.
1.-THE main tent" she explained.
well, no; not exactly. Its going to
be your room now, Miss Polly"
MY room! Gee! Think of Ithat!"
she easped as the possibility Of her
actually having a room all Of her own