The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-24
(Continued.l CHAPTER XIV.


 x. An electric aura of uneas1ness pre- | vaded the big station-the lndefnaple | worthless something that gives warn l ing to the most remote den1zens O. | every office when the boss" is out o1 | temper.
 | Yet Caleb. as it happened. was no
 out of temper. He was merely unhap-
 py. The effect. to casual observers | was the same as on the not very rare | days of his rages. But, instead o1 | storming up and down his office as or | the latter occasions, Caleb merely sulk- | ed in his desk chair. chewed countless | cigars and reused himself every few minutes to kestoil a horror for such | 1uckless subordinates as just then l chanced to impress their existence on | his mind. Hence the Presidents prl- | vate office was summed like pest | house by everyone 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 sealed unstamped envelope. Conover,S scoWl l vanished as he 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 menacins than that of a sick bear.
 "No. eir| piped the youth with propitiatory grin. T ast the mes'nger an he said"
 .Clear out!" mumbled Caleb. his eyes and mind fixed on the sheet he velope.
 The boy departed; swaggering into the main office with all the conscious heroism of lion-tamer. The door
 wind-caught, swung shut behind him with :, 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 scnbbled lines in ex- aggeratedly large writing. The Fight CTS face softened as he read Then, glancing about in shame-faced caution he hastily lifted the note; brushed it across his lips with 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 audibly. he perused them; smiling to himself.
 Please, I'm good now. don't think I'm ever going to be bad again. Wouldn't it be fine if you would come and take me for walk this afternoon? D. S."-
 Isn't she the dandiest ever?" Caleb asked bimself gleefully as he straight ened his tie before the office mirror and damned his felt hat down over his forehead why can't the Lefty girl be like her? Then there'd be some
 
 and Dey'll be friends. If they ain't-
 He strode through the outer office looking so human that his expression combined with the far more important fact that he was evidently departing for the day. put the whole staff into the utmost good humor for the rest of the afternoon.
 It was a very natural, self-controlled Desirec who met Conover on the porch of the Shevlin cottage. If hers had been the muffled sobs that had sent him home with a 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 tf.e girlish vigor of her pose. ConQyer doubtful as 70 how he might best re- fer to the quarrel of the previous night for once did an absolutely wise and tactful thing. He made no mention what ever of the affair.
 Tt was such a gorgeous day" Desiree was saying. |" that felt I ought to let you know what beautiful weather it 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 want to walk; not drive. Where are we going? It's got to be somewhere outside of this squiffy. hot old town. Out where there's whole sky-ful1 of air"
 reek?'' he suggested. "We can sit on the stoop there and drink seltzer lem'- made am watch the paretics chase gut ta percha pills over the golf links. Would you care about doin' that? There's a big view there for folks that cares for that sort of rot"
 She assented gaily and they set off walking close together and chattering like a couple of schoolgirls on a holi- day. Caleb felt oddly young and buoy ant. The girl had ever the power of imparting to him. when they were alone together. something of her own
  worked with double force because of last nights scene. It would have need ed a far clever onlooLer than Conover to detect any artificiality in Desiree's 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.
 The deep clubhouse veranda was fil- | led. with knots of men and women Among the idling groups, the girl had | recognized Lefty Standish and Caine. | Jack Hawarden. who was sitting with | the couple ran down the steps to well | come the newcomers.
 There are two extra chairs at our table" he said eagerly. And I be- lieve they're the only two left on the one took them. Now I see it was 
 Caleb hesitated. glancing in doubt at Desiree. The girl a little to his sur pTiSc, dSScHleu WitH peTIecl WlIllnRneSS to Jacks suggestion. and led the way between several hevies of frankly ad- hiring men and openly curious women, toward 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 it's best expression. But Caine. masculinely obtuse, was very glad to see them. He sig nailed a waiter as Caleb and Desiree seated themselves.
 When Providence ordained hot days ike this" said Caine oracularly. "He nercifully devised seitzer lemonades to 70 with them. Would you rather have ! Scotch-and-soda. Conover?"
 'No thanks" demurred the Fighter No use in sDoilin' two perfectly good hinRs like booze an water by fizzin' em up together
 That is so." agreed Caine tritely Mixing whiskey with water is like merging love into matrimony. It.
 Lefty giggled appreciation She had ! marvellous ear for humor, and could llmost always tell by a speakers tone when he had said anything funny. It