The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-11-24

alone entitled to the name Of gentle.
man, she could have felt certain that
he had intended the remark for . del.
icately worded assurance. But was
Tom Blake, for all his blunt kindli-
ness. capable of such tact? She
chose to consider that he was.
Its cunning little bungalow. But
will not the rain food you OUT"
IT'S going to have a raised floor.
You're more like to have the rain
drive In on you again. III have to rig
up porch over your door. 1t won't
do to stuff up the hole. You've little
enough air as 1t IS. But that can
wait q while. There's other work
more pressing. First. there's the bar.
ricade. BY the time that's done those
hyena skins will be cured enough to
use. I've got to have new trousers
soon, and new shoes. too"
Il can do the sewing, II you will cut
out the patterns"
mo; Ill take a stagger at 1t my.
self first. Id rather you'd go egging.
You need to run around more, to keep
in trim"
Il feel quite well now, and am
growing SO strong! The only thing
is this constant heat"
Wen have to grin and bear It.
After all, it's not SO bad, II only we
can stave on the fever. Another rea-
son I want you to go for eggs is that
you can take your time about it, and
keep a lookout for steamers"
Then you think
Don't screw up your hopes too
high. We've little show of being
picked up by a chance boat on coast
with reefs like this. But figure that
if was in your daddy's shoes it'd be
joyment to eat such delicacy with
out some one to share it." she said.
Blake looked away without answer
But she could see that his face was
beginning to clear. Greatly encour-
aged, she chatted away as though they
were seated at her fathers dinner
table and he was an elderly friend
from the business world whom 1t was
her duty to entertain.
For a while Blake betrayed little in.
terest, combining himself to monOsyl-
tables except when he commented on
the care with which she had cooked
the various dishes. When she least
expected, he looked up at her, his lips
parted in a broad smile. She stopped
short, for she had been describing her
first social triumphs and his untimely
levity embarrassed her.
Don't get mad, Miss Jenny" he
said. his eyes twinkling. You don't
know how funny it seems to sit here
and listen to you talking about those
things. It's like serving up ice cream
high time for me to be cabling ship
to run up from Natal, or down from
Zanzibar, to look around for jettison,
ct cetera."
I'm sure papa will offer a big re-
ward"
Second the motion! I've q sort
Of idea I wouldn't mind coming in for
a reward myself"
you? Oh, yes; to be sure. Papa
is generous, and he will be grateful
to anyone who"
You think mean his dirty
money!" broke in Blake. hotly.
Her confusion told him that he had
not been mistaken. His face, only
a moment since bright and pleasant,
took on its sullenest frown.
Miss Leslie rose hurriedly and
started along the cleft.
Hello" he called. Not going for
eggs now, are your
She did not reply.
Hang it all, Miss Jenny! Don't go
of like that"
May l ask you to excuse me, Mr..
Blake? Is that sufficient
Sufficient? It's enough to give
fellow a chill! Come, now; don't go
of mad. You know I've q quick tenn
per. Can't you make allowances?"
"You've-you've no right to look so
angry, even If l did misunderstood |
you. You misunderstood mel" She
caught herself up with half sob. His
silence gave her time to recover her |
She continued with ex-
cessive politeness: Need l repeat |
my request to be excused, Mr.. Blake?"
mo; once is enough! But, honest, |
now, l didn't mean to be nasty"
"G0od-day, Mr.. Blake"
"Oh, da-darn it, good-day!" he
groaned.
When, q few minutes later, she re. |
turned, he was gone. He did not |
come back until some time after dark. |
when she had withdrawn to her lean
to for the night. His hands were
bleeding from thorn scratches; but |
after a hasty supper he went back |
down the cleft to build up the new
wall Of the barricade with the great |
stack of fresh thorn-brush that no
had gathered during the afternoon.
Go BE cOHTINUED)
- f. 81