Charlevoix county herald., 1909-10-09
I

Herce energy.
Then the girl found her voice.
60 away-go away! How dare
you!" she cried, as her face flushed
scarlet.
Blake turned, spat, and burst out
with loud demand of Winthrope:
slash it! Ten times worse than a rat
tlesnake- Lord! you're slow-Ill use
| mine!"
Let go of me-let go! What do you
mean, sir?" cried the girl, struggling
| to free herself.
Hold still, you little fool" he
| shouted. ITS death-sure death, If
don't get the poison from that bite!"
I'm not bitten Let go, say! 1t
struck in the fold of my skirt"
For Gods sake, Jenny, don't lie!
| It's certain death! l saw the mark"
THAT was a thorn. / drew it out
an hour ago"
Blake looked up into her hazel eyes.
They were blazing with indignant
scorn. He freed her, and rose with
clumsy slowness. Again he glanced
| at her quivering. scarlet face, only to
| look away with a sheepish expression.
Il guess you think I'm just a
damned meddlesome idiot" he num-
bled
| She did not answer. He stood for
q little, rubbing a finger across his
| -blstered lips. Suddenly he
| stopped and looked at the finger. 1t
was streaked with blood.
"Whew!" he exclaimed. Didn't
stop to think of that! It's just as we'll
for me, Miss Jenny, that wasn't an ad-
der bite. A little poison on my sore
| lip would have done for me. Ten to
one, we'd both have turned up our
toes at the same time. OF course.
though, that'd be nothing to you"
Miss Leslie put her hands before
her face and burst into hysterical
weeping.
Blake looked around, far moro
alarmed than when facing the adder.
Here. you blooming lud!" he shout
ed; take the lady away and be quick
about it. She'll go dotty if she sees
any more snake stunts. Clear out with
her, while l smash the wriggler."
| Winthrope, who had been staring
fixedly at the beautiful coloring and
loathsome form of the writhing adder,
started at Blake's harsh command as
though struck.
"I-er-to be sure" he stammered,
and darling around to the hysterical
| girl, he took her arm and hurried her
away up the glade.
They had gone several PAGES when
Blake came running up behind them.
WINTHROP looked back with a glance
Of inquiry. Blake shook his head
mot yet" he said. Give me your
cigarette case. I've thought of some.
thing Hold on; take out the cigar.
cites. Smoke em, if you like"
Case in hand, Blake returned to the
wounded adder, and picked up his
club. A second smashing blow would
have ended the matter at once; but
Blake did not strike. Instead, he
tented with his club until he managed
to pin down the venomous head. The
club lay across the monsters neck,
and he held it fast with the pressure
| CT his foot
When. half an hour later, he wiped
| his knife on wisp of grass and stood
up. the cigarette case contained over
a tablespoonful of a crystalline liquid
He peered in at it, his heavy jaw
thrust out, his eyes glowing with saw
age citation.
Talk about your meat trusts and
Winchesters!" he exulted; here's a
whole carload of beef in this little box
enough dope to morgue a herd of
steers. Good God, though, that was a
close shave for her!"
His face sobered, and he stood for
| several moments staring thoughtfully
into space. Then his gaze CHANGED
to fall upon the great crimson blossom
which had so nearly lured the girl TO
her death.
'Hello!" he exclaimed that's an
amaryllis. Wonder if she wasn't com.
ing to pick it" He snapped shut the
lid OF the cigarette case, thrust it
carefully into his shirt pocket and
, stepped forward to pluck the flower
Makes a fellow feel like a kid; but
maybe it'll make her feel less sore at
me-"
! He stood gazing at the flower for
several moments, his eyes aglow with
a soft blue light.
"Whew!" he sighed; IF only But
what's the use? She's way out of my
| class-a rough brute like me! All the
same, It's up to me to take care of
her. She can't keep me from being
| her friend-and she sure can't object
to my picking flowers for her"
Amaryllis in hand, he gathered up
his bow and club. Then he paused
to study the skin Of the decapitated
adder. The inspection ended with a
| shake of his head.
Better not, Thomas. 1t would make
a dandy CULVER; but then, it might get
on her nerves"
Gro BE CONTINUED)
|
May BE Whited Srpuicher.
II is a womans way 70 think there
is always some good in man who