Evening star., 1909-05-27
CHAPTER II.
The Girl.

Conover lounged back and forth in this
pretty little reception room of Desires
Shevlins house, haIting now and then to
glance with puzzled approval at some
item of its furnishings. The room-the
whole house-was to him mystery. Con-
| tentedly devoid of taste though he was.
the man dimly realized the charm of the
place and the dainty perfection of its ap-
pointment. That Desiree had accomplish
| ed this in no way astonished him. For
he believed her quite capable of any
minor miracle. But in 1t all he took a
pride that had voiced itself once in the
| comment:
Il don't see how you could make room
| look so nice without single tidy or even
| bow tied up anywhere. But why dlo
you get those dull old tiles for your man
tel? l wouldn't a kicked at payin' for
| the best marble
Today Conover gave less than usua
| homage to the apartment He was agos
to tell it's owner his wonderful t1dings,
and he chafed at her delay In appear
| ing. At last she came-the one person
| on earth who could have kept Caleb Con-
over waiting without paying by sharp re-
proof for the delay.
I'm sorry l was SO long" she began
| as she brushed the curtains aside and
| hurried in. But Billy and ! couldn't
agree on the joys Of Tubing. I'd hate
| to hate anything as much as he mates ms
| bath Now you've had some good luck!
Glorious, scrumptious good luck. l car am
| tell by the way your mustache is all
| chewed. You only chew 1t when you re
excited And you are only excited when
something good has happened: Ism y
| clever of me to know that? l ought TO
write it up: Facial Fur AS Bliss Ba-
rometer.' How-Oh. didn't mean to be
silly when you're bursting with news.
Please be good and tell me. Is 1t any
| thing about Steeloid?'
It's all about Steeloid.'' he answered
I've won out-Ive made nay pile she
caught both his hands in hers, with ges-
ture almost awkward in it's happy 1mpul-
siveness.
.oh. I'm so glad. So glad!" she cried
Tell me!''
Boyishly. bluntly. eagerly, Conover re-
peated his story.
His forid face was alight. enthusiasm
well-nigh choking him. She heard him Out
with an excitement almost as great as MS
own. AS he finished she clapped her
hands with little laugh Of utter delight.
"Oh, splendid" she exclaimed No one
but YOU would ever have thought of 1t.
It's her flush of pleasure yielding
momentarily to look of troubled query
Its perfectly-honest, of course!
Its business" he replied.
That's the same thing, | suppose" she
said. much relieved. And you're rlcn!
"A million, anyway. And you'll"
s'Hell!"
Both turned at the wonder-inspired. sui
phurous monosyllable. Desiree jerked the
curtain aside. revealing a stocky small
boy, very red of face. He was clutching
blue bath robe about him and had no
apparent aim in life save to escape from
the situation into which his Involuntary
expletive had betrayed him.
Now don't go calm me down, Dey,
| he pleaded. Il just happened to be gong
past-I was on the way to take my
bath. all right-on the level l was-an
heard Mr.. Conover say about havin' a
million. An'-an'-I spoke without think
in
He had been edging toward the stair
foot as he spoke. Now. finding the lower
step behind him, he fled upward on pat
Poor Billy" laughed Desiree. Hes an
awfully good little chap. But he will
listen. / can't break him Of It."
Maybe ! could" hazarded Conover.'
the same time. Leave him to me. Moth
/ ing but kindness does any good Wnere ne
is concerned"
Caleb >
"That will do-' she reproved. Now.
want to hear more about Steelofd. Poor
Mr. Blacarda. It's pretty hagorous FOL
him, isn't it?''
IF .hagorous' means he's got it in the
neck. 1t is"
NV. "means anything horrd. l know. be
| cause l made 1t up. It's Such a comIor
to make up words. Because then you se'
you can give them meanings as you g
along. 1t saves lot OF pother Dio So'
ever try t." ,,,-
NO" said Conover. apologetically. Il n
afraid l never did. Maybe could. though
LIE it'd make a hit with you. But yo,
were talkin' about Blacarda, ans. aom am
wastin' sympathy on him. are you!
"J,nn sorry for any one that gets th'
worst of it. But
but no sorrier for Blacarda than yo'
would be for anybody else?'
"Of course not. Why?'
HE comes here lot. Twice I've me
him here. Is he stuck on your
Il think he is.
leb Il don't blame him; so long as 70,
Idon't care about him. You don I, 90 you'
he finished anxiously.
Hes very handsome" she observed de
murely.
rs he?'
"Well,pretty NV handsome
"He's-Tve heard girls say So"
HIN. Nice crimson lips, red cheeks
oily curled hair and eyes like couple
! ginger snaps"
more like chocolate pies. There's some
thing very sweet and melting about them
And, besides. you mustn't run him doWI
He's very nice to me. Last night n
: asked me to marry him. What do yo
: think of that? Honestly. he did
, The measly he-dOll! ! wish I'd brok
him a year ago instead of waiting TO
| the Steeloid scrap What'd you say whe
, he asked you?"
Your face gets such curious shad
, Of magenta when you are angry, Caleb
mused Desree, observing him critical!
, her head on one side. But 1t doesn'
match your hair a little bit. There,
didn't mean to tease you. Yes, | oil
, mean it, too, but I'm sorry. told hir
l couldn't marry him, of course"
Good work. approved Caleb. What
, he say them"
.He-he asked if I'd try and look o.
him as brother-'a dear brother
| and"
She broke off with reminiscent laugh
We'll, what did you say?'
I'm afraid / was a little rude. Blu
didn't mean to be. I'd heard smother
ed giggle from over In the corner. So
told him If I'd really had any use for
brother-a dear brother.'-I could reac
right behind the divan and get one n
stalked over to the divan. And sur
Billy, all wudged up in little hear
He
"All-what?" asked the perplexed Con
over, pausng in the midst of Homeri
guffaw. -, -,
.Wudged' All wudged up-like thi
- crumpling her ten fingers INTO
white, compact little bunch. Mr.. Bia
carda was very angry. He went away
: She Joined for an instant in ConoVer
laughter; then checked herself with
stamp OF her foot
stop she ordered. I'm little beas
to behave So He-cared for me. He ASK
ed me to marry him. There ought TO
/, t., al a