Charlevoix county herald., 1909-11-13

and hesitate. She studied his face,
her bosom heaving with quick-drawn
breath; but she could make nothing
OF his square jaw and firm-set lips.
His eyes were concealed by the brim
OF his leaf hat. When he spoke, SEEM
ingly 1t was to change the subject:
Guess you saw me making my hut
I'm fixing it so it'll do me even when
1t rains"
Had he been the kind of man that
she had been educated to consider as
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 flood you out? ?"
It's going to have raised floor.
You're more like to have the rain
drive in on you again. I'll have to rig
up porch over your door. 1t won't
do to stuff up the hole. You've little
enough air as it is. But that can
wait a 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. If you will cut
out the patterns"
NO; I'll take a stagger at it my
self first. I'd rather you'd go egging.
You need to run around more, to keep
in trim"
81 feel quite we'll now, and I am
growing so strong! The only thing
is this constant heat"
We'll have to grin and bear it
After all, it's not so bad, if only we
can stave off the fever. Another rea-
son l 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 a coast
with reefs like this. But l figure that
if | was in your daddy's shoes it'd be
joyment to eat such a 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 it 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 a 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 a sort
of idea l wouldn't mind coming in for
reward myself"
you? Oh, yes; to be sure. Papa
is generous, and he will be grateful
to anyone who"
you think I mean his dirty
money!" broke in Blake, holly.
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. mot going for
eggs now, are your"
She did not reply.
Hang it all, Miss Jenny! Don't go
off 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
off mad. You know I've a 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
composure. She continued with ex-
cessive politeness: Need l repeat
my request to be excused, Mr.. Baker"
mo; once is enough! But, honest,
now. / didn't mean to be nasty"
"Good-day, Mr.. Blake"
"Oh. da-darn it, good-day!" he
groaned.
When, a few minutes later, she re-
turned, he was gone. He did not
come back until some time after dark,
when she had withdrawn to hes tsan-
to for the night. His hands wee
bleeding from thorn scratches; but
after hasty supper he went back
down the cleft to build up the new
wall OF the barricade with the great