Evening star., 1909-06-17

tween thin. soaked lashes: her nose -auiv
ering. But. for once, loveriike heroics
were lacking. For. even as he started to
voice the idle promise. picture of
Blacarda-smashed and unrecognizable.
screaming in agony Of terror-f1ashed into
Gaines mind. And the pardonable boast
stuck midway in his throat.
Il think YOU are getting tired of me-.
sobbed Lefty. accusingly. If. you are,
don't be afraid 10 say so. | can bear it.
It's only one thing more for me to bear.
Mrs Hawarden al Desiree's whispered
plea. had offered Caleb homeward lift in
her carriage. The Fighter sat in heavy
silence throughout the drive. When the
carriage stopped at Desree's door. he
helped her out and with a grunt of good
nigh, to Mrs Hawarden. followed the girl
up the walk. Nor did he speak as he un-
locked the door for her.
But DeSiree was in no haste to say good
night. 4 waning moon made the veran-
da bright. The air was still warm. She
threw her cloak over chair arm and
seated herself in a porch rocker: Caleb
standing dumby before her. She leaned
back comfortably in the deep chair. look
ing up with nscrutable eyes at his sill
houette that bulked big in the moonlight.
OF sudden. she fell to laughing softly.
'.Oh. you hig baby" she cried. You've
punished yourself all you're going TO. It's
all right Now stop being unhappy. Stop.
Smiler'
''Yon aren't sore on me?'' he asked in
lingering doubt.
SILLY, Why should hep
II made awful small of you. the way
l acted, he confessed.
IF / can stand il. you ought to-" she
retorted. Now be friends and stop sulk-
ing
still In doubt.
Mad? Not one smidgin!-T--
'Oh. Dey. he interrupted, all contri-
ton. 1T was rotten of me. To think Of
my snorin' out loud an maxim everybody
rubber at you while they gave me the
laugh, An YOU never batted an eye! You
sat there lookin so friendly an cool. an
talkin to me like nothin. had happened.
could a knelt down and kissed both
your feet. l KEEP a thinkin' all evenin
that you'd most likely take it out on me
when we was alone. It'd a'been only hoo
man nature If you had: That's why
came here now. To take my medicine
An you amt even disgusted with me
You amt are vouo'' he added in hasty
need for reinsurance.
Would YOU have been sgusted' with
me-" she asked. If it had been l instead
You know blame we'll wouldn't he
declared. "An' I'd alicked ev'ry man In
the place that dared to laugh or look
sneerin'. I'd a
That's just what l wanted to do said
Desiree. IF 1 was cross inside, it wasn't
al you. dear boy"
.'Ill win out on 'em yet" growled Con-
over Il made a mistake. An I'm
ashamed of it. The only feller who's
never ashamed of his mistakes is a loona-
tic. And I amt loonatic. by a long
shot. I'm ashamed. But I'll win
Listen to me-. she demanded. IF
there was a big lovable. splendid child
you knew and he insisted on going TO play
with children who hadn't the sense to sea
how fine he was and what good company
he could be. 1t wouldn't make you angry
al him. would it. If he got laughed at for
not understanding their stiff set wayso
OF course not But when he'd had his
lesson and had burned his poor stubby
fingers. wouldn't it make you just the
least little bit impatient if he began right
away to plan to try his luck with those
same horrid children again? Wouldn't
you be tempted to spank him or"
You're dead right little girl" he ad-
mitted. AN you're a lot cleverer than
l am. ="
(To be continued tomorrow