Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-02-12

impa rtially and listened attenhvsly t.
everything Duponceau said. Even Charles
felt her influence. / could see him nngeI
In the doorway on the alert to serve her,
breakfast came to an end, and Barbara
insisted on bandaging Rodney's arm
think he was sorry that she should know
how slight the wound really was, for he
dcmurred, though with a look of great
satisfaction; but he finally consented to
roll up his sleeve. / drew Duponceau
away to my den, aand the two were left
alone for long half-hour. Monsieur
Pierre and / discussed matters of defense.
When we returned to the living room
Karbara's face was flushed, and Rodney s
checks were red. His arm was wound
with a new bandage and little gold pin
fastened it.
"Will you take me over to the house?"
asked Barbara, jumping up; and now 1t
was my turn to gloat, for she insisted on
poking into every nook and Granny, on
learning how two men left to their own
devices lived, and on improving what she
found. |. who had once been ayerse to
feminine influence about a house, surren-
dered She Strengthened the pictures, re-
arranged the ornaments and knick-knacks,
and finally started in upon my desk.
"Oh, please don't touch that J" I ex-
claimed
She stopped and looked at me. Rod
ney let me fix his arm when he didn' I
want to, and you"
please do / said, motioning towards
the papers, and she placed them in little
piles. quite regardless of what they were
about.
Now I've been horrid enough" she
said when she'd finished. al dare say men
are better off living alone. Think how
angry you'd be If woman should do that
every day."
THAT depends on the woman. could
imagine"
~ always told you you were imagina-
could imagine would probably be a
nymph."
Yes" | agreed; ''she is"
And nymphs are proverbially slippery
creatures"
Yes, so I've heard"
$50 she might slip away from you with
out a moments notice"
She sat down In my big desk-chair.
Poor Rodney" she sighed. ut seems
as if he were sacrificing a great deal.
Think of his stocks and bonds"
Yes" / agreed. A moment later
added, 81 haven't written line for ever
many days"
And it's so important that a broker
should keep in touch with his Office" she
added.
And that q writer should write"
Then why did you give it up?"
"Duponceau," ] answered. Our eyes
met, and we both laughed.
There was a brief silence. and then she
rose. II hsye { feeling that the crisis =
coming. Remember thai ts4sst ga 10
shield my pirate. must go back to the
club"
We went downstairs, and Barbara
made her adeux.
I'm go with you to your horse" said
Rodney.
II shall be delighted to 60" put in at
the same moment.
II am not so valuable a man as you. I"
Rodney explained, in case they should cut
us Off"
Barbara looked from one to the other
Of as. Rodney" she began.
/ bowed u yield" He was the older
friend, and much as feared him, j could
but admit that he was entitled TO the
privilege,
Isip smiled with pleasure. Thank
you" be said
Rodney must not 60" she finished
II was my turn 10 start for the door.
Nor must you she continued TO me. u
am much safer alone than with either Of
y0u"
The matter Was settled We could only
hold the door open, and lei her pass out
We watched her a. she went down the
beach. Once she turned and waved her
ridinK@0p ~ farewell, II Was cruel that
ae should BIZ penned up within four walls
when che world was crying aloud foT joy
II tAe day, and she Was golng our "a 81.
We turned back ID al east towards each
other, and just then p bullet pl0uxAed into
rhe house b ne right of ps We jumped
in slammed me door and bolied n.
There NAg b ofy from Charles "lhey as
coming w the baleQnyi'