Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-07-18
HERBERT QUICK
CHAPTER x.
THE RETREAT OF THEODORE,

derS Tor the shipment OF the
engines and began to provide
better equipment for the
house. He brought as a companion
for Miss Suarez an elderly widow,
Mrs. Stott, who was addicted to the
writing Of poems Of lovelorn nature.
.Nirginia's opinion Of her new uncles
j worldly wisdom rose at this provision
for chaperonage. But she gave him
too much credit He merely thought
of Virginia's becoming lonely.
i BE could not depart until sure that
miss Virginia" would not feel sighted
should he push on.
Cratghead's kilograms came in from
the east, still Delphic in significance.
One reported that New York was prnc-
tically surrounded" another that the
country would soon be 'gridironed."
Theodore was deaf to voices from the
outer world. A letter from Harrod.
proving that the news Of his return
had reached the cabin in the dunes,
lay on the old escritoire one morning.
Theodore inserted a paper knife in the
envelope. half cut 1t open-and saw
'Virginia's dress glimmering outside.
The half opened letter fell to the desk,
and Uncle Theodore leaped out on the
lEeranda.
Morning. unclen said she. "Have
you slept well?"
sFine"
! ''You don't look it," said she. "Your
eyes look dull. You devote too much
time to business while your family is
asleep. don't your
1Cncle" thought OF the unopened let
ter, the unanswered kilograms, the
neglected business. Mr.. Waddy's mon
ey. the uncompleted aeronef, the sleep
less nights, tormented by-not business
at all, not business! Decidedly not!
II slept too soundly." said he.
They spent most Of their time out Of
doors. Theodore ate wolishly each
day and drank great quantities Of cof-
Zee to show that he was in fine fettle-
quite unable to pick up bis end Of the
conversation. 1t was youth and spring
and sweet fellowship, though the
table talk. He wanted the river and
Psyche, knowing that he ought to go
and leave her. Every night he vowed
to 60 next morning-and laid plans for
another day with her.
EARLY one morning they started out
on berry picking expedition. The
girl trod in hollow and fell in a
heap on the Bermuda grass. Theo-
dore found her with her ankle gripped
in her hands and her lips tight to hold
back cry. A hurried question,
CHEEKY reply cut in two with a twinge
of pain. and he picked her up. She
threw her arms about his neck to ease
the burden. Alas. it made it heavier!
The fervor Of his embrace did the an
kle no good and nearly crushed poor
Virginia. The color rose slowly to her
brow as he set her down on the veran-
da and stood over her, breathing hard.
She rose on the sound foot and tried
the other carefully.
ut isn't bad at ALL" said She
Taking off the shoe, she held the lit
tie foot in her hand, examining the an
kle critically.
"Do you think it's swelling?" she
asked.
Theodore tenderly squeezed the
Shapely ankle snd rose to his feet.
Il don't know" said he. "I-T&r-
:tnio''-
He had seized her hand and was
looking at her with none OF the inn
personality Of the surgeon or physi-
clan. She did not take her hand
away. He dropped it and ran-ran-
toward the river.
Theodore was absent at dinner with
ont apology. and the women were in
bed before he stole to his room and
lay tossing again. Desperate, he rose
and went to the library, lighted a
lamp, saw The still sealed letter from
Captain Harrod and slashed it open as
IL It had been the breast of his mortal
foe It ran:
hear that you are back south
hope you can come right soon. The en-
gincs Is here for ten days. The man that
lost the flying thing the young lady come
IN IL back. He is right crazy. Mr.. Theo-
dore, from losing his machine. He keeps
trying to git into the shed and yells no
Is rooned. They is a lot OF letters ana
kilograms at Palmetto Beach.
Theodore struck himsete on the
breast and started to his feet deter
mined to Zee to his work and from
the romantic dangers of his unclehood.
Trembling with excitement, he attempt
ed note to Virginia. Wilmer at the
cabin, messages at the beach, meant
danger and disgrace If he neglected his
task longer, infamy IL he toyed on
with temptation. He told Chloe
through her door that he had been
called away and that she must explain
to the ladies. He hastily packed
bag, ran down and unmoored the
launch and fed down the river.
Captain Harrod, digniaed, barefoot
ed, soft voiced, unkempt, kept his
lonely vigil on the white straight edge
Of beach that lay from Fort Morgan
to Pert1ido bay. Captain Harrod, ig-
noring landscape and seascape, devot-
ed himself to the study Of sand tracks
Of all sorts-tracks OF foxes examin-
ing the beach for turtles eggs, months
ahead of time; talon marks of opos-
sums and raccoons prowling about for
crabs, mice and birds eggs; hoof
marks OF wild hogs, etc. Trails Of men
there were along the sparsely trav
eled highway Of the strand and the
footprints of one in particular attract
I'd him Tracks in the sand were to