Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-05
CHAPTER V-Continued.

lie Is not cross. answered DICK. car
nestly: his liver is out of order You'd
be peevish, too. il your liver was out of
order
The color swept into the girls face:
but She was a modern girl. possessing
sense of fair play approNimating the mas
cuire. and she saw that Dick was 700
much in earnest to be flinpant.
Well she rejoined. bravely. well. If
it was. Id-Id consult a physician. not
go about biting people. And it j. nearly
always a bulldog that goes mad and bites
little children"
1T always is replied Dick. with heavy
sarcasm. land il is always a divinely
beautiful girl that gets kidnapped or mnr-
dered You appear to he pit.fuily unso-
phisticated Haven't YOU ever studied
STYLES in headlines? How would this
look: A dear little cocker spaniel bites a
two-hundred- pound man on the instep:
No ii is always an immense bulldog. ana
he always lacerates the throat: hu; II
YOU trace II down YOU will find that the
sensational reporters are not generally
chosen as Judges at the bench shows.
You have probably heard OF the free
press The term means that IL IS tree in
its choice of adjectives. Why. talking
about a free press
No We are not talking about a free
press We are talking about bulldogs,
which should never be free at all, but
forced TO remain with muzzles OF. chained
i'm their own back yards
fed on bread and water ana beaten
with many stripes INTERCEPTED DICK. L
hope. il there is such thing as transmit
grafton of souls, ] don't come back as
your bulldog
You need not he alarmed 1t would
not surprise me in the least if you did
come back as bulldog: but as | shall
never under any circumstances. own one,
you run no risk of belonging to me.
Dick looked at the girl She was wear
ing trim tailormade suit OF light
weight material: the neck of her shirt
waist was low. and smooth. beautifully
rounded throat rose from it: her com
piexion was clear; her hair was dark
auburn, and he thought her eyes would
be a deep. soft brown-when the Sllnt OF
the fray was not In them.
oh come now he said, in a new
tone. that is rather blunt. don't You
know | would almost be willing to he
your collie
She frowned sternly as she totally ig-
nored his remark and said, severely,
And another thing, this is private prop
erty. What right have you or your pull
dog to be trespassing on it,
A grin of admiration stole over DICK
face. We'll, really you have way with
you. all right he said. frankly. When
it comes to stalking out bluff you don't
go about it in a shy and diffident manner.
If any of us three be trespasserS, l can
prove that it is neither Mulligan nor my
self
Il have walked here every morning for
the last month, and l have never seen
either you or the dog before responded
the girl, with scarcely perceptibie hesita-
ton.
Il lust arrived this morning: but Multi
gan has been here all the time. and it is
crime that you have not seen him."
"A crime"
Yes, crime He should have been
exercised every day: but instead they
have kept him shut up-according to your
plan
You know perfectly we'll that that is
not really my plan even for such menac-
ing creatures as bulldogs, answered the
girl a small note of protest modifying
her tone but from what l know of the
Bennington temperament, l should not
think it the kind to take much interest in
the welfare of fellow creature, much
less dumb brute. But then, | suppose, !
should rot talk this way. You are
guest I presume"
Yes that's it, I'm a guest, replied
Dick. heartily, hut then don't mind me.
am a great admirer of free speech
Won't you take seat so that We can
continue the discussion more comfort
ably?
For the first time the girl appeared II
be self-conscious. But | don't know
YOU" she said
Well you're not taking any more risk
than | ami don't know you, either.
Come on. here's a convenient bench.
The girl took a few steps toward the
bench. hesitated and said, But this is
horribly unconventional
What do you care?" rejoined Dick,
cheerily. Most of our really glad hours
are You are not conventional person.
anyway. You come anothers prop
erty with a snappy dog. and it bites the
perfectly behaved dog of a perfect
stranger: after which you turn in and
abuse the perfect stranger and his per-
fectiy behaved dog. Now, il you have
any real objections. trot them out: but
don't drag in poor, old, overworked con-
ventionalify.
The girl looked into Dicks eyes inauir-
ingly. They We're good eyes. clean and
steady and still in secret rebellion
against his will. holding something of the
knfghtIy diffidence of boyhood. She took
a few more steps and then. with quiz
zicaI smile said. Il really think l should
be going.
IF thy thoughts offend thee. cast them
out responded Dick. The only way to
have any fun with a convention is to
break 1t. and no one knows this better
than yourself. If we had been properly
introduced you would have been bored TO
death trying TO start a conversation.
whereas. you know that YOU have fairly
reveied in the opportunity to fay per
feet stranger. A few moments ago /
was perfect stranger. YOU know
No. you We're only a stranger muir
INJURED the girl. dreamily Men are never
perfect.
Il suppose that is true assented Dick.
AT least it is said often enough. Now,
then. sit down and lets have truce for
full five minutes
The girl was thoroughly enjoying the
spice of adventure which her carefully
trained conscience found quite pungent.
She sat on the bench at safe distance
from Dick and looked at Mullisan as
though she We're really afraid Of him.
What is your name she asked, with
out raising her eyes.
Dick waited a moment and then an
swered: He does everything except talk
His name is Nulligan."
That is stupid. Any one could tell that
his name was Mullgan after one glance
at his features-they are SO priZe-Hshtery.
l meant what is Your name?
MY name" hesitated Dick. 'Oh. yes,
my name Why my name is But
then, what is yours? Ii is always Gus
tomary TO give your own name hrst when
asking the name of another.
I'VE do ANYTHING about Gus