The Washington herald., 1911-01-22
CHAPTER XXXI.-(Continued.)

81 ooK here" he said in voice that shook with
passion. There's thing 1 won't do. and
that's propose to you in the office. That's why
I'm here Dede Mason, want you. just want you"
While he spoke he advanced upon her, his black
eyes burning with bright fire, his aroused blood
swarthy in his cheek.
So precipitate was he that she had barely time to
cry out her Involuntary alarm and to step back. at
the time catching of his hands he at
tempted to gather her into his arms.
In contrast to him the blood had suddenly left her
cheeks The hand that had warded his of and that
still held it trembling. She relaxed her fingers
and his dropped to his side. She wanted to say
something, do something, to pass from the awk-
wardness of the situation, but intelligent thought
nor action came into her mind. She aware only
Of desire to laugh This impulse partly hyster-
ical and partly spontaneous humor-the latter grow
ing from instant to instant. Amazing the affair
was, the ridiculous side of it not yelled to her.
She felt like who had suffered the terror of the
onslaught Of murderous footpad, only to find out
that it innocent pedestrian asking the time.
Daylight the quicker to achieve action.
"Oh, know I'm sure enough fool" he said. II
I guess I'll sit down. Don't be scairt Miss Mason.
I'm not real dangerous"
Pm not afraid" she answered with a SMILE
slipping down herself into chair beside which on
the floor stood a sewing basket from which, Day
light noted some white fluffy thing Of lace and muslin
overfowed. Again she smiled. Though 1 confess
you did-startle me for the moment"
Its funny" Daylight sighed almost with regret;
there am, strong enough to bend you around and tie
knots in you Here 1 am, used to having my will
with man and beast and anything. And here
sitting in this chair, weak and helpless little
lamb. You sure take the starch out Of me-"
Dede vainly cudgeled her brains in quest Of a re-
ply to these remarks Instead her thought dwelt in
sistently upon the significance of his stepping aside
in the middle Of violent proposal in order to make
irrelevant remarks. What struck her was the mans
gertrude. So little did he doubt that he would have
her that he could afford pause and generaze upon
love and the effects Of love.
She noted his hand unconsciously slipping in the
familiar way into the side coat pocket where she
knew he carried his tobacco and brown papers
You may smoke, if you want to-" she said.
He withdrew his hand with jerk, as if something
In the pocket had stung him.
mo, wasn't thinking of smoking. l was think
ing of YOU What's a man to do when he wants q
woman but ask her to marry him? That's all that
I'm doing. l can't do it in style. l know that. But
can use straight English and that's good enough
for me. 1 sure want you mighty bad, Miss Mason
You're in my mind most all the time now. And
what l want to know is-well, do you want me?
That's ALL
II wish you hadn't asked" she said softly.
fore you give answer" he went on ignoring the
fact that the answer had already been given. Il
never went after woman before in my life. all re-
ports to the contrary notwithstanding. The stun
you read about me in the papers and books about me
being lady killer is all wrong. There's ota
of truth in it. l guess I've done than my share
of cardplaying and whskey drinking, but women I've
let alone. There woman that killed herself,
but / didn't know she wanted me that bad or else
Id have married her-not for love, but to keep her
from killing herself She the best of the boiling
but 1 never gave her any encouragement I'm tell
ing you all this because you've read about it. and
want you to get it straight from me.
Lady Killer he snorted. "Why, Miss Mason I
don't mind telling you that I've been scairt Of
women all my life. You're the first one I've not been
afraid of. That's the strange thing about IT. just
plumb worship you. and yet I'm not afraid Of you.
Mebbe it's because you're different from the vouen>
know. You've never chased me- Lady killer! Why
I've been running away from ladies ever since can
and guess ali that saved me was that
was strong In the wind and that never fell down
and broke leg or anything.
II ddn't ever want to set mars1a1 untn sflG