The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-11
CHAPTER w.
(Contlnued.l


Again Tom Strickland laughed.
You'll have me maxim love TO you,
first thing you know" he said.
II dare you TO. Tom" the girl re-
piled In low voice. II dare you to,
And no real man ever took such a
dare from a girl"
They were moving side by side
along the road. The girls free car
rage Geemed that OF some wild AID
beautiful young animal of the
woods Tenn Strickland bent To-
ward her. passing his arm about
her soft little waist.
You don't have TO dare me-" he
said. drawing her closely TO him.
Kiss me-" whispered Lottie. May
in reply. Kiss me. Tom! | love you
so,"
Even as she spoke Tom Strickland
had taken her in his arms. pressing
his lips TO hers.
And at that moment STAN Tucker.
waiting TO meet LottieMay by APP
pointment, stepped out OF the shadow
at the roads edge. His face was
black with jealous rage.
Lottie- May Doggett gave a little cry
OF dismay Why. STAN" she cried,
releasing herself from Toms arms
and essaying TO laugh you are wait
ing for me after all. Amt you?
was afeared you'd gone home, SO Tom
Strickland here was goin' with me In
stead"
An ugly sheer was on Siam Tucker &
face. so see" he replied, glancing
venomously from one TO the other
And you seem to be having a good
time, both OF you"
"Oh. shucks, now, STAN, it's nothin
but foolin', that's ALL" cried the girl
note Of pleading in her voice. II
was teasin' Tom for bein' bashful. and
dared him TO kiss me, and he
wouldn't take a dare-and that's the
whole truth"
II reckon it's all the truth you in
tend TO tell" replied Sam.
Stop right there, Stam!" interrupt
ed Tom Strickland. IF you've seen
anything you don't like, I'm the re-
sponsible party Say whatever you've
got TO say TO me, not to woman.
II don't ask anything better. Mr..
Tom Strickland" instantly retorted
STAN, turning swiftly from the girl
And | won't mince any words saying
IL, either
STAN" cried Lottie-May, running
to the speaker and placing a restrain
ing hand on his. that had suddenly
been thrust back TO his hip pocket
You shan't do IL. You mustn't do
1t, STAN! It'd ruin me in Nineveh for
ever and ever"
Let him alone, Lottie- May" said
Tom Strickland. He won't shoot.
Just you stand aside and let him crack
his whip"
STAN Tucker made a movement to
throw LottieMay of. but the girl
chung to him desperately. Tom Strick-
lands eyes hardened. as they watched
Siam Tucker, with an omnibus alert
ness.
A farmhouse drawing a ramshackle
springwagon emerged into view
around a bend in the road some dis
lance away and came numbering
along toward the three.
Good Lord, it's granddaddy!" cried
Lottie- May Dosgett For my sake,
please-please. Siam, you and Tom
both-don't let him see there's been
any trouble
Old Rafe Doggett, whitehaired and
stern OF visage, scowled suspiciously
at Lottie-M May and her companions as
he brought his horse to halt.
Where in the world have you been
till this hour of the night, Lottie-
May" he asked. Il was on my way
to town after you. What have you
been dom, grl?"
Lottie- May stood shamefaced. Why,
granddaddy," she replied nervously,
II just stayed to the political meetin'
that's all. There was to be a brass
band there, and speakin'. and all that,
and just couldn't come away till II
was Overt
The old man kept his accusing eyes
on the girls face for moment. Then
he turned and looked searchingly first
at STAN Tucker and then at Tom
Strickland Tom felt a sudden and
Overwhelming sense OF shame and
self-reproach and pity for the good
old mar whose dread-harried eyes
were so somberly bent on him.
There was a moment Of silence.
We'll. seem all there was to see, ="
old Rafe Doggett resumed then, what
did you do after that, girl? How
comes 1t that you're here on the road
with STAN Tucker, facin' Tom Strick-
land like there'd been a quarrel? Tell
me the truth"
Lottie-May Doggett flashed quick
appeal of her eyes at Tom Strickland.
II was plainly a mute and desperate