Rocky Ford enterprise., 1912-09-06

mean! L nau perfectly ciear view OF
her now as she paused on a little
point and hung there looking out over
the Hudson. In her hand was a full
blown, ripened rose, and her lips were
shaping in ravishing little pouts, as
musingly she blew the petals from
her. But go they would not, but
Rugged back in the arms of the light
breeze, circling and fiuttering about
her glorious sunny head like a swarm
of rosy butterflies. 1t made a pretty
picture!
And what's more, they're just her
color. tool" murmured tenderiy, for
getful of everything but her, unmind-
full that l was not alone. For under
my hand could feel my jolly heart
quivering like champagne cork.
freshly unfettered and thrilling eager
ly under the impulse of the mad.
dancing. Joyous spirit within.
THE one lovely woman in all the
world!" l breathed aloud. and 1 felt
my eyes grow oddly moist
And for a minute l went on in a
jolly trance.
"Good-by. sir!"
1t was O'Keefe's voice-oddly con-
strained.
"Eh?" I calculated, blinking at him
as / came back. Then remembered
but what was it he had been ask
ing? Something
Just good-by!" he repeated with
elaborate gentleness. Then, straight
ening: mo offense, l hope. If we let
1t go at that mean, l guess you
r,atC
hands?"
! glanced at the gloves he was
drawing on.
"Oh. dash 1t. mol" l responded abb
sently. and my eyes coasted up the
slope again-then dropped back dis
appointedly. for she had disappeared
within the pavilion.
His helmet tossed as he looked
back. Il guess we alive got our little
prejudices." he remarked sententious-
ly; 81 know / have! I'm from the
south!"
And without another word, Mr..
O'Keefe presented his broad back to
us, and swinging his stick carelessly.
sauntered down the drive.
What the deuce!" exclaimed,
1 s.
what did he mean?"
jenkins face expressed mild re.
proach and surprise.
Can 1t possibly matter. sir?" he
questioned YEARLY. Persons of-er
that sort, you know. sir?"
"Jove!"I uttered. relieved.
Jenkins coldly elevated brows dis
missed the matter from further con-
sideration. He lifted the parcel with
a slight gesture of inquiry.
had already come to a decision
about it: l would send It to Billings,
Perhaps the retrieving of the pajamas
would have soothing effect upon his
poor mind!
l gave jenkins instructions. Hin,
OF course. manage to speak with him
alone" | cautioned, having thought OF
Judge Billings; land don't forget the
message"
Certainly, SIR" said Jenkins atten-
lively. I'm Just to say: Mr.. Light
nuts compliments, sir, ard he says
you'll know what to do with these"
l nodded. Exactly. and I'll wait
here-but. oh. hurry, dash it," And /
looked iongingly at the pavilion and
tried to feel If my part was right.
He did hurry! By Jove. he was
back almost Immediately and looking
a bit ratified.
"Yes, sir!"-he coughed as L
screwed my glass inquiringly-'I got
there Just as the judge went into his
room across the corridor. and Mr..
Billings opened the door the minute 1
said was from you. | gave him the
package and the message and he took
it over in a corner; and then in about
a minute | heard him chuck it some
where and say some long word. He
came back to me. looking kinder irri-
tated and with his eyes swapping"
.Oh!" uttered nervously. "Er.
what did he say. Jenkins?"
Jenkins sighed. "oh, well. sir. moth
ing as you might say was anything.
really; he jerks out kinder Grossly:
Tell Mr.. Lightnut. l say one thing at
time, and give him this!'"
On the scrap of paper l clutched
out of jenkins hand was crazy
scrawl of just half-dozen words:
I'm biped. not a centipede!
squinted through the dashed thing
twice, but could make nothing of it
! even tried 1t backward!
"Jovei" muttered perplexedly. Its
rum. Jenkins!"
jenkins mouth frightened and re-
responded soberly. The demon rum,
sir!"
CTo BE CoNTINUEDJ