The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1912-09-04
CHAPTER xxxvi.
A Duel for a Bracelet.


through the girl with the bracelet
must pass on her way to breakfast.
she's taking forever with her
toilet" shifted Marjorie. Probably
trying to make special impression
on you"
she's wasting her time" said NAL
lory. But what II she brings her
mother along? No. | guess her moth
err is too fat to get there and back"
IF her mother comes" Marjorie
decided, '1ll hold her while you take
the bracelet away from the-the-
from that creature. Quick, here she
90 'os ncrl Re brave!"
Mallory wore an aspect of arranC
cowardice: "Er-ah-l-I--"
You just grab her!" Marjorie ex
planned. Then they relapsed into at
titudes of impatient attention. Kath-
leen floated in and, seeing Mallory,
she greeted him with radiant warmth
Good morning!" and then, catching
sight of Marjorie, gave her a Good
morning!" coated with ice. She
flounced past and Mallory sat inert,
till Marjorie gave him a ferocious
pinch, whereupon he leaped to his
feet:
"Oh, Miss-erAMiss Kathleen"
Kathleen whirled round with a most
hospitable smile. May / have a
word with your"
''Of course you can, you dear boy"
Marjorie WINGED at this and writhed
at what followed: "Shan't we take
breakfast together"
Mallory suffered: T-I-no, thank
you've had breakfast"
Kathleen froze up again as she
snapped with that-train-acquain
ance, l suppose
"Oh, no." Mallory amended, II mean
| haven't had breakfast"
But Kathleen scowled with a jeal-
ousy of her own: You seem to be
getting along famously for mere train
acquaintances."
"Oh, that's all we are, and hardly
that" Mallory fastened to say with
moment, won't your"
mo. no, | haven't time" she said,
and sat down Mamma will be wait
ing for me. You haven't been in to
see her YETI"
mo. You see"
she cried all night"
For me?"
mo, for papa. He's such good
traveler-and he had such a good
start. She really kept the whole car
awake"
TOO bad" Mallory condoled, per-
functorily, then with sudden eager
ness, and a trial at Indifference: Il
see you have that bracelet STILL"
"Of course, you dear fellow.
wouldn't be parted from it for worlds. "
Marjorie CRASHED her teeth, but
Kathleen could not hear that. She
gushed on: And now we have met
again! 1t looks like Fate, doesn't
it?"
1T certainly does,' Mallory assent
ed. bitterly; then again, with zest:
Let me see that old bracelet, will
your"
He tried to lay hold of it, but Kath.
leen giggled coyly: ITS just an ex-
cuse to hold my hand" She swung
her arm over the back of the seat
coquettishly, and Marjorie made a
desperate lunge at it, but missed
since Kathleen, finding that Mallory
did not pursue the fugitive hand
brought it back at once and yielded
| il up:
"There-be careful, someone might
| look"
Mallory took her by the wrist in a
gingerly manner, and said, so that's
the bracelet? Take it off, won't your
"Never!-it's wished on" Kathleen
protested, sentimentally. Don't you
remember that evening in the moon
light?"
Mallory caught Marjorie's accusing
eye and lost his head. He made q
ferocious effort to snatch the bracelet
off. When this .onset failed, he hao
recourse to entreaty: Just slip II
off," Kathleen shook her head tantal
izingly. Mallory urged more strenu
ously: "Please let me see it."
Kathleen shook her head with so
phistication: You'd never give II
back. You'd pass it along to that
train-acquaintance."
How can you think such thing?'
Mallory demurred. and once more
made his appeal: please. please. sill
1t off"
What on earth makes you so anx
ious?" Kathleen demanded, with sud
den suspicion. Mallory was stumped
till an inspiration came to him: "rt
like TOTO get you a nicer one. Tina
one isn't good enough for you"
Here was an argument that Kath
leen could appreciate. "Oh, how swee
OF you, Harry" she gurgled, and ha,
the bracelet down to her knuckles
when a sudden instinct checked her
when you bring the other. you cal
have this"
She pushed the circlet back, an,
Mallory's hopes sank at the gesture