The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1912-04-19

never. forget. His was a nature be-
cause of the ambition imposed on 1t
that had never taken more than a
casual Interest in the form and fea-
ture of women. He had looked on
beautiful faces and had admired them
in a cool. dispassionate way. Judging
them. when he judged at all. as be
might have judged the more material
workmanship of his own hands. But
this face that was framed for a few
brief moments In the door reached out
to him and stirred an interest within
him which was as new a It was
pleasurahle 1t was a beautiful face.
He knew that in a fraction of the first
second.
The girl turned from his gaze and
seated herself at a table so that he
caught only her profile. The change
delighted him. From the flush In her
cheeks his eyes travelled critically to
the rich glow of the light in her shin
ing brown hair. which swepr half over
her ears In thick. soft waves. caught
IN a heavy coil low on her neck.
Then for the first time he noticed her
dress. 1t puzzled him. Her turban
and mur were of deep gray lynx fur.
Around her shoulders was a collarette
of the same material. Her hands were
Immediately gloved. In every fea-
ture OF her lovely face. in every point
Of her dress. she bore the ,indisputabte
mark Of refinement. The quizzical
smile left his lips. The thoughts
which at first had filled his mind as
| quickly disappeared. Who was she?
Why was she here?
With catlike quietness the young
Chinaman entered between the screens
and stood beside her. On a small tab
let which Rowland had not before OBJ
served she wrote her order. It was
for tea.
He poured his last half cup of tea
and when he lifted his eyes he was
surprised to find that the girl was
looking at him. For a brief interval
her gaze was steady and clear. then
the flush deepened in her cheeks. her
long lashes dropped as the cold gray
of HOwland's eyes met hers in un-
finching challenge. and she turned to
her tea. Rowland noted that the hand
which lifted the little Japanese pot
was trembling slightly. He leaned for
ward and as if impelled by the move
ment, the girl turned her face to him
again. the tea urn poised above her
cup. In her dark eyes IA an e&pres-
sion which half brought him to his
feet. a wistful glow. a pathetic and
yet half frightened appeal to him. He
rose and she nodded to the opposite
side of her table.
Il beg your pardon" he said. seating
himself. MAY | give you my card?"
The girl read his name. smiled across
the table at him and. with q pretty
gesture. mott med him to bring his cup
and share her tea with her. He re
turned to his table. and when he came
back with the cup in bis hand she was
writing O n Of the pages Of the
tablet. which she passed across to him.
you nus pardon me for not talk
Ing" he read. Il can hear you very
we'll. but l. unfortunately. am q mute"
~ saw you from the hotel window
tonight" be began land something In
your face led me { believe that you
were in trouble. That 10 why l have
ventured to be 70 bold. ! am the en-
gineer IN charge Of the Hudson
Bay raiiSOad. Just or my way to lie
Pas from Chicago. I'm q stranger in
town. I've never been in .this-this
place before. It's a very nice tearoom.
an admirable blind for the opium stalls
behind those wallis"
The girls eyes Travelled swiftly about
her.
II didn't know" she wrote quickly
and h%esitated. II am q stranger. too"
she added. II have v been in this
place before. | came BECAUSE
She stopped. and the catching breath
in her throat was almost a sob as she
looked at Rowland.
II came because you came"
"Why:" he asked. Tel newly? r
He read her words as she wrote
them. leaning halt across the table in
his eaRPrness.
II am a stranger" she repeated. n
want some one to help me. Acciden.
tally I learned who you were and made
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