The evening world., 1912-02-28

AAA upsetting the lamp In his
- violence. Unmixed horror
was written on his face.
, The girl herself xhrank back at
what she had done: then. holding out
several r1ttles for inspection. she said:
Looks like you don't care for
snakes"
"You-you littie'-
Only Susie guessed the unspcakabls
eplthet he meant to use. Her eyes
warned him. and. too. he remembered
Dora In time. Ii& said instead. with i
slight laugh OF confusion;
Snakes scare me- and rat-traps
goin' on"
The color had not yet returned to
his face when n knock came upon The
door.
In response to Susie's call. "A tall
stranger stepped lnsidc--a stranger wide
NJ shoulder. and with a kind or grim
strength In his young face.
From the unnatural brightness OF the
eyes OF Susie and OF Smith. and their
sim tense attitudes. Rhlston sensed the
fact hat somctiing had happened. lie
returned Smiths unpleasant look WIN
u gaze az steady as his own. Then his
eyes fell upon Dora and fingered there.
She had sprung to her feet AMI was
stlll standing. Her cheeks were flushed.
her eyes luminous. ami the soft lamp
light furnishing her brown hair made
the moment ono OF her best. Smith saw
the frank admiration In the Strangers
look.
May I stop here tonight lie ai-
dressed Dora.
He had the characteristic Weston
gravity OF manner and expression. the
distinguishing dcfniteness OF purpose.
Though tho quality ~ his voice. It's mod
ulation, bespoke the man Of polse and
education. tbs accent was Enthusiastically
Of the West.
There's a bunk-house." 1t was Smith
who answered.
His unuttcred epithet stlll ranklod:
Susie turned upon ham with insulting
emphasis:
And you'd better get out 70 ~
Are you the boss here?" The stranger
put the question to Smith with cool po-
likeness.
What | say goes
Smith looked marvcllously ugly.
Susie leaned toward him, and her
childish face was distorted with anger
ag she shricked;
mot yet. Mr, smith,
In~voluntarily Dora and the stranger
exchanged chances in the awkward ST.
Icnco which followed. Then. more 10
relieve her embarrassment than for
any other reason, ltalston sad quietly.
VERY well, I win do as this-gentle-
man suggests and Withdrew,
Good night" said Dora. gathering
up her books; but neither Smith nor
Susie answered.
with both hands deep In his trous-
ers' pockets. Smith was smiling AZ
Susie. with a smile which was little
! .I... - I.giie1l. and ~. gIw. throw
ing 4, list look OF defiance 1T him. also
lcft the room. violently slamming be-
hind her the door OF tho bed chamber
n,runlel hy her mother and herself.
For a fun minute Smith stood as
they had left him-motlunless. his eye
iids dropping RouslnS himself. he
went To the window and looked into
IN, moonlight-foolod world outside.
Uudd!ed in a blanket. a squat hsure
SAL on a fallen cottonwood tree.
smith Eyed It. then asked himself
contcmptuotLsly,
"Ain't that pure ~Iniun?"
Taxing his hat. he stepped into the
moonlight
The woman did not look up at his APP
uroach. SO he stopped until his cheek
touched hers.
whats the matter, Prairie hlOwer''
MY heart Is under my feet Her
voice Vas harsh.
In the tone one uses to a sulky child
he aid
Gone into the house"
YOU no like me, white man. You
like de white woman
smith reached under the blanket and
took her hand,
why don't you marry Do Whit
womanf"