Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-08-02


dcubt!), ct the table she had ignored
the Major, both his jests and his at.
tentions. He had seen many. wives,
ioyfully from a safe distance, act to-
ward their husbands in. this fashion.
oh. rot! If his name. was Callahan
and hers ohedsoye, they could not
possibly betied in any legal bonds. He
dismissed the ice-cold hand and turned
again to the comforting warmth Of his
ardor.
He had never spoken to young wom-
en- without presentation, and on these
rare occasions he had preached the
weather, suggested the possibilities Of
the weather, and concluded with an
apostrophe on the weather at large. It
was Usually valedietory. For he was
always positive that he had acted like
fool, and was afraid to speak to the
girl again. Never 1t failed, ten minutes
after the girl was out Of sight, the
brightest and cleverest things crowd.
ed upon his tongue, to be but wasted
on the desert air. He was not particu-
larly afraid Of women, older than
himself, more's the pity. And yet, had
he been as shy toward them as toward
the girls, there would have been no
stolen Yhiordes, no sad-eyed maiden,
no such thing as The United Romance
and Adventure Company, Ltd; and he
would have stepped the even tenor Of
his way, unknown Of grand passions,
swift adventure. life.
George was determined to meet For.
tune Chedsoye, and this determination,
the first Of its kind to take definite
form in his mind, gave him a novel
sensation. He would find some way,
and he vowed to best his old enemy,
difldence, II It was the last fight he
ever put up. He would maneuver to
get In the way Of the Major. He never
found much trouble in talking to men.
Once he exchanged a word or two
with the uncle or guardian, he would
make It a point to renew the acquaint-
ance when he saw the two together.
1t appeared to him as a bright idea,
and he was rather proud Of 1t. Even
now he was conscious Of clenching his
teeth strongly. It's an old saying that
he goes farthest who shuts his teeth
longest. He was going to test the pre-.
cept by immediate practice.
He had stood before the list fully
three minutes. Now he turned about
face, a singular citation tingling his
blood. Once he set his mind upon q
thing, he went forward. He had lost
many pleasurable things in life be-
cause he had doubted and faltered,
not because he had reached out to-
ward them and had then drawn back
He was going to meet Fortune Ched-
soye; when or how were but details.
And as he discovered the Major him
self idling before the booth of the East
Indian merchant, he saw in fancy the
portcullis rise and the drawbridge fall
to the castle Of enchantment. He
strolled over leisurely and pretended
to be interested in the case containing
mediocre jewels.
This is genuine Bokhara en-
broidery?" the Major was inquiring.
"Oh, yes. sir"
"How old?
The merchant picked up the tag
and squinted at it. 1T is between two
and three hundred years old, sir"
To Georges opinion the gods them
selves could not have arranged a more
propitious moment.
You've made a mistake" he inter.
posed quietly. THAT is Bokhara, but
the stitch is purely modern"
The dark eyes of the Indian flashed.
'The gentleman is an authority" sar.
castically.
! Upon that style of embroidery, alb
solutely." George smiled. And then,
without more ado, he went on to ex.
plain the difference between the an.
tique and the modern. you have one
good piece Of old Bokhara, but 1t isn't
rare. Twenty pounds would be a good
price for it."
The Major laughed heartily. and
just this moment he asked a hundred
for 1t. I'm not much Of a hand in
judging these things. l admire them,
but have no intimate knowledge re.
garding their worth. Nothing tonight"