The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-24
Copyright, 1911, by W. q. Chapmay
CHAPTER XXI.
The Odds Against Him.


slant action. She rose to her feet and
faced the entrance through which she
expected Newbold to reappear-for Of
course the newcomer must be he
and for the life Of her she could not
help that radiating fash of joy, the
momentary anticipation Of which fair
ly TRANSPORTED her being; although If
she had stopped to reflect she would
have remembered that not in the
whole course of their acquaintance had
Newbold ever entered her room at any
time without knocking and receiving
permission.
Some of that joy yet fingered in her
lovely face when she tardily recog-
nized the newcomer in the half light.
Armstrong, scarcely waiting to close
the door, sprang forward joyfully with
his hands outstretched.
Enid cried.
Naturally he thought the look of ex-
pectant happiness he had surprised
upon her face was for him and he
accounted for its sudden disappear
ance by the shock Of his unexpected,
unannounced, abrupt, entrance.
The warm color had flushed her
face, but as she stared at him her as
pect rapidly changed. She grew paler.
The happy light that had shOne in her
eyes faded away and as he approached
her she shrank back.
"You!" she exclaimed almost in ter
ror.
hn 1OIv
have found you at last Thank God
you are safe and we'll. Oh, if you
could only know the agonies I have
gone through. / thought I loved you
when I left you six weeks ago, but
now"
In eager impetuosity he drew nearer
to her. Another moment and he
would have taken her in his arms, but
she would have none of him.
STOP" she said with a cold and
tnfiexible sternness that gave pause
even to his buoyant joyful assurance.
Why, what's the matter?"
The matter? Everything, but"
mo evasions, please" continued the
man still cheerfully but with a grow
ing misgtving. His suspicious, in abey-
ance for the moment because of his
| Joy at seeing her alive and we'll, arose
with renewed force. II left you prac-
tically pledged to me-" he resumed.
! mot so fast" answered Enid Matt
land, determined to combat the light
est attempt to establish binding
claim upon her.
isn't 1t true?" asked Armstrong.
Here, wait" he said before she could
answer. Il am half frozen, 1 have been
searching for you since early morn
/ ing In the storm" He unbuttoned and
1 unbelted his huge fur coat as he spoke
and threw 1t carelessly on the floor by
his Winchester leaning against the
wall. Now" he resumed, II can talk
4 better"
i You must have something to eat
then" said the girl.
4 She was glad of the interruption
since she was playing for time. She
did not quite know how the interview
would end, he had come upon her SO
Unexpectedly and she had never for
mulated what she would say to him,
y.
must have time to think, to collect
herself, which he in his part was quite
willing to give her, for he was not
much better prepared for the inter
view than she. He really was hungry
and tired, his early journey had been
foolhardy and in the highest degree
dangerous. The violence Of his admir-
atinn RI ho poY,j
ut her presence, and the probable near
ness Of Newbold as to whose where
abouts he wondered were not conduc
I've to rapid recuperation. 1t would
be comfort to him also to have foo6
and time.
"Sit down." she said 81 shall be
back in a moment"
The fire Of the morning was still
burning in the stove in the kitchen; tt
heat can Of soup, to make him some
buttered toast and hot coffee, were the
tasks OF few moments; she brought
them back to him, set them on the ia
BILE before him and babe him fall to.
by jove," exclaimed the man after
little time as he began to eat hast
lily but with great relish what she haG
prepared, while she stood over him
watching him silently This is coy
A warm, comfortable room, somethins
to eat served by the finest woman il
the world. the prettiest girl on eartf
to look at-what more could a man de
sire? This is the way it's going to b<
always in the future
You have no warrant whatever fol
saying or hoping that" answered the
girl slowly but decisively
Have l not?" asked the man quick
ly. did you not say to me a little
while ago that you liked me better
than any man you had ever met anC
that might win you IL / could? Well
can, and what's more, I will in spite
Of yourself, Enid, he laughed. Why
the memory Of that kiss l stole from
you makes me mad" He pushed tn.
things before him and rose to his fee
once more. Come, give me another,
he said, sit isn't in the power Of wo
man to stand against a love Xix,
mine"
Isn't it,"
mo, indeed
Louise Newbold did," she answered
very quietly but with the swfftnesi
and the dexterity Of a sword thrus
by master hand, a mighty arm.
Armstrong stared at her in opel
| mOuthed astonishment