The Red Cloud chief., 1913-06-19

instinct about horses---and be was
starved almost TO death. The man
took him into his small house. intro
duced him to his trim wife and four
rosy children, and together they sat
down to a kitchen table and ate such
a meal as Pacton had not eaten since
boyhood. That was Friday night
Pacton reached town late at night.
and got little sleep: he hated the
store with great violence all Saturday
and at closing time he went to the
manager and fired himself.
The manager didn't seem to mind.
He said "All right. What you going
to do?" Pacton said he didn't know
yet. took his pay envelope and said
good night. Then he seized his hat
and started for the door. but thought
better of 1t and walked down the
aisle to get a glimpse OF Ruth. Some
how he couldn't get rid Of the thought
of her. He saw her going out. trim
and tired. and made dash after her.
| He overlook her on the street, and
she bowed pleasantly but inquiringly.
and stopped short. Evidently she had
no intention of letting him walk on
with her. and resentment surged up
within him. He stammered:
| WANTED to say good-by ! am
leaving the store--I thought but
somehow he felt that IT was nothing
to her. and grew crimson to the roots
of his thick. fair hair. His good
brown eyes grew shy, and her sur.
priced gaze rested on him. She made
a little motion to leave him.
Good.by-I--am sorry you are leav.
ing" Then she fiushed-for she real
ICED that she was not telling the truth.
He knew it, too. II made him little
rough.
Don't try to be polite, he sati.
you don't-care at all! l am onSy
telling you because heard what you
said about real man finding mans
job. 1t set me to thinking. And after
thought fired myself. didn't
know what allied me--until right now.
You better let me walk with you
block or two--we mustn't stand here
She fell into step beside him. II won't
bother you long. Well. what ails me Is
that am ashamed. I'm going to get
to doing something-real. But some
thing else bigger than that Is the mat.
ter I'm-in love with you. found II
out three minutes ago. You-despise
me. Butt love you anyhow. | am
going to ask you to wait for me until
September. won't come near you un-
til then-then---" Looking down he
saw her lip tremble, and her face
flash.
You had-better go away--this min
ute." she said. ''I-can't make-prom
ises-please go!" She was SO vehe-
ment that he turned and left her.
On the first day of September a
brown. thin. serious.faced young man
walked into the store near closing
time and found the ribbon counter.
The girl behind it looked up, and then
went little whittier than she was be-
fore. Fred Pacton went up and spoke
to her.
IL want to walk home with you. You
cant refuse me-" he said.
Her lips moved and she smiled a
little, and his heart almost stopped.
Was she i'll? She looked agile and pa
thetic.
A half hour later the two were on
the street together. He led her to a
cafe, they had something to eat. and
as they finished he leaned over the
table. His glance claimed her,
adored her.
Ruth" he said eagerly. II had a
little money and made some pay
ments on a little place-in the coun
try. I've learned to use shovel-and
an engine, too. A fellow ! got ac-
quainted with has taken me in with
him. We've been doing grading and
all sorts Of things. There's money in
it-and an outdoor life. I'm on the
way to be real man. can take care
of myself-and you, too. Don't you
see that I can? take to rough work
like duck to water. was built for
1t. You helped me find myself by your
criticism of men such as was. Now
you must finish the job. Don't You
see you must? I need you-and you
need me have to have something to
work for--I need home-and-any-
howl love you. 1t seems as II had
always loved YOU" His voice was
very quiet. SO quiet that the host Of
eaters about them paid no attention.
Ruth sat looking at him. and sud.
denly leaned over and spoke with
something like anger in her voice.
"You-are--crazy to think you want
me I'm---not fit for you! l'm--tired
and weak and don't know anything
about q hOme--but knew | cared
that night when made you leave me
on the street. Didn't you know
cared?" The man opposite gave her a
look that even a waiter could not have
misunderstood. He rose and took her
away with him.
Copyright. 1913. by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate)