The Washington times., 1913-03-01

useful to say." he ventured. Can you
help me out? Unless you'd be inter
ested to know that my names Whita-
ker-Hugh Whitaker
She acknowledged the information
merely by a brief nod. 1T seems to
me- she said seriously, that the
pressing question is. what are you go
ing to do about that ankle? Shall you
be able to walk?''
Hard to say" he grumbled. trihe
dashed. He experimental gingerly.
moving his foot this way and that ana
shutting his teeth on the groans the
test would have evoked had he been
alone. "'Fraid not. Still, one can try.
TT isn't sprained?'
"Oh, no-just badly wrenched. And.
as j said, its the second time within a
week
With infinite pains and the aid of
both hands and his sound foot, he lift
ed himself and contrived to stand for
an instant. then bore little OF his
weight on the hurt ankle-and blanched.
paling visibly beneath his ineradicable
tan.
Il don't suppose" he said with ef-
fort - they grow-crutches on this
neck of land?"
And he was about to collapse again
| upon the, sands when. without warning.
/, he found the woman had come close
beside him and. catching his hand al
| most bruskly, passed his arm across
| her shoulders. so that she received no
| little OF his weight.
oh! I say" he protested feebly. -,
Don't say anything she replied
shortly I'm very strong-quite able
to help you to the boat. Please don't
| consider me at all; just see IL we
can't manage this way"
| But I've no right to impose"
Don't be silly! Please do as say
Won't you try to walk?''
He endeavored to withdraw his arm,
an effort rendered Intellectual by the
! fact that his fingers were tight in her
cool, firm grasp.
"PIease" she said-not altogether pa
| tiently.
He eyed her askance There was in
| this incredible situation a certain
piquancy, definitely provocative. trans
| cending the claim his injury made upon
| his interest. Last night. for the first
time, he had seen this woman from
! distance and thought her desirable: this
! morning, within twelve hours, he found
himself with an arm round her neck.
He thought il an uncommonIv inter-
| esting neck, slender, but not thin, and
! straight and strong, a milk-white col
umn rising from the frilled collar of her
bathing cloak. ending in shimmering
| tendrils that clustered behind her ears.
! Nor was the ear presented to his in
| spection an everyday ear, lacking its
! individual allure. He considered that il
| owned its distinctive personality, not
| unworthy a mans studious attention.
He saw her once, of course. en- profile;
! her head bowed, lashes long upon her
f; cheeks as she looked downward; her
! mouth set in a mold Of gravity, her
/ brows seriously contracted; signs of a
mentality preoccupied with the prob
lem Of the moment.
| And then suddenly she turned her
| head and intercepted his whole-hearted
| stare. For thought wonder glimmered
! in the violet eyes, then they flashed dis
concertingly: finally they became ut
| terly cold and disdainful.
| We'll" she demanded, in a frisid
| voice.
He looked away in complete confu-
sion. and felt his face burning 10 the
temples.
Il beg your pardon he mumblcd TN
| happily
He essayed to walk. Twenty feet and
more of treacherous, dry, yielding sand
| separated them from the root Of the
| fight of steps ascending the bluff. II
| proved no easy journey, and its diff
| Guilty was complicated by his determi-
| nation TO spare the woman as much as
| possible. Gritting mis- teeth. he srinned
| and bore il without murmur until
| the first stake of the journey accom-
! plished, he was able to grasp a hand
IaM at the bottom Of the stairs and
| breathe devout thanks by means of
gasp.
! "ShaII we rest bit?" the woman
/ O.
| irnpertinence she had chosen TO resent
| a few moments ago.
Think i can manage-thanks," he
. said, painting a little. It'll be easier
| now-going up. l shan't need your
| help"
He withdrew his arm. perhaps not
| without regret, but assuredly with
| comforting sense of decent considera-
| tlon toward her, as well as some slight
and iutrinsically masculine satisfaction
I that he pVtrcOm-
| ing her will and resistance
.,So-honestly!' he insisted. These
hand-rails make it easy
| 'Rut please be sure she begged.
Don't take any chances Of hurting
Yourself moro. And don't mind" -
Let me demonstrate. then.
| The stairway was comfortably mar
| row. he had only To grasp rail with
| either hand and half lift himself. half
! hop up, step by step In this manner
| lent, If hopelessly ungraceful style.
! Al the top he limped to wooden seat
| beside one of the lighthouses and sat
| down with so much grim decision IN
| his manner that 1t was evident 60 the
| woman the moment she rerOincd him.
| But he mustered smile to meet her
! look Of concern. and shoop his head.
Thus far and no farther" he ex-
| planned the attitude.
| ..Oh. but you must not be stubborn"
Il mean TO be--ha tefully stubborn. In
| fact. / don't mind warning you that
| there's a famous strain of mule in the
| whitaker makeup"
| She was. however, not TO be diverted,
and her fugitive frown bespoke impa-
! tience, If he were any Judge.
But, seriously, you must"
Believe me-" he interrupted. 'if !
am to retain any yestage of self-respect
/ l must no longer use you for a crutch."
! But, really, | don't see why
| Need | remind you / am a man."
| he argued lightly. Even as you are
very charming woman
The frown deepened while she turned
this utterance over.