The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1914-08-14
CHAPTER XIV.
IourneY,a End.


Harrigan dined alone. He was In
disgrace; he was sore, mentally as
well as physically; and he ate his din
ner without relish. In simple obedi-
ence to those well-regulated periods
OF hunger that assailed him three
times a day, In spring, summer, au-
tumn and winter. BY the time the
walter had cleared away the dishes,
Harrigan had perfecto between his
teeth (aiCng with certain matrimo-
NAL bit), and smoked as II he had
wagered to finish the cigar in half the
usual stretch. He then began to walk
the floor, much after the fashion of
man who has the toothache, or the
earache, which would be more to the
point To his direct mind no dipfo-
macy was needed; all that was neces-
sary was few blunt questions. Nora
could answer them as she chose.
Nora, his baby, his little girl that used
to run around barefooted and laugh
when he applied the needed birchi
How children grew up! And they
never grew too old for the birch; they
certainly never did.
They heard him from the drawing
room; tramp. tramp, tramp.
Let him be, Nora" said Mrs. Harri-
gan, wisely. He is In a rage about
something. And your father is not
the easiest man to approach when he's
mad. II he fought Mr.. Courtlandt, he
believed he had some good reason for
doing So"
Mother. tire are times when
believe you are afraid of father"
Il am always afraid Of him. It is
only because l make believe I'm not
that can get him to do anything. 1t
was dreadful. And Mr.. Courtlandt
was such a gentleman. could cry.
But let your father be until tomor-
row."
And have him wandering about
with that black eye? Something must
be done for 1t. I'm not afraid of him"
Sometimes / wish you WERE"
So Nora entered the lions den fear
lessly. ''Is there anything l can do
for you, dad?'
"You can get the witch hazel and
battle this lamp of mine," grimly.
She ran into her own room and re-
turned with the simpler devices for
reducing swollen eye. She did not
notice, or pretended that she didn't.
that he locked the door and put the
key In his pocket. He sat down in
chair. under the light; and she went
to work deity.
Tive got some makeup, and tomor-
row morning I'll paint 1t for you"
you don't ask any questions" he
Said, With grimness.
would It relieve your eye anyT'
lightly.
He laughed. mo; but it might re-
lieve my mind"
well, then, why did you do so
foolish thing7 At your age! Don't
you know that you can't go on whip
ping every man you take dislike
tot"
Il haven't taken any dislike to
Courtlandt. But saw him kiss you"
II can take care of myself"
perhaps. ! asked him to explain.
He refused. One thing puzzled me-
though l didn't know what 1t was al
Inc AiIic. ANOWg WhCh q ACAAOW DbCaAu
a kiss from beautiful woman like
you, Nora, don't see why he should
feel mad about 1t. When he had all
but knocked your daddy to by-by, he
said that you could explain.
Don't press so hard" warningly
well, can your"
"since you saw what he did. dc
not see where explanations on my
part are necessary"
MORA, I've never caught you in a
lie. never want to. When you were
little you were the truthfullest thing
j ever saw. No matter what kind OF
licking was in store for you. you
weren't afraid; you told the truth
There. that1l do. Put some
cotton over It and bind It with a
handkerchief TIN be black all right
but the swelling win go down. car
~ 'em a tennis ball hit me. 1t was
more like cannon ball. though. Say
Nora, you know I've always pooh
poohed these amateurs. People used
to say that there we're dozens OF men
A New York 10 my prime who could