The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-06-19

through evvry tortured erevfce Of his
impatient frame. Like steel from flint
It struck out q crisp o9th that brought
an snswerins bovine snort from the
fence-eornsr.
Wormfng like Q lizard to freedom.
his eyes puckered shut with the
wretched pang. John Valiant sat up
and shook his grimy flst In the afr.
You silly loafing idiot" he cried.
"Thump your own craEy-bone and see
how you like I'll You-oh, lord!"
His arm dropped. and flush spread
over his face to the brow. For his
eyes had opened. He was gesturing
not at the bull but at q girl. who
fronted him beside the road, haughti-
ness in the very hue Of her gray.blue
linen walking suit and, In the clear
cut cameo face under her felt cavalry
hat myrtleblue eyes that held a
smolder Of mingled establishment and
indignation. An instant he gazed. all
the muscles of his face frightened with
chagrin.
Il beg your pardon" he STAN
mered. II didn't see you. l really
didn't / was-I was talking to the
bull"
The girl had been glancing from the
flushed face to the thistly fence-corner.
while the startled dignity of her feat
ures warred with an unmistakable ten
dency to mirth. He had struggled to
his feet, nursing his bruised elbow,
I'D Ixy NJ 90 n Ia ~ a
to an emerging chimney-sweep. Il
don't habitually swear" he said, but
I'd got to the point when something
had to explode"
"Oh," she said, don't mind mel"
Then mirth conquered and she broke
forth suddenly into laugh that
seemed to set the whole place aquiver
with a musical contagion. They both
laughed in concert, while the bull
paved the ground and sent forth a
rumbling below of affront and chal-
lenge.
She was the first to recover. you
did look 80 funny!" she gasped.
II can believe It," he agreed. max
ing a vicious dab at his smudged ell
bow. THE possibilities Of a motor for
comedy are simply stupendous.'
She came closer and looked curious
ly at the quiescent monster-at the
steamer-trunk strapped on the carrier
and the bullying portmanteau, peeping
over the side Of the tonneau. rs It
brokenY
Merely on strike, l imagine. Are
we far from the village?"
About a mile and a half"
'I'll have to have II towed after me-
The immediate point Is my traps.
wonder IL there is likely to be team
passing"
I'm afraid it's not too certain" an
swered the girl, and now he noted the
liquid meditation, with it's slightly
questioning accent. charmingly South
ern. There is no livery. but there Is
a negro who meets the train some
times. can send him If you like"
You're very good" said Valiant, as
she turned away, land I'll be enor-
mously obliged. Oh-and II you see q
white dog. don't be frightened II he
tries to follow you. He's perfectly
kind"
She looked back momentarily.
"He-he always follows people he
likes, you see"
Thank you," she said. The tone
had now hint-small. yet percepti-
ble-of aloofness. I'm not in the least
afraid of dogs" And with little nod.
she swung briskly on up the Red Road.
John Valiant stood staring after her
till she had passed from view around
curve. "Oh. glory!" he muttered
ITO begin by shaking your fist at her
and end by making her wonder IL you
aren't trying to be fresh You poor,
profane, floundering dolt!"
(To BE CoNTINUED)