Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1914-05-19

through every tortured crevice OF his
mpa-ient frame. Like steel from flint
1t struck out crisp oath that brought
an answering bovine snort from the
fence -correr.
Wormirlg like lizard to freedom,
his eyes puckered shut with the
wretehed pang, John Valiant sat up
and shook his grimy fist IN The air.
You silly loafing idiot" he cried.
"Thump your own crazy-bone and see
how you like it! You-oh, loid!"
His ARA dropped, and flush spread
over his face to the brow. For his
eyes had opened. He was gesturing
not at the bull but at a girl, who
froneed 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, myrtie-blue eyes that held a
smolder of mingled astonishnlent and
indignation. An instant he gazed, all
the muscles of his face frightened with
chas,rin.
II beg your pardon he STAN
mered. Il didn't see you. l really
didn't. was-I was talking to the
bull"
Tae girl had been glancing from the
flushed face to the thistly fence-cerner,
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,
irritably conscious of his resemblance
to an emerging chimney-sweep. Il
don't habitually swear" he said, "but
I'd got 20 the point when something
had to explode"
oh" she said. don't mind mel"
Then mirth conquered and she broke
forth suddenly into a 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
rum bling below of affront and chal-
lens;e.
She was the first to recover. you
did look so funny!" she gasped
u can believe it." he agreed, max
ing vicious dab at his smudged ell
bow. THE possibilities of motor for
comedy are simply stupendous"
She came closer and looked curious
ly ut the quiescent mcnster-at the
eamer-trunk strapped on the carrier
and the bullying portpanteau peeping
over the side OF the tonneau. rs it
broken?'
Merely on strike, imagine. Are
we far from the village?"
About a mile and a half
I'll have to have it towed after me-
The immediate point is my traps. I
wonder If 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, "and I'll be enor-
motlsly obliged Oh-and if you see a
white dog, don't be frightened If he
tries to follow you. He's perfectly
kind"
sac looked back momentarily.
"ll1e-he always follows PEOPLE he
likes, you see"
THANK you," she said The tone
had now hint-small, yet percepti-
ole--of aloofness. I'm not in the least
afraid o. dogs" And with little nod,
she swung triskly on up the Red Road.
John Valiant stood staring after her
till she had passed from view around
a curve. "Oh, glorv!" he muttered
"To begin by shaking your fist at her
and end by making her wonder if you
aren't trying to be fresh! You poor.
profane, fioundering dolt!"
ITO RE CONTTNTTEn