Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-12-19

after which he let the boy begin un.
| aided stumbling but finally success
| full pursuit of the elusive K
While Piotr was f1oundering, his
new mentor felt some one behind him.
He glanced around and caught Kazia.
her arms full of unwashed dishes, look
ing at him. The wonted Indifference
had fled before a look of surprised
| interest. Mark stared, incredulous !;
| it seemed not the same face. But the
new look vanished instantly. He had
a sense of baf1ement, as il he had
come upon rare picture just as a
curtain was drawn.
"Finei" he exclaimed. clapping Piotr
on the shoulder; he had not heard the
last few equations. Wen make a
scholar out of you yet, Pete"
"Pete!" The boys homely face
lighted up. 'Kazia, did you hear? He
called me Pete"
Il like Piotr better" she said, with
shrug that imperiled her burden.
DO you," Piotr turned again to
Mark, do you know Latin. too?"
"Oh. little!" Mark sought Kazia's
face as this announcement of his cru
dition fell But Kazia was looking
away
sometimes ?''
Sure. Sometimes" Mark assented
recklessly-
But Piotr was Unsuitable Every
night?'
We'll, no." said Mark, recovering
caution. Not every night. can't"
'Of course not, Piotr," Kazia cut in.
He can't waste time on a stupid little
Hunky.''
I'm not a Hunky," Piotr resented
passionately addressing Kazia but
for Marks benefit, amy more'n you
are. We are-we were-PoIes. But
we're Americans now Why, I've
almost forgotten how to talk Polish
except to the Matka," he added con-
scientiously.
will you help me tonight?" he re-
turned to Mark, with less assurance.
It's Caesar. And 1 am stupid" he
sighed.
Mark, though repenting his RASH
ness, could not well refuse For an
hour they listened while Caesar unc-
tuously told how he had taught the
conquered Vercingetorix his place.
But kazia was not at any time pres
emit during the lesson. At last, yawn-
ing nightly. Mark arose. He went
up to his room. bearing Piotr's awk-
ward gratitude and followed by a
look of humble admiration it is prob
ably well he did not perceive
But the incident had its seduel.
He found a light burning dimly in
the narrow hallway before his door,
and coming out of his room-Kazia
Il was. fixing things" she ex-
claimed. Indifferent as ever
Thank you, Kazia." The room, as
he remembered it, had been in perfect
order. He stood aside to let her pass
She took one step and then stopped
abruptly, looking up at him with sud-
denly hostile eyes
What" she demanded. did you
come here for?"
He smiled-the smile of age for a
naughty but amusing child. Because
your father asked me, guess
But you know Latin and algebra and
things
why, what's that got to do with it,
Kazia?"
I'VE don't. We're just mill-workers
and Hunkies."
He was not schooled in the reading
| of voices. but he caught bitterness
there He looked at her more intent
ly-and more kindly
I
What" she repeated resentfulIy.
did you come here for? You dom
like us. You won't have anything to
| do with us. You eat, then go up to
your room and stay there We thought
| you were coming to be friends with
Piotr"-an almost imperceptible pause
-"and me-"
| Il come up to sleep, Kazia You see,
was pretty near on my last legs
| when / came here and / need all the
rest can get I'm not used to work
] In the mills and I guess I'm not so
strong as / look. II I'm going to get
ahead, I've got to do it while I can
stand the work Besides 1 didn't think
you cared whether / liked you or not. !"
It don't" she declared, with a little
uplifting of her chin; it was a beauti-
fully nodded feature. The movement
called his eyes, to the slender yet
strong and rounded throat He won
dered that these beauties had escaped
his notice ST don't But Piotr and
Uncle Roman do
Uncle Roman?" 1t was the first
time he had heard the phrase 81
thought he was your father, Kazia-"
No Il have no father
.Oh." He assumed a bereavement
On a sudden plying impulse he put
out his hand and laid it on her bare
forearm; the flesh was smooth and
firm. That's too bad. Kazia--s
And then, most unexpectedly, the
curtain was drawn aside for him