Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-10-23
CHAPTER xiv.

Journeys 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
waiter had cleared away the dishes,
Harrigan had a perfecto between his
teeth (along with a certain matrimo.
NAL biD, and smoked as II he had
wagered to finish the cigar in half the
usual stretch. He then began to walk
the noor, much after the fashion of a
man who has the toothache, or the
earache, which would be more to the
point To his direct mind no dlplo-
macy was needed; all that was neces-
sary was a 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 birch!
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. there are times when
believe you are afraid OF father"
Il am always afraid OF him. 1t is
only because 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. rs there anything can dc
for you. dad?"
you can get the witch hazel and
bathe this lamp OF mine." grimly.
She ran into her own room and re-
turned with the simpler devices for
reducing a 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
4 chair. under the light; and she went
to work deftly.
I've got some makeup, and tomor.
row morning I'll paint It for you"
You don't ask any questions" he
said. with grimness.
Would It relieve your eye anyr
lightly.
He laughed. mo; but 1t might re-
lieye my mind"
We'll. then. why did you do SO
foolish thing? At your agei Don't
you know that you can't go on whip
ping every man you take a dislike
TOT"
Il haven't taken any dislike to
Courtlandt. But I saw him kiss YOU"
Il can take care OF myselfS
Perhaps. ! asked him to explain.
He refused. One thing puzzled me,
though ! didn't know what It was at
the time. Now. when a fellow steals
a kiss from q beautiful woman like
you. Nora. don't see why he should
feel mad about II. 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. / do
not see where explanations on my
part are necessary"
Nora, I've never caught you in a
lie. l never want to. when you we're
little you were the truthfullest thing
ever saw. No matter what kind OF
4 licking was In store for you, you
afraid; you told the truth.
There, thatll do. Put some
cotton over It and bind II with n
TN bo black all right,
but tho swelling will go down. | can
ell 'em tennis ball hit me. II was
more like cannon ball, though. Say.
Nora. you know I've always pooh.
poohed these amateurs. People used
% say that there we're dozens OF men
n New York in my prime who could
lave laid me cold. used TO laugh.
Well, guess they were right. Court
andt's got the stiffest kick ever ran
nto. A pile driver. and II he had landed
IN my jaw. II would have been dormI
,ene as you say when you bid me good
light In dago. That's all right now
intil tomorrow. want to talk TO
'ou. Draw up a chair. Therei As
aid. I've never caught you in a lie.
,ut l ind that you've been living n lie
or two years. You haven't been
Iquare TO me. nor TO your mother, nor
o the chaps that came around and
made love 10 you. You probably