Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1914-11-20
CHAPTER xll-contlnusd.

80 ~ ht-SVUbiTuG0
You have spoiled It'll" cried Celesta
She had watched the picture grow
and to e 1t ruthlessly destroyed thi
way hurt her. How could you!"
Worst l ever did" He began I
change the whole effect, chuckling al
d1bly as he worked. Sunset divide
honors with moonlight. 1t was n
longer i~ncongruous; 1t was ridiculous
He leaned back and laughed. "T'n
going to send 1t to L,Asino, and call 1
an afterthought."
Give it to me-"
"What?"
yes" Z
"Nonsense! I'm going to touch ,
match to 1t. I'll give o that picture
with the lavender in bloom"
Il want this"
But you cannot hang it."
Il want It,"
WE'LL" The more he learned about
women the farther out of mental reach
tney seemed to go. Why on earth did
h want this execrable daub? "You
may have 1t; but all the same, I'm
going to call an oculist and have him
examine your eyes,"
Why, 1t is the Signorina Fournteri"
In preparing studiously to ignore
Flora Desimone's presence they had
forgotten all about her.
Good morning, signora," said Ce-
aeste in Italian.
And the Signore Abbott, the paint
or, also!" The Calabrian raised what
she considered her most deadly weap-
on. her lorgnette.
What is itf" asked Flora, squint-
ang.
1T is a new style c: the impression
list which l began this morning" So
berly.
1T looks very nasura,,v observed
Flora.
Natural" Abbott dropped his
mahlstick.
day?"
This was too much for Abbott's
gravity, and he laughed.
1t was not necessary to SPOIL a
good picture on my account"
said Flora. closing the lorgnette with
a snap.
s"The signora is wrong. l did not
spoil 1t On her account. 1t wal past
helping yesterday. But / shall. how.
ever, rechristen 1t vesuvius, since it
represents an eruption of temper"
Flora tapped the handle of her para
Sol with the %lorgnette. It was dis
tinctly a sign Of approval, These
Americans were never slow-witted
b swung the parasol to and fro.
slowly, like q pendulum.
IL Is too bad" she said. her glance
rowing over the white walls of the
villa.
1t was %irrevocably lost" Abbott de-
NO. no; do not mean the picture.
am thinking Of La Toscana. Her
voice was really superb: and to lose II
entireiy She waved
sympathetic hand.
Abbott was about to rise IN in Wig
orous protest. But fate itself chose
TO rebuke Flora. From the window
cos ebbe cuorel"-suny
rs only Nora could sing It.
! The ferrule of Flora Des,mon.,s
bit deeply into the clover-turf
Am ] all right?" asked Harrtxan.
Courtlandt nodded. you look Ike
soldier In multi, and more than that
Ike tho gentleman that you naturally
quite sincerely.
The ~ex-gladiator blushed. "Th,s ts
he reception-room. There's the hall.
Dom right out there. The smoking.
Dom Is on the other side. Now. how
n the old Harry am / going to yet
lcross without killing some n I"
Courtiandt resisted the desire to
augh. "supposing you let me pilot
overf"
You're the referee. Ring the gong"
Come on, then"
What! While they are dancing ?"
lacking away in dismay.
The other caught him by the arm
Come on"
And In and out they went, hitber
thither. now lodging, now pausine ,
Q let the swirl pass, until at Length ,
darrfgan found himself safe on shore
n the dim cool smoking-room. +,
I don't see how o did it," admir-
ngly.
I'll drop In every little while to sec
low you are getting on" volunteered
,ourtlandt. you can sit by the door
I you care to see them dance. Pm
q to see Mrs. Harrigan and tell her
vhere you are. Here's q cigar" /,
Harrfgan turned the cigar over aad /
In his fingers. all the while ~.
az ct the young mans dirainiahin, /,
ack. He sighed. That would male
i'm the happiest man IN the world.
70 examined the oarnelisn band en- /,
lrcifns the SIX inches OF evanssesnt ]