Bridgeton pioneer., 1914-12-24

for help. One of the clerks began TAX
ing on his shoes, but John Clayton
dashed iuto the bushes and in a mo
ment was out in bathing trunks. first
wading. then swimming. toward the
two.
IL was small work to drag them in.
sputtering and ludicrous, to be dried
out Dy their now hilarious friends.
When John Clayton again emerged
from the thicket clad and happy, he
went straight to where she stood wiring
Ing out wet skirt His eyes were
very kindly.
1T won't be so bad now. They have
walked up. Is it very dull for your"
Ihe utter sincerity of his tone made
her meet his grave glance. Then she
looked away, smoothing her wind
blown brown hair to hide her confu-
sion.
Your hair is beautiful with the sun
In 1t like that" he said and strode
away to make coffee over the camp
fire.
The rest of the day she basked in
this new knowledge of the sardonic
man.
The day passed swiftly. and the
drifting crowd became sort of happy
family with its coffee brewing and fish
frying, its dishwashing and joking
Mary Shaw found herself keeping
near John Clayton and was tremulous-
ly content listening to his voice while
he talked, but hardly knowing what he
said. And the afternoon waned.
When evening fell and big sum.
mer moon sailed up cool breeze blew
from the lake, and fire was made.
John Clayton told stories of his boy
hood while all watched the flames.
and Mary Shaw sat on the ground be
side him feeling like cave woman
At last there was wild scramble to
get things together for the last city
car, for all had been oblivious to time
1t was rather disorderly retreat. and
they had trailed through woods and
fields to nearly the last fence when
John Clayton stopped. speaking to
Mary Shaw beside him.
Pm sure that fire isn't clean out II
might start blaze. | must run back
| may be able even then to make the
car. You had better go with the rest"
He was off through the trees at a
dog trot
Mary Shaw looked ahead at her com
.panions. They were all in pairs
Then, without hesitation, she turned
and ran with all her might back after
John Clayton.
At last she came up behind him. hel
slim figure like shadow in his path
He looked back over his shoulder.
"Ill-go back-too, if you-don't
mind" she painted
"All right" he replied. not pausing.
while she trudged at his heels. again
the cave woman. but not content. fol
humiliation and fear infolded her
Didn't he want her with him. or was
he only in hurry?
Her dignity asserted itself and filled
her with self contempt There in the
dim woods the tragedy of the lone wo
man smote her. Plainly he did moi
want her. She should have stayed
with the others.
He stamped out the last furtIve
sparks Of the campfire while she stood
by silent. outlined with silver by the
moonlight sitting through the trees
He seemed trivially painstaking for ST.
remote danger Then be strode over
= to her, not stopping a moment. and
took her arm.
"Come-we may make it even yet
| haven't heard the whistle"
He led her rapidly along until they
reached the path, when she fell again
behind him. following blindly. She
knew now how much she cared. and
the humbled realization numbed all
other feeling
Finally he helped her over a rough
field. and they reached the last fence
just as the car changed inexorabIy past
They stopped to breathe, and he NUT
tered an impatient word between his
teeth.
II hoped to get you herein time"
he said steadily.
He stood thinking a moment. then
laughed little.
"We'll do the best we can. II you
can walk another half mile can reach
a telephone for a carriage or taxi. If
they'll come out to these wilds. Don't
worry: I'll get you home" Then he
suddenly jerked her almost from her
feet close against him. as with deep
jarring whir a huge motorcar purred
past them at a speed indecent and un
lawful The sardonic man gave a sud
den clear shout. but the driver had not
heard him.
"They might have taken us in." he
was saying when they heard report
like pistol shot
Blowout" he commented. They'll
have to wait for us now. and I'll in
duce them to take us to town. Were
you frightened?"
She had not spoken. and he stopped
down quickly and looked into her face,
putting a steadying arm across her
shoulders. Tears were rolling down
her cheeks I'm spite of herself
.Whv" he said "wbat is it?" And