Gilpin observer., 1915-12-02


hsh closed in satirical mischief. Now
they were rapt. What stunning
collie!" she suddenly exclaimed
Allison. who had followed her with
admiring attention, his mind accom-
panying hers in eager leaps. laughed
In relief After all, she was a girl
and what a girl! The exhilaration of
the drive, and of the snow beating in
her face. and of the animated conver-
sation, had set the clear skin Of her
face aglow with color. Her deep red
lips, exquisitely curved and half part
ed, displayed a row Of dazzling white
teeth, and the elbow which touched
his was magnetic. Allison refused to
believe that he was forty-fve!
You're fond of collies," he guessed.
surprised to find himself with an ca
ger interest in the likes and dislikes
of young girl. 1t was a new expert
ence.
II adore them." she enthusiastically
declared. Back home, have one OF
every marking but pure white"
There was something tender and
wistful In the tone OF that back
home" No doubt she had hosts OF
friends and admirers there. possibly
favored suitor. 1t was quite likely.
A girl such as Gail Sargent could
hardly escape it. II there was a ia
vored suitor Allison rather pitied him,
for Gail was in the city of strong men.
Busy with an entirely new and strange
group Of thoughts, Allison turned into
the park. and Gail uttered an excla-
nation of delight as the fresh. keen
air whipped in her face. The snow
was like f1lmy white veil against the
bare trees. and enough of it had clung.
by now. to outline. with silver point
ing, the lacework OF branches. On
the turf, still green from the open win
ter. it lay in thin white patches, and
squirrels, clad in their sleek winter
garments, were already scampering
to their beds. crossing the busy drive
with the adroitness of accomplished
metropolitan pedestrians, their bushy
tails hopping behind them in ungainly
loops.
The pair in the runabout were
silent. for the east drive at this hour
was thronged with outward-bound ma
chimes. and the roadway was slippery
with the new-fallen snow. Steady of
nerve, keen of eye. firm of hand, Gail!
watched the alert figure of Allison,
tensely and yet easily motionless in
the seat beside her.
Perhaps feeling the steady gaze. Al
lison turned to her suddenly. and for
a moment the gray eyes and the brown
ones looked questioningly into each
other then there leaped from the man
to the woman a something which held
her gaze a full second longer than she
would have wished.
Airs great" he said with a smile.
"Glorious!" she agreed. 81 don't
want to go in"
Don't" he promptly advised her.
That's a simple enough solution" !"
and her laugh, in the snow-laden air,
reminded him. in one of those queer
flashes of memory, Of little string OF
sleighbells he had owned as a young
ster However. l promised Cousin
Lucille"
Wen stop at the house long
enough to tell her you're busy" sug-
gested Allison. as eager as a boy.
'Let's!" cried Gail. and. with a
laugh which he had discarded with his
first business promotion, Allison threw
out another notch of speed, and
whirled from the Seventy second
street entrance up the avenue to the
proper turning. and half way down the
block, where he made swift but
smooth stop, bringing the step with
marvellous accuracy to within an inch
Of the curb.
She flashed at him a smile and rau
up the steps. She turned to him agai /
as she waited for the bell to be an.
swered, and nodded to him with frank
comradery Two viva -lookin o