Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-06-18

uUu 1 hllQN - Ca5IA ~ Aoy
catch a nifty looking little chap like
your
The partners grinned approximately,
and then with one accord they went
upstairs and vigorously cleaned the
best room in the house for Miss Pief-
fer.
Nothing too good for u cook"
they chanted In chorus, as they de-
scended the stairs.
Lets all go to meet her tomorrow
~night-what say?" Barclay suggested,
and his companions agreed.
The next evening Dirk Budlong was
the first one to arrive home. As he
put up his horse and crossed the yard
to the house he was thinking that to-
morrow evening they would find a diff
ferent welcome awaiting them. Per-
haps Miss Angelica Pieffer would
serve them with delectable pumpkin
pies at nee.
On the threshold of the living room
Dirk paused, alert.
Although at the first glance the room
appeared to be %untenanted, Dirk felt
that some one was near-some living
presence.
There was a faint perfume that re-
minded him of his mothers New Eng
land garden. and there was something
else that he could not e-xplain-some-
thing in the air-some electrical dis
turbance, Dirk might have sheepishly
explained.
Dirk's hand was on his gun, and the
gun was whipped into position at the
instant he detected soft breathing and
a half ~strangled cry.
Then out of the semidarkness sur
rounding the curtained stairway he
saw a pale blur that was a face.
"Who is there?" he asked sternly.
"Oh, please don't shootr' quavered
a feminine voice. and there tottered
into view a girl, all sweet youthfulness,
slenderness and tender beauty of face.
She wore a dark hat and a dark cloth
dress and she was n%ervously stripping
the gloves from her slender fingers.
"Angel Piefaee-indeed!" gasped the
unconventional Dirk. Excuse me,
miss, may | ask what you are doing
here in this rough and tumble house?
Seems to me Fifth avenoo is more In
your line. Can you cook?"
Eyes," she gasped; II will do any
thing If you will only point that
dreadful pistol the other way"
"Afraid of guns?" asked Dirk as he
thrust the offending weapon into its
holster. you'll have to get used to
them If you stay here"
But | don't want to stay here"
quavered the girl. ~ only came
Dirk saw visions of beans, baked
Boston style. vanishing into thin air,
together with toothsome pies and
fiaky biscuits. He became desperate.
He was hungry-almost to furnishing
on the Indifferent food they had pre-
pared since Wah Lees departure.
Angelica Riefear-amlst sremaiP SHE
be persuaded to remain-if per
failed, why she must be forced
remain-even at the point of a gun.
The boys would never forgive him II
1e allowed her to go.
"Miss Pieface-Pieffer, I mean-the
boys would kill me dead If 1 let you
20 without cooking them n good
neal. I'm Budlong-Dirk Budlong-and
f there's anything 1 can do to help
along or make things easier for
you just call on me. You'll find the
boys willing to make things
pleasant too.
'If you'll step into the kitchen I'll
show you where things are. That vel
Iow shrimp of a Chinee left things at
all ends. but we've got everything pick
ed up. Let's have a little light on the
subject!'
As he spoke he lighted the large
nickel lamp that hung from the cell
Ing, and at sight of the arsenal of
weapons at his belt and the general
f~erocity of his appearance the girl
grew paler and quickly tossed her hat
and gloves aside.
Dirk nodded Understandings and led
the way to the kitchen, where he
another lamp, brought her one
Of Wah Lees white aprons, which had
been overlooked in his flight, and then
proceeded to build a roaring fire.
81 suppose you can make biscuitsT'
asked Dirk, his mouth watering with
anticipation.
eyes; l can do anything. Only keep
out of here, please; you make me nerv-
cried the girl. you might set the
table in the other room If you know
where the dishes are. Don't ONE in
here until l call you"
"You might vamoose-skip out" hest
tated Dirk.
'That is unlikely. My hat is in the
other room, as well Is my hand bag
containing my money" retorted the
girl bitterly.
Bud edged out into the next room
and busted himself setting the table.
When all the dishes were placed he
closed the kitchen door and went out