The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-12-23

you are from New York." he sail
simply.
Eyes. And / suppose | must explain
at once. You westerners are SO insist
emit on reasons. My name is Poppy
Ordway-and | am Of that unfortunate
and much criticized species, the WON
an with a life work"
The smile she turned upon him was
electric, full of that heady quality
which is distinctive of the vital WON
an, the woman OF strong and excitable
passions; it appealed to Sandry in.
stantly, so that a thrill of gladness ran
through him to his very finger tips.
Il have written a few short stories
which have been well received in the
eastern magazines, but they fail to sat
isfy me. | have my first novel drafted,
and 1t is over there on your lumber
pile along with my precious type
writer. 1t is a tale OF the lumber re-
gion-and I've come out to work on
the ground. DO you think | can find
sanctuary"
"We1 see that you do" said San
dry pleasantly, and you couldn't have
struck a better spot for local color any
where in the Northwest. We are ele-
mental here, right down to the print
tive. and we are swamped with at
mCsphere.' You just come along TO
Ma Daily" he promised, already using
the tone of hail-fellow which their
common nativity and her frank man
ner had established between them.
Hungrily he watched her gather up
her skirts and precede him up the lit
tie path to the cook-shack, where Ma
Daily was already standing in the door
to take inventory. Every little move
ment was SO familiar, SO potent in its
suggestion Of home.
Chatting lightly, the stranger step
ped up OF the porch and smiled at the
white-haired old woman.
MA Daily" said ~Sandry-he had
long since lost the sense OF resentment
at the family atmosphere OF the camp
this is Miss Ordway OF New York
q famous author-and she has come
West to write a new book. Luckily
she struck III in her search for local
color. Can we take her in?"
Ma Daily looked at the visitor sharp
ly and Sandry saw a scarce %perceptible
change pass over her CHEEKY features.
The vital blue eyes of the younger
woman gave back the scrutiny with
perfect openness.
please do. Mrs. Daily" she said In
her sweet voice. please, please do"
Don't know" said Ma slowly;
there amt any room"
I'll a~bdicate," put In Sandry quick
ly; she may have my room and III
put up a cot in the Office"
Just at that moment Siletz came in
at the west door and, crossing the
big room, stood looking out upon the
group on the porch. Her dark eyes
rested first with a fleeting glance on
Sandry and then she saw the other.
For a moment Sandry forgot the
business OF the present in watching
her face, as he always did when any
new emotion touched her. Now he
saw her lips part a trifle and her eyes
widen with amazement, and he knew
for the first time she beheld and
recognized womanly beauty in its per-
She did not speak but leaned against
the door-jamb drinking In this appa-
In the little pause that fell
presently she turned 10 the old lady.
Yes, mother" she said softly,
please do"
The stranger flashed a brilliant
glance at her, and with an inimitably
pretty gesture reached out a gloved
hand and patted her arm. bare under
rolled-up sleeve.
"Mr. Sandry," called John Daily,
standing on the foot-log, will We come
down here a minnit?"
"Siletz," said Ma, when the glitter
Ing guest had been shut away in San
little south room, what for do
you want we should keep herr"
WHY don't know, mother" said
girl simply, "only she's too beau
tiful to let go. She looks like the
sun on snow"
ACc. ICE, 4 uinh sue uOtS, re-
turned Ma i~nscrutably, "and's about as
cold and false"
As Sandry Joined his foreman he
saw that something had rufied the
placid temper Of the slow
giant.
What's the matter?" he asked.
"Hampden of the Yella Pines is in
The Office" said Daily sharply, AN
lrom his looks he's got somethin'
nasty up his sleeve"
"Oh, yes-Hampden-he's one of the
owners. isn't her
The two men walked back to the Of
Ice and found. seated in the swing
chair. with his feet on Sandry's desk.
short, square man with q face and
manner which set Sandry on edge at
he first glance. They both bespoke q
nature s~elf-satisfed to the point of
ride, . crafty shrewcness that had
,een eminently successful and an ada
nantine hardness Of purpose.
"Ah. Mr.. Sandry." he said. taking
liz feet from the table with insult
ne slowness. I'm Hampden-of the
leila Pines-and / come over on q