The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-11-15
The DESTROYING ANGEL
Louis Joseph Vance
y y.

and have look at the beach. And
then found that chap watching you"
That startled her. "How do you
mean-watching me?"
"Why-ah-that's what he seemed
to be doing"
She shook her head. "You must be
mistaken"
''Daresay. / generally am when
| jump at conclusions. Anyway, he didn't
| like it much when l called him out of
his name. l gathered, in fact, that he
was considerably put out. Silly, wasn't
| it?"
Rather - she agreed gravely.
For d moment or two they eyed one
! another in silence, Whitaker wonder
ing just how much of fool she was
| thinking him and obviously consider
! ing various eXpedientS to ingratate
! himself
Il don't seem to think of anything
useful to say" he ventured. Can you
help me out? Unless you'd be inter-
! ested to know my names Whitaker
! Hugh Whitaker-T
|
merely by brief nod at seems to
me-" she said seriously, that the
pressing question is, what are you go
ing to do about that ankle? Shall
you be able to walkY'
Hard to say" he grumbled, trife
dashed. With infinite pains and the
aid of both hands and his sound foot,
| I, nd RI
stand erect for an instant, then bore
little weight on the hurt ankle-and
blanched, paling visibly beneath his in
eradicable tan.
Il don't suppose" he said with eff
fort-''they grow-crutches-on this
neck of land?"
And he was about to collapse again
upon the sands when, without warning,
he found the woman had moved to his
side and caught his hand, almost
bruSquely passing his arm across her
shoulders, so that she received no little
of his weight.
"Oh, l say" he protested feebly,
Don't say anything" she replied
shortly. I'm very strong-quite able
to help you to the boat. Please don't
consider me at all; just see if we can't
manage this way
He endeavored to withdraw his arm,
an effort rendered futile by her cool,
firm grasp on his fingers.
"Please!" she said-not altogether
patiently.
He eyed her askance. There was in
| in nj
quancy, definitely provocative, tran
scending the claims his injury made
upon his interest. Last night for the
first time he had seen this woman,
and from a distance had thought her
desirable; now, within twelve hours,
he found himself with an arm round
her neck!
And then suddenly she turned her
head and intercepted his whole-hearted
stare. For a thought wonder glim-
mered in the violet eyes, then they
flashed disconcertingly; finally they
became utterly cold and disdainful.
"Well?" she demanded in frigid
voice.
He looked away In complete confu~
| SlOu, anu Lett Ills ld.0 W llc
temples.
Il beg your pardon" he mumbled IN
happily. 8
He essayed to walk. Twenty feet
and more of treacherous, dry, yielding
sand separated them from the flight of
steps that assembled the bluff. 1t
proved no easy journey.
The stairway accomplished, he
limped to wooden seat and sat down
with much grim decision in his man
ner But he mustered a smile to meet
her look of concern, and shook his
head.
THUS far and no farther"
.'Oh, but you must not be stubborn -
81 mean to be-horrid stubborn. In
fact, / don't mind warning you that
there's a famous strain of mule in the
+. Whitaker makeup"
| She was, however, not to be divert
ed and her fugitive frOwn bespoke Inn
, | Datience if he were any Judge.