The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-09-07
CHAPTER III.
MurraN OINeil'a Way.

he said, with a slight flush
please talk OF something
sensible now for an antidote-your
plans, for instance"
"My plans are never sensible, and
what few | have are rs empty as my
pockets. To tell the truth. | have
neither plans nor pockets" she laugh,
ed, since this f. a borrowed gown"
Pockets in gowns are entirely mat
tiers Of hesTSay anyhow; doubt II
they exist Tou are going back to
Seattle
"No Mother would never allow IL
In fact. when she learns that I'm out
here she.l probably send me back TO
New York as fast as | can go"
Doesn't she know where you areT'
Indeed, 10. She thinks I'm safely
and taDely at home. Uncle Curtis
wouldn't object to my visit, | fancy;
at any rate, I've been counting on his
good offices with mother. but It's too
late now"
I'm like you" he said; 81 can't brook
disappointment. I'm going on"
In answer to her questioning look he
explained his plan OF intercepting the
freight steamer that night, whereupon
her face frightened with sudden hope.
Cant l go, too?" she implored eager
ly. She was no longer the naughty
young lady he had met upon entering
the room, but a very wistful child.
"I'm afraid that's hardly
"Please! Please! Be a real prince
and grant me this boon. Won't you?
My heart Is set upon It"
1t was hard to resist her imploring
eyes-eyes which showed they had
neve been denied. 1t was hard for
O'Neil to refuse anything to n woman.
"If your uncle is willing" he began
hesitatingly.
"He isn't my really uncle. I Just
call him that"
WELL. II Mr. Gordon wouldn't OBJ
ject, perhaps I can manage II, provid-
ed, Of course, you promise to explain
to your mother"
Miss Gerard's frank delight showed
that she was indeed no more than a
child. Her changed demeanor awak-
ened a doubt In the mans mind.
ut will mean that you'll have to sit
up all night In an open launch" he
cautioned her.
"Ill sit up for n week"
"With the creepy water all about and
big black mountains frowning at your"
"Oh, fiddler she exclaimed. You'll
be there IL I get frightened" Rising
~impulsively, she laid her hand on his
arm and thanked him with an odd
mingling Of frankness and shyness, as
IL there could be no further doubt of
his acquiescence. He saw that her
eyes were the color Of shaded wood
land springs and that her hair was
not black, but Of a deep, rich brown
where the sun played upon 1t, the hue
OF very old mahogany, with the same
blood red flame running through 1t.
He allowed himself to admire her In
silence until suddenly she drew back
with a startled exclamation.
what Is it?'
II forgot-I have no clothes" Her
words came with a doleful cadence.
"The universal complaint Of your
SEX" he said, smiling. "Allow me to
talk with your hostess. I'm sure she
VIII let you walk out with your Dor
rowed finery just like Cinderella. You
Will need a nick thick coat too"
but this is her very. very best
dress"
"She shall receive on the next ship a
big box all lined with tissue paper.
with the imprint Of the most fashion.
able dressmaker in Seattle. I'll ar.
range all that by cable"
You don't know how she loves it."
the girl said doubtfully.
Come! Call her In. II I'm TO be n
prince you mustn't doubt my power"
Nor did the event prove him overcon-
ndent. Before he had fairly made
known his request the good lady of
n house was ready to surrender not
only her best Sunday gown. but her
nuttering heart as well. Murray O'Neil
mad a way OF making people do what
he wanted, and women invariably
yielded to him.
TO Natalie Gerard the trip down the
bay and into the sound that night was
q wonderful adventure. She remem.
bered 1t far more wildly than the shin.
wreck, which became blurred in retro.
spect, so that she soon began to think
OF It as of some half forgotten night.
mare. To begin with. the personality
Of Murray O'Neil intrigued her more
and more. The man was so strong, &C
sympathetic and he had such a resist
leas way Of doing things. The stories
she had heard, Of him were romantic
and the superintendent's wife had moi
allowed them to suffer In the telling.
When midnight came she found that
she was ravenously hungry, and she
Wae aereeably surprised when O'Neil
produced m elaborats lunch There
worn evan natnDt hottlon 0lled with