The Elk Mountain pilot., 1916-10-12
the gentleman at her left. tn, d.

tuo Bcutlomdn Ut uer IcIt, tN '"c"cb
'Mr. James Sheridan, Jr." Ard from
that moment Roscoe had little enough
cause for wondering what he ought to
reply to her disturbing coquetries.
Mr.. James Sheridan had been anx-
iously waiting for the dazzling visitor
to ''get through with old Roscoe and
give bachelor chance. "Old Ros-
coe" was the younger, but he had al
ways been the steady wheel-horse of
the family. As their father habitually
boasted, both brothers were capable,
Woodworking young business men,"
Physically neither was of the height,
breadth or depth of the father. Both
wore young business mems mustaches,
and either could have sat for the tailor
shop Autographs of young business men
wearing rich suitings in dark mix
lures"
Jim, approving warmly of his neigh
boris profile, perceived her access Of
color, which increased his approba-
tion. whats that old Roscoe saying
to you. Miss Vertrees?" he asked.
"These young married men are mighty
forward nowadays. but you mustn't let
'em make you blush"
"Am l blushing?" she said. "Are
you sure?" And with that she gave
him ample opportunity to make sure.
repeating with interest the look
wasted upon Roscoe. II think you
must be mistaken" she continued. "I
think it's your brother who is blush
ing. I've thrown him into confusion"
How"
She laughed, and then, leaning to him
little, said In tone as confidential
as she could make 1t, under cover of
the uproar. "By trying to begin with
him courtship meant for your
This might well be n style new to
Jim; and 1t was. He supposed It a
nonseasical form of badinage, and yet
it took his breath. He realized that he
wished what she said to be the literal
truth, and he was instantly shared by
that realization.
by Georgev' he said. "I guess
you're the kind of girl that can say
anything-yes, and get away with 1t,
tooi'
She laughed again-in her way, 30
that he could not tell whether she was
laughing at him or at herself or at the
nonsense she was talking; and she
said:
But you see don't care whether I
get away with it or not. wish you'd
tell me frankly IL you think I've got a
chance to get away with you?"
More like If you've got a chance to
get away from mev Jim was inspired
to reply. Not one In the world, espe-
cially after beginning by making fun
Of me hike that"
II mightnt be SO much in fun as
you think" she said, regarding him
with sudden gravity.
well" said Jim. in simple honesty,
you're funny girlv'
Her gravity continued an instant
longer. II may not turn out to be
funny for you"
$50 long as you turn out to be any
thing Mt all for me. expect I can
manage to be satisfied" And with
that, to his own surprise, it was his
turn to blush. whereupon she laughed
again.
YES" he said, plaintvely, not
wholly lacking intuition, II can see
you're the sort of girl that would laugh
the minute you see man really means
anything!'
laugh" she cried, gayly. "why,
1t might be matter of life and death. 1.
But II you want tragedy. I'd better put
the question at once, considering the
mistake l made with your brother"
1tr, -. I.~
playing a little game of mockery and
nonsense with him, but he had
glimpses Of flashing danger in it; he
was but too sensible of being out
classed, and had somewhere con-
sclousness that he could never quite
know this gddy and alluring lady, no
matter how long it pleased her to play
with him. But he nightly wanted her
to keep on playing with him.
Put what question 2" he said, breath
lessly.
"As you are new neighbor of mine
and Of my family" she returned,
speaking slowly and with a cross-ex-
aminer's severity, II think 1t would be
well for me to know at once whether
you are already walking out with any
young lady or not. Mr.. Sheridan, think
well! Are you spoken for?"
mot yet" he gasped. Are you?"
"No" she cried, and with that they
both laughed again; and the pastime
proceeded, increasing both in its gayety
and in its gravity.
Observing its continuance, Mr.. Rob-
ert Lamhorn, opposite, turned from a
lively conversation with Edith and re-
marked covertly to Sibyl tho. Miss-Ver-
trees was starting rather picturesque
ly with Jim." And he added, languid-
ly, "Do you suppose she would?"
For the moment Sibyl gave no sign
of having heard him, but seemed inter-