The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-12-14

be all right in a moment or two"
Her gaze travelled from him to the
edge of the bluff.
II didn't see-I mean, I heard some
thing, and turned, and saw you trying
to sit up and the other man rising"
"Sorry we startled you" Whitaker
mumbled. wondering how the deuce he
was going to get home. His examlna-
tion of the ankle hadn't proved greatly
encouraging.
"But I-ah-how did it happen?"
IA mere misunderstanding" he said
lightly. II mistook the gentleman for
someone 1 knew. He resented ii, so
we started to scrap like couple OF
schoolboys. Then 1 wish to
heaven it had been his leg instead of
miner
but still I hardly understand :"
well, you see, I-ah-rm visiting
Ember-the cottage next to yours, 1
believe. That is, if I'm not mistaken,
you have the Fiske place?"
She nodded.
And so, this morning, it struck me
as fine young idea to swim over here
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. 1 generally am when I
jump at conclusions. Anyway, he didn't
like 1t much when 1 called him out of
his name. / gathered, in fact that he
was considerably put out. Silly, wasn't
it?"
"Rather!" she agreed gravely.
For moment or two they eyed one
another in silence, Whitaker wonder
ing just how much of a fool she was
thinking him and obviously consider
ing various eXpedients to ingratiate
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-?"
She acknowledged the information
merely by brief nod. "It 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 walk?"
lizard to say" he grumbled, a trihe
dashed. With infinite pains and the
aid of both hands and his sound foot.
he lifted himself and contrived to
stand erect for an instant, then bore n
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 thia
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
Drusquely passing his arm across her
shoulders, so that she received no little
of his weight.
"Oh, say-p' 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 I'm
this Incredible situation certain pi.
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 neckl
And then suddenly she turned her
head and intercepted his whole-hearted
stare. For a thought wonder gllm.
mered In the violet eyes then they
flashed dlsconcertingly; finally theJ
became utterly cold and dlsdainful.
"WellY' she demanded in a frigio
voice.
He looked away in complete ccnfu.
sion, and felt his face burning to ths
temples.
81 beg your pardon" ne mumbled un
happily
lie essayed to walk. Twenty feet
and more of treacherous. dry. yielding
sand separated them from the flight of
steps that ascended the blum. II
proved no easy journey.
The stairway accomplished. he
limped TO q wooden seat aud sat down
with much grim decision I'm his man.
ner. But he mustered a smile to meet
her look OF concern, and shook biz
head.
Thus far and mo- farther"
"Oh, but you must not be stubborn 7"
II mean To be-horrid stubborn. I'm
fact ] don't mind warming 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 I'm.
patience, If he were any Judge.
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