Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-06-01

Blaze conquered an impulse to fee,
,or she was accounting a story all too
familiar to him..
"Why, it seemed as if the whole city
II Galveston was there, and yet no
body offered to help u.s. the dress
maker was saying. "Phil was a per-
,ect hero, for the ruffian was twice
his size. Oh, it was an awful fight
| hate to think of it."
what made him pinch your
?aloma inquired.
Heaven only knows. Some men are
Dreadful that way. Why, he left a
,lack-and-blue 1hark -
Blaze broke into a cold sweat and
cursed feebly under his breath.
'He wasn't drunk, either. He was
lust naturally depraved. You could
see it in his face"
'How did you escape?"
"Well, I'll tell you. We chased him
Up across the boulevard and in among
he tents, and then" Mrs. Strange
Owered her voice until only muir
nur reached the listening man. A mo-
ment, then both women burst into
,hrill, excited laughter, and Blaze him
elf blushed furiously.
This was unbearable! 1t was bad
enough to have that woman in Jones'
lille, constant menace to his good
lame, but to allow her access to his
)wn home was unthinkable. Sooner
)r later they were bound to meet, and
hen Paloma would learn the disgrace
'ul truth-yes, and the whole neigh
,OrhoOd would likewise know his
shame. In fancy, Blaze saw his rep
ltation torn to shreds and himself ex-
posed to the gibes of the people who
7enerated him. He would become a
scandal among men, an offense to re-
spectacle women; children would shun
him. Blaze could not bear to think
IF the consequences, for he was very
fond of the women and children of
Jonesville. He rose from his ham,
mock and tiptoed down the porch into
the kitchen, from which point of Sc
curity he called loudly for his daugh-
ter.
Alarmed at his tone, PalOma came
running. what is the matter?" she
asked, quickly.
Get her out!'' Blaze cried, savagely.
Get shed of her."
'Her? Who?'
'That varmint."
"Father, what ails your"
'Nothin' ails me, but I don't want
that caterpillar crawlin' around my
premises. I don't like her."
Paloma regarded her parent Curl
ously. "How do you know you don't
like her when you've never seen her?"
"Oh, I've seen her, all I want to;
and I heard her talkin' to you just now.
[ won't stand for nobody tellin' you
pad stories.'
Paloma snickered. ''The idea! She
doesn't"
Get her out, and keep her out"
Blaze rumbled. "She amt right; she
ain't-human. Why, what d'you reck-
on saw her do, the other day? Makes
me shiver now. You remember that
big bull-snake that lives under the
barn, the one I've been layin' for?
Well, you won't believe me, but him
and her are friends. Fact! I saw
her pick him up and play with him.
Who-ee! The goose-flesh popped out
on me till it busted the buttons of my
vest. She amt my kind of people,
Paloma. Strange amt no name for
her; 10, sir That woman's dam near
peculiar
Paloma remained unmoved. 81
thought you knew. She used to be a
snake charmer."
"A-what?" There was no doubt
about it. Blaze's hair lifted. He
blinked through his big spectacles; he
paved the air freely with his hands.
elbow can you let her touch you?
couldn't. I'll bet she carries pocket
full of dried toads and-and keeps live
lizards in her hair. knew an old VOC.
doc woman that ate >cockroaches. Get
shed of her, Paloma, and we'll fumi-
gate the house."
At that moment Mrs. Strange herself
opened the kitchen door to inquire, rs
anything wrong?" Misleading Blaze's
expression for one of pain, she ex-
claimed: Mercy! Now, what have
you done to yourself?"
But the object Of her solicitude
backed away, making peculiar clucking
sounds deep in his throat. Paloma
was saying:
'This is my father, Mrs. Strange.
You and he have never happened to
meet before"
"Why, yes we have! / know you"
the seamstress exclaimed. Then puz-
zled light flickered in her black eyes.
Seems to me we've met somewhere,
but-Tve met so many people" She
extended her hand, and Blaze took
1t as if expecting to find it cold and
scaly. He muttered something unin-
telligible. 1--WE been dying to see you"
she told him, "and thank you for CIV
Ing me Paloma's work. love you
both for it."