The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-07-21
CHAPTER Vli.-Continued.

CHAPTER Vll.-continued.
g.
If Smith hesitated, it was only partly
on his own account. He was thinking
again Of the young woman with the
honest eyes when he said: do you
know why | turned Williams down
when he spoke to me the other day?"
Colonel Dexter Baldwin had his
faults, like other men, but they were
not those of indirection.
Il reckon l do know, son." he said,
with large tolerance. you're a lame
duck of some sort. But that's our
lookout. BARLEY is ready to swear
that you are not a crooked crook, what
ever else it is that you're lodging for.
Besides, there's yesterday"
eve agreed to forget the yesterday
Incidents" the lame duck reminded
him quickly. And then: Il ought to
say NO. Colonel Baldwin; say it
straight out, and stick to it. If don't
say tiff I ask for a little time-it is
because I want to weigh up few
things-the things can't talk about to
you or to Williams. If, in the end, I
should be fool enough to say Yes 1t
is only fair to you to say that, right in
the middle Of the scrap, may fall
to pieces on you"
Baldwin was too shrewd to try to
push his advantage when there was,
or seemed to be, a chance that the
desired end was as good as half at
tanned And it was a purely manful
prompting that made him get up and
thrust out his hand to the young fell
low who was trying to be as frank
as he dared to be.
"Put it there, John" he said heartily.
"Nobody in the TimanyOni is going to
pry into you an inch farther than you
care to let 'em: and if you get into
! trouble by helping US, you can count
ION at least one hacker who will stand
by you until the cows come home.
Now, then, hunt up your coat, ana
we'll drive over to Hillcrest for bite
to eat. I had my orders from the
rnissus before left town, and know
better than to 60 home without you.
Never mind the commissary khaki. 1t
won't be the first time that the work
ing clothes have figured at the Hill
crest table-not by a long shot
And because he did not know now
to frame q refusal that would refuse,
Smith got his coat and went.
Given his choice between the two
Smith would cheerfully have faced
another hand-to-hand battle with the
claim jumpers in preference to even
so mild a dip into the former things
as the dinner at Hillcrest foreshad-
owed. The reluctance was not forced
If was real. The primitive man In him
did not wish to be entertained. On
the fast auto drive down to Brewster
across the bridge, and out to the Baid'
win ranch, Smiths humor was frankly
sardonic. He cherished small nope
that Mrs. Baldwin might be shocked
of the soft shirt and the khaki. IL
would serve her right for taking man
from his job.
AT the stone-pillared portal he go'
out to open the gates. Down tht
road O horse was coming at smar'
gallop, the rider, Corona Baldwin
booted and spurred and riding man
saddle.
Smith let the gray car go on lts
way up the drive without him.
$50 you weakened, did you! IN
disappointed in you," was Miss Baio
wins greeting. you've made me lost
my bet with colonel-daddy. I said YOU
wouldn't come"
IL had no business to come ne an
swered morosely. "But your fathe
wouldn't let me off,"
"Of course he wouldn't; daddy nevei
lets anybody off, unless they owe MN
money. Where are your evening
clothes"
Smith let the lever Of morosenes
slim back to the grinning notch. the!
are about two thousand miles away
and probably in some SECONDHAND
sbon by this time. What makes yo'
think I ever wore a dress suitT' III
had closed the gates and was Walking
beside her horse up the driveway.
"Oh, / just guessed it." she returne'
lightly. land If you'll hold your DreatI
TIL guess again"
"Dopt," he laughed.
At the steps q negro stabieDoy wa
waiting to take Miss Baldwfns MORSE
smith knew how to help a woma
down from O. side-saddle; but the TWO
rt,rruped rig stumpsd him. The y0an