Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-01-05

| In tone more or nope than of aSSIlr
ance. He felt tenderly of the injured
member. "Only my ankIe-twfsted II
a few days ago, and now again. It'll
be all right in a moment or two"
Her gaze Travelled from him to the
edge of the bluff.
81 didn't see-I mean, heard some
thing, and turned, and saw you trying
to sit up md the other man rising"
''Sorry we startled you" Whitaker
mumbled, wondering how the deuce he
was going to get home. His examina.
ton of the ankle hadn't proved greatly
encouraging.
"But 1-ah-how did it happen?"
"a mere misunderstanding, he said
lightly. 81 mistcok the gentleman fol-
someone l knew. He resented it, SO
we started to scrap like couple OF
schoolboys. Then wish to
heaven it had been his leg instead OF
mine"
"But still l hardly understand ). :"
"Weii, you see, I-ah-rm visiting
Enber-the cottage next to yours,
believe. That is, if I'm not mistaken
you have the Fiske placer"
She nodded.
"And so, this morning. It struck me
as fine young idea to swim over here
and have a look at the beach. And
then l found that chap watching you"
That startled her. slow 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
Jump at conclusions Anyway, he didn't
like it much when called him out of
his name. l gathered, in fact, that he
was considerably put out. Silly, wasn't
itY"
"Rather!" she agreed gravely.
For moment or two they eyed one
another in silence, Whitaker wonder
ing just how much of 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 ii brief nod. at 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" ne grumbled, a trife
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
little weight on the hurt ankle-and
blancned, paling visibly beneath his in
eradicable tan.
Il don't suppose" he said with eff
fort-"they grow-crutches-on this
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
brusquely passing his arm across her
shoulders, so that she received no little
of his weight.
ooh, I say 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.
"Pleaser she said not altogether
patiently.
He eyed her asllance. There was In
this incredible situation a 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 distance had thought her
desirable; now, within twelve hours.
he found himself with an arm round
her neck
And then suddenly she turned her
head and intercepted his whole-hearted
stare. For thought wonder glim-
mered in the violet eyes: then they
flashed disconcertingly; finally they
became utterly cold and disdainful.
"Well?" she demanded in a frigid
voice.
He looked away in complete confu-
sion, and felt his face burning to the
temples.
81 beg your pardon" he mumbIed un-
happily.
He essayed to walk. Twenty feet
and more of treacherous, dry, yielding
sand separated them from the fight of
steps that assembled the bluff. 1t
proved no easy journey.
The stairway opcon,rli sbod no