Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-01-20

ance. lie felt tenderly of the injured
member. "Only my aukIe-twisted Il
few days ago, and now again. It'll
be all right in u momen, or two"
Her gaze travelled from him TO the
'dge Of the blum.
81 didn't see-T mean. heard some
thing, and turned, and saw you trying
to sit up ard the other man rising"
"Sorry we startled YOU" Whitaker
mumbed, wondering how the deuce he
was going to get home. His examina'
ton Of the ankle hadn't proved greatly
encouraging.
"But I-ah-how did 1t happen?"
"A mere misunderstanding. he said
lightly. Il mistCok the gentleman for
someone I knew. He resented it, sc
we started to scrap like a couple Of
schoolboys. Then l wish to
heaven it had been his leg instead OF
miner
but still hardly un ferstand . -
well, you see, I--ah-rm visiting
Ember-the cottage next to yours,
believe. That is, if I'm not mistaken
you have the FiSke placer
She nodded.
"And so, this morning, 1t 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. Glow do you
mean-wutching 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
it?"
Rather" she agreed gravely.
For a 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 a 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?"
"Hard to say" he grumbled, a trifle
dashed. With Infinite pains ard the
aid of both hands and his sound foot
he lifted himself and c0ntrlved to
stand erect for an instant, then bore
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 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.
"Oh, l say-w he protested feebly.
Don't say anything" she replied
shortly. I'm very strong-qulte 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.
"Pl2asew she said not altogether
patiently.
He eyed her askance. 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 a 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-heartcd
stare. For a thought wonder glm-
mered in the violet eyes; then they
flashed disconcerungly; finally they
became utterly cold and disdainfuL.
"WeuT she demanded in a frigid
voice.
lie looked away in complete confu-
sion, and felt his face burning to the
temples.
q beg your pardon, he mumbled IN
happily.
lie essayed 20 walk. Twenty feet
and more Of treacherous, dry, yielding
sand separated them from the fight Of
steps that assembled the bluff. It
proved no easy journey.
The stairway accomplished, he
limped to ~ooden seat ana sat down
with much grim decision in his man
ner. But he mustered a smile to meet
her look Of concern, and shook his
head.
Thus far and no farther"
"Oh. but you must not be stubborn -