Williams news., 1917-02-01
fife |Quarterbreed By ROBERT AMES BENNET

and glOated on the girls confusion. Un- able longer to endure the strain. Oinna at last faltered in timid desperation |: ''You-you are MT. Van. Charlie said you and he are partners"
 "Partners?" repeated Vandervyn with quick frown. "He said that?"
 The girl shrank back. Please, sir, he didn't mean anything wrong."
 "What more did he say?"
 'Nothing- that. Please, it's only his way of talking"
 That's all right. Don't be afraid" Vandervyn reassured her with quick change to smiling friendliness. "I am Charlie's best friend"
 "Oh, thank you, thank you! He is my only brother. We have nobody else; only ourselves"
 In her gratitude the girl forgot her self-consciousness. She raised her soft eyes and looked full at Wander vyn. He smiled and bent nearer. Though she blushed scarlet, she was unable to turn her gaze away from his ardent blue eyes.
 "O-ee-nah," he drew out her name in the caressing tone that he would have sed in fondling pet dog.
 She smiled even as she trembled. He
 me closer. Her gaze wavered and Ink before the look in his glowing eyes, and she shrank back. He sought to put his arm about her, but she sprang clear with the agility of star tied doe.
 "Oh, come now!" he urged. "Just kiss. Whats the harm of a kiss?"
 The girl had retreated into the cabin. He blocked the door. There was no way for her to elude him if he wished to press his vantage.
 "No, no, please!" she begged. At school they told me only bad girls let men kiss them"
 Bah" !" he scoffed. "What do those old fossils know about itr' His voice deepened to an alluring richness. Come. I will not hurt you, Oinna. Give me a kiss"
 "Let me-let me out !" she panted.
 "Not unless you pay toll"
 She looked around for some way of escape. There was none. She stared wildly out through the window and then looked at him over her shoulder. The sudden stiffness of her pose checked and disquieted him. Was it possible that she had seen her brother returning?
 He sprang outside and around to the corner of the cabin. A short distance away he saw Marie Dupont riding across from the road at smart can ter. He waved his hat to her and faced about just as Oinna was gliding from the door.
 Stop" he called in a tone that forced the girl to obey. Don't be silly, Oinna. You have my word for 1t I meant no harm. If you run now, Miss Dupont will think we have been doing something wrong."
 "Ob. I don't want her to. She was good to me. Don't let her think bad of me-" implored the girl.
 "Then go in and get her a cup of tea. Quick-here she comes."
 The girl disappeared as Marie's pony swung around the corner of the cabin. Vandervyn stopped to fiddle with his stirrup leather. He strengthened, and looked over his pony's back. Marie had pulled up a few feet away, and was staring past him toward the door of the cabin, her cheeks ablaze and her eyes flashing with anger.
 ''Hello!" he exclaimed, glancing over his shoulder with well-feigned surprise. What's the matter?"
 "You ask that?" she cried. q met Charlie half way to the agency. He said you were riding out of the val ley"
 "Yes. Stopped here to get a drink from his sister. They have only creek water. I've had to wait while she boiled some for tea. But 1t was a lucky delay-you're here. You'll ride with mer'
 "I wish to speak to that girl" re- piled Marie.
 Going to hire her for a kitchen maidT' he asked, and he called over his shoulder in a rough tone: "Hurry up in there. You're keeping Miss Du- pont waiting"
 You should not speak that way to Oinna. She is not a dog," reproved Marie. See; you have frightened her It's all right, Oinna. Mir. Van didn't mean to be cross"
 The girl had stopped in the door, way, her eyes timidly downcast. With out looking up, she came around to Ma rife and offered her the cup of luke warm tea that she had brought in obedience to Vandervyn's command. Marie took a sip and paused to peer down into the dark brew.
 hn fc ho1 sugar."
 "You were good to me-" naively ex- plained Qinna.