Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-05-11

had q hidden side Of his nature that
he possessed an imagination, and with
it quaint, whimsical, exploratory turn
of mind which enabled him to talk
interestedly Of many things and many
places. On this particular evening he
was anything but the man of iron she
had known-until she ventured to
speak of Ed. Then he closed up like
q trap. He was almost gruff In his
refusal to say word about her hus.
band.
Because of Eds appropriation of the
ranch cash, Alaire found it necessary
few days later to go to the bank,
and, feeling the need of exercise, she
rode her horse Montrose. When her
errands had been attended to, she sud-
denly decided to call on Paloma Jones.
1t was years since she had voluntarily
done such a thing; the very impulse
surprised her.
Paloma, it happened, was undergoing
that peculiar form Of feminine torture
known as 'fitting;" but fnsecurely
basted, pinned and tucked as she was,
she came flying down to the gate to
meet her visitor.
Alaire was introduced to Mrs.
Strange, the dressmaker, large, acid
ulous brunette, with a mouthful Of
pins; and then, when Paloma had Civ.
en- herself once more into the seam
stress hands, the two friends gossiped.
II don't know what dad will say
when he gets the bill for these
dresses" Paloma confessed.
"Your father is mighty queer
man." Mrs. Strange observed. 81
haven't SO much as laid eyes on him."
Paloma nodded. "Yes. And he's get
ting more peculiar all the time; can't
make out what ails him."
where is he now?" asked Alaire.
Heaven knows! Out in the barn
or under the house." Taking advan.
tage of the dressmaker's momentary
absence from the room, Paloma con.
tinued in whisper: 81 wish you'd talk
to dad and see what you make of him.
He's acknowledgements. Mrs. Strange
seems to have peculiar effect on him,
Why, it's almost as if"
"What?"
"Well, I suppose I'm foolish, but
I'm beginning to believe in spells. You
know, Mrs. Stranges husband is sort
Of-necromancer."
"How silly"
There was no further opportunity
for words, as the woman reappeared at
that instant; but a little later Alaire
went in search Of Blaze, still consid.
erably mystified. AS she neared the
farm buildings, she glimpsed a mans
figure hastily disappearing into the
barn. The figure bore suspicious re-
semblance to Blaze Jones, yet when
she followed, he was nowhere to be
seen.
"Mr. Jones" Alaire called. She re.
peated BlaZe's name several times;
then something stirred. The door Of a
harness closet opened cautiously, and
out of the blackness peered Paloma's
father. He looked more owlish than
ever behind his big, gold-rimmed spec
tacles. "What in the world are you
doing in there?' she cried.
Blaze emerged, blinking. He was
dusty and perspiring.
"Hello, Miz Austin! % he saluted her
with a poor assumption of breeziness.
II was fixin' some harness, but I'm
right glad to see you"
Alaire regarded him quizzically.
"What made you hide?" she asked.
"Hide? Who, me?"
II saw you dodge in here like a.
gopher"
Blaze confessed: 81 reckon I've got
the willies. Every woman see looks
like that dressmaker.'
"Paloma was telling me about you.
Why do you hate her soT
81 don't know s hate her, but her
and her husband have put jinx on
me. They're the worst people I ever
see, Miz Austin"
You don't really believe In such
Blaze busted off q seat for his visi-
tor, saying: II never did till lately,
but now I'm worse than a plantation
niger. l tell you there's things in
this world we don't sabe. wish you'd
yet Paloma to fire her. I've tried and
failed. l wish you'd tell her those
dresses are rotten"
"But they're very nice; they're love-
Iy; and I've Just been complimenting
her. Now what has this woman done
to your"
1t seemed impossible that man Of
Blaze Jones' character could actually