The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-08-02

D own nome was unthinkable Sooner
. or later they were bound to meet, and
: then Paloma would learn the disgruce-
ful truth--yes, and the whole neigh
, borhood would likewise know his
shame. In fancy, Blaze saw his rep
utation torn to shreds and himself ex-
posed to the gibes Of the people who
: renerated him. He would become q
scandal among men, an OffcnSe to re-
spectacle women; children would shun
him. Blaze could not bear to think
OF the consequences, for he was very
) fond of the women and children of
Joncsville. He rose from his ham
mock and tiptoed down the porch into
the kitchen, from which point OF Sc
curity he called loudly for his daugh-
ter.
Alarmed at his tone, Paloma came
) running. "What Is the matter?" She
; asked, quickly.
Get her out! Blaze cried, savagcly.
"Get shed of her."
'1Ier? Who"
"That varmint."
Father, what ails your"
"Nothin' ails me, but I don't want
| tlluI CIu"lln UEOun0 INV
, premises. don't like her."
Paloma regarded her parent curl
\ ously. ''How do you know YOU don't
$ like her when you've never seen hcr?"
e "Oh, I've seen her, all l want to !:
Il and heard her talkn' to you just now.
i l won't stand for nobody tcllin' you
G bad stories"
/ Paloma snickered. "The idea! She
j. doesn't"
u "Gct her out, and keep her out"
e Blaze rumbled. "She amt right; she
l. nint-humnn. Why, what d'you recli.
1t on saw her do, the other day? Makes
d me shivcr now. You remember that
H. big bull-snake that lives under the
rt barn, the one I've been layn' for
Well, you won't believe me, but hin
10 and her are friends. Fact! l saw
H. her pick him up and play with hin,
I'D Who-cc! The goosc-flesh popped ou
$ 1! on me till it busted the buttons Of IN
re vest. She nin't my kind OF people
nd Pnoma. Strange aln't no name fo
Ow her; no, sir! That womans dam nen
ed peculiar"
leo Paloma remained unmoved. g
as thought you knew She used to be
| a snake -charmer."
lzc "A-what" There was no doui
nd about 1t. BlaZc's hair lifted. n
lie blinked through his big spectacles: h
nd paved the air freely with his hands
;h- How can you let her touch your
on couldn't. I'll bet she carries pocket
ny flll or dried tOadS and-and keeps liv
IT. lizards In her hair. I knew an old voc
x doc woman that ate cockrOachcs. Ge
od shed of her. Paloma, and well fun
n gate the house"
IN At that moment Mrs. Strange hersel
er opened the kitchen door to inquire, II
ne anything wrong?" Mlsrcading Blaze
v, expression for one of pain, she eX
re claimed: Mercy! Now, what hav
III YOU done to yourscf?
us But the object of her solicitud
i'll backed away, making peculiar cluckin
s. sounds deep in his thront. Palom
q. WAS saying:
lc This Is my father Mrs. Strange
lc You and he have never happened t
ut meet before"
mt why, yes we have! I know you.
{" the scamstrcss exclaimed. Then pu;
'd zled light flickered In her black eyes
IT, Seems to me we've met somewhere
n but-Ive met SO many people" Sh
extended her hand, and Blaze too
IN 1t as If expecting to find 1t cold an
cs scaly. He muttered something unin
IS tclligible. "Ive been dying to see you,
re she told him, "and thank you for civ
Il ing me Paloma's work. 1 love yo
n. both for it,"
mt Blaze was immensely relieved tha
or this dreaded crisis had come and gone
III but wishing to make assurance dOubl
H. sure, he contorted his features into
smile the like Of which his daughte
ID had never seen, and in disguise'
1t voice inquired, "Now where do 70,
@. reckon you ever saw me?"
~ The seamstress shook her head.
G, don't know, but I'll place you befor
20 long. Anyhow, I'm glad you aren'
hurt. From the way you called Palom
" l thought you were. I'm handy aroun
q. sick people, so l."
g "Listen!" Paloma interrupted
>. "Therc's someone Mt the front door.
" She left the room; Blaze was edgin
after her when he heard her utter
stined scream and call his name.
~, Now Paloma was not the kind 0
girl to scream without cause, and he
cry brought Blaze to the front Of tn
&c house at run. But what he saw ther
rcassured him momentarily; nothin
was in sight more alarming than on
W Of the depot hacks, in the rear seat o
which was huddled the figure Of
's man. Paloma was flying down the wal
~ toward the gate, and Phil Strange wa