Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-11
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Copyrighs ~ Louis Joseph Vase

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copyrisAs ~ Louis JossJA Vase
CHAPTER XII.
of|shors.
"You ask me. think very excellent
quick cure"
sum Fat tenderly adjusted the can.
vas brace, and then with infinite care
inserted the foot in q high.cut canvas
tennis shoe.
He stood up, beaming with benevo-
lent interest. "You take 1t easy one
day or two-no walk much-just loaf
no 60 see pretty ladies'"
go way, you heathen-go clean
your teeth" cried Whitaker. indig-
nantly.
'-~and I think be all well and
sound" concluded Sum Fat.
He waddled away. chuckling. Whit.
aker got up. and with the aid 81. . cane
made number Of tentative expert.
ments In short-d distance pedestrianism.
The results were highly satisfactory;
he felt little or no pain. On the other
nand, he felt the advice to which he
had Just listened was sound: It would
be unwise to attempt neighborly call
within at least another twenty-fouf
hours.
He resumed his chair on tho veranda
and sighed. It was late afternoon, and
he was lonely. He inclined to sulks.
The trouble with him was Che began
to realize) that he had lived too long
a hermit. For six years he had been
practically isolated and cut of from
the better half of existence; femininity
had formed no factor in his cosmos.
Rnt now. Of a sudden. he had been
granted flash of insight into the true
significance Of companionship between
a man and q woman who had some.
thing in common aside from commu-
nifty In their generation. Not two hours
altogether Of such intercourse had
been his, but 1t had been enough to in
fuse all his consciousness with q vague
but irking discomfort.
He had dashed himself into very re-
spectacle transport Of resentful rage
when, CHANGING to lift his eyes from
their absorbed study of the planks
composing the veranda door, he dis
covered = motor boat ut the landing
ytage. At once . smile Of childliko
serenity displaced the scowl
The woman made the little vessel
fast and. t11ning, came swinging up
the gentle slope to the veranda, ease
and strength and Joy Of living inherent
In every flowing movement
No Imaginable consideration, how.
ever selfish, could have kept Whitacro
any longer In his chair.
'The most amiable person I knowl !"
he cried. elated. "Greetingsl"
She paused By the steps looking up.
4 fascinatins Widen.
"You're able to stand without assist
anceY
..As matter Of fact, I can move
only at the cost Of excruciating agony"
She considered him with . sober face
and smiling eyes. II don't believe you.
You're 4 fraud. Besides, didn't
come to see you at all; came to find
out why Mr.. Ember dares 30 to neg
lect me. Did you deliver my invita-.
tionr'
81 did. unwillingly. he was DESC
lated, but he couldn't accept-had to
run back to town Immediately after
dinner"
"He's as great q fraud as you are.
But since he isn't here, shall CO."
.Please-Pm famished for human 90
ciety. Have pity. Sit down. Tell me
where you've been with the boat."
Merely to the head Of the bay to
have the gasoline tanks filed. A most
boresome errand. II promise to come
over this evening and play you rub
Der or two-will you permit me to 20
home now7"
saOn such terms I'll do anything you
can possibly suggest" he declared, en-
chanted. "But how will you
get here? Not alone. through the
woods! can't permit that"
sElsie shall row me down the shore
rnd then 90 back to keep cook COM
pany. Sum Fat can see me home-it
you find it still necessary to keep up
the invalid pose"
am afraid" ne laughed, Il shall cab
INV own bluff. Must You really
go so sOon?"
& Good afternoon" she returned de-
murely; and ran down the steps and
on to her boat.
Smiling quietly to himself, Whitaker
watched her cast the boat OF. get I'm.
der way, and swing 1t out Of sight be-
ninu tine trees. Then his smile wavered
land faded and gave place to q look Of
acute discomfort. Three mortal hours
Ito fritter away in prohtless anticipa.
At seven Whitaker was merely nerv.
lous. (.
BY eight he was unable to sit still.
Half an hour later the house was too
small to contain him. he found him
self ct the end Of the dock, tingling
with Impotence, but finding some little
iconsolation In the restless sweep Of
the wind against his face and body. He
could see little-a mere suggestion Of
the shore line picked out with the dim,
lsemiphosphOrescent glow Of breaking
ivayeleta. Some minutes ELAPSED. The