Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-04

for he girl. And then other factors
several million of them entered into
the matter.
When he dumped The last load Of
wood on the pile he had accumulated
Allen noted the girl had moved 10 the
other side Of the blaze. She had placed
herself where the breeze blew the
smoke toward her and sat with her
feet tucked under her dress.
so they're after YOU. too?" he re-
marked as he stopped busting his
hands together To slap viciously al his
neck. We'll. it shows the old GALL
n,ppers 1T times display good taste.
although they unfortunately are not
entirely discriminating, and he
whacked AT his ear.
Bee lug her knuckles into her
redeemed eyes and stood up
Almost Immediately she sat down
again. carefully covering her ankles
with her skirt
Il cant stand the smoke and cart
stand. the mosquitoes she said plain
lively. Does it really look like we've
got to stay here all night"
"Of course not" Allen tried to
inject confidence into his tone. Some
one will see our fire and take us on
But meantime, we've got to make
ourselves comfortable
He carried the cushions from the
launch and arranged couch then
tossed the canvas bag at the girls
feet.
Take OFF your shoes and slip your
feet into that" he advised. Then
they can't bite you.' Those thin silk
stockings are not much protection"
He caused her TO put on his coat
and placed her with her back against
a tree. The sleeves Of the coat were
much 700 long and when pulled down
they projected her hands from the
myriads of yenomous pests.
but they are biting my neck" was
her final complaint "and they're sing.
ing in my ears"
Allen was not at the end OF his re.
sources. however. From his hand
kerchief he fashioned mask, cutting
two holes for her eyes. She fastened
il in place with hairpins. Her neck
was shielded by turning up the coat
collar.
Nov you're fixed" he said "rhc
only place you're vulnerable il at the
eyes, and ii they try to get in there
just wink and fan 'em out with your
lashes. I'm rather proud Of that mask.
II adds just The proper brisand touch
TO The camp. rs only bad feature is
that can't see your face"
She snuegled back comfortably on
the cushions.
But how about you, boy" she
asked. They'll eat you ny.
Allen waved the thought aside.
"They don't bother me much" he
said, besides. | can stand the smoke
and I'll keep the smudge going"
II he could have seen behind the
handkerchief mask he would have
noted far different expression on
the girls face from any he had oh
served IN the past
The ayes were softer and there wa
little look OF wonder in them--won
der and tenderness that limited OF
other things.
This was different Allen from thr
foppish young man who had dangled
after her all summer. He always had
interested her. but he was NOT OF The
type she liked best
She essentially was an out-oi-doorS
Girl and admired men whose tastes
were the same.
Allen frankly did not care tor hunt
ing or fishing and preferred a seat i'll
the shade, cigarette. and magazine
to tramp over the links or match
on the courts.
He did moi swim--another sport she
loved = and seemingly went in for no
form OF athletics. although Bee
brother once had remarked thar cal
len was bear with the gloves" His
extremely neat style OF dressing once
had led the girl in q moment Of i'm.
patience she regretted later 10 refer
to him az a dude" He had WINGED a
the remark at the time. but made 40
reply. and now the girl felt sudden
impulse 10 apologize
This Allen who sal carefully drying
water-soaked cigarettes before the
! fire was q person who interested her
greatly. She called it interest a, the
torn: the white shoes were muddy.
and the trousers well, they looked
like an duck garments do under sim.
lar circumstances.
They talked but li,tle. The girl be.
came drowsy. her head dropping low
er and lower; and her last conscious
impression was of q monotonous slap
ping as Allen battlcd a horde Of hun.
grv mosquitoes.
II was the sound of a whack at 70
particularly persistent insect that
aroused her The next morning. Tn"
rising sun slanted through the viii
lows. Shreds Of mist were rising from
the river. Each bush was ieweled
with dew.