The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1919-10-23


second or two he held his breath.
stunned by the amazing ioveliness that
vas revealed 10 him. Then she dis
covered him standing there.
In fash ne realized that he was
lace % face with the stranger of the
day before. He took two or three Inn
pulsive steps forward. his hand going
10 his hat-and then halted. Evident
" his senses had deceived him. There
was no smile In her eyes-and yet he
could have sworn that Il was there an
instant before. Instead there was "a
I level stare.
/ Il am sorry II I startled" he be-
gan.
The figure OF man appeared as n
discharged bodily from some magic
I tree-trunk and stood directly I'm las
7 path-a tail. rugged man In Overalls
WIS he. who held "a spade In his hand
and eyed him inimlcally. NithOu. an
other glance I'm his direction the first
and more pleasing vision turned on
her heel and continued her stroll.
sauntering or TO the right. her fair
head once more bent I'm study her
back eloquently Indifferent To the gaze
that followed her.
who do you want 10 secT' inquired
the man with the spade.
Before Barnes could reply a hearty
voice accosied him from behind. lie
vhirled and saw ODowd approaching.
not twenty yards away. The Irish
mans fnce was agiow with pleasure.
Il knew I couldn't be mistaken In
-. 1.
with outstretched hand. You've got
the breadth OF dockhand In your
shoulders and the trimness of a prize
fighter in your waist"
They shook hands. Il fear / am
trespassing." said Barnes. His glance
went over his shoulder ns he spoke.
The man with the spade had been Swal-
lowed up by the EARTH He could not
have vanished more quickly in any
other way. on among the trees were
intermittent flashes of blue and white.
II am quite sure you are" said
ODOwd promptly but without a trace
Of unfriendliness in his manner. Be
dad. loving him as l do. | can't help
saying that Curtis Is baliy old crank.
Mind We. I'd say II 90 his face often
do. for the matter Of that. OF course"
he went on seriously. "he Il sick
man. poor devil You see I've known
him for a dozen years and mo-.. and
he likes me. though God knows why.
unless II may be that I once did his
son a good turn In London"
sufficient excuse for reparation. I
should say" smiled Barnes
a.
ter" said ODoWd. "an6 she kept him
happy for the next ten years. No
doubt also provided Mr. Curtis with
three grandchildren ne might never
have had but for my graclOusneSs."
A look Of distress came into his merry
eyes by Jove. I'D like nothing bet
ter than to ask you In to have a dish
OF tea-it's teatime. I'm sure-but I'D
no more think OF doing II than I'd con-
slider cutting OF me head. He doesn't
like strangers He"
My dear fellow. don't distress your
self" cried Barnes heartily. There
isn't the least reason In the world
why"
"You see. the poor old chap asks
Us up here once or twice a year-that
Is to say. DE Soto and me-tO keep
his sister from filling the house mp
with men he can't endure. So long
as we occupy the only available rooms.
he argues. she can't stun them full
OF objectionables- Twice a year she
comes for "a month. in the late fall
and early spring"
"Why does he continue 10 live In
this out-of-theworld spot7 He Is an
old man. I take IL. and ILL.,"
"Ycu wouldn't be wondering II you
knew the man." said O'Dowd. HE Is
q scholar. a dreamer. a sufferer. He's
not very old man at that. Not more
than sixty-five."
'He certainly has a fanciful streak
In him. building place like that" said
Barnes. looking not at the house but
into the thicket above. There was no
sign OF the blue and white and the
spun gold that still defied exclusion
from his minds eye. He had not re
covered from the thrall into which the
vision OF lovelineSs plunged him. He
was still a trifie dazed and distraught.
"Right you are" agreed O'Dowd:
'the queerest streak In the world It's
his notion OF simplicity"
Screen Fancy. Is that the name he
gave the place or does IL spring
from"
-'Twas christened by me own sis
ter. Mr.. Barnes. the first time she was
here. two years ago. I'll walk with
you to the fence beyond II you've no
objections" said O'Dowd genIally. and
\ linked his arm through that of Barnes.
The latter was at once subtly aware
OF the fact that he was being DELHI
erately conducted from the grounds.
Moreover. he was now convinced that
O'Dowd had been close upon his heels