The Lamar register., 1919-01-29


when she arranged some of the ham
mock pillows In the easiest of the
porch chairs and made him bury him
self luxurlously in them.
Still holding the idea, brought over
from that afternoon of the name ques-
tloning, that she had In some way lis
covered his true Identity, Smith was
watching narrowly for danger-signals
when he thanked her and said:
you say it just as 1t is. l had to
come. But you could never be any
5ody's Delilah, could you? She was a
)etrayer, If you recollect."
He made the suggestion purposely.
Dut II was wholly Ignored. and there
was no guile In the slate-gray eyes.
'You mean that you didn't want To-
Gomez"
mo; not that. | have wanted to-
come every time your father has asked
ne. But there are reasons-good rea-
sons-why / shouldn't be here"
If she knew any OF the reasons she
made no sign. She was sitting In the
hammock and touching one sllppered
toe to the flagstones for the swinging
push. From Smiths point of view she
had for background the gorgeous
sunset, but he could not see the more
distant glories.
ave owe you much. and we are go
Ing to owe you more" she said. "You
mustn't think that we don't appreciate
you at your full value. Colonel-daddy
thinks you are the most wonderful
! u. a.
lot of the others
"And youi" he couldn't resist saying
I'm just plain ashamed-for the
way treated you when you were mere
before. I've been eating humble-pie
ever since"
Smith breHthed freer. Nobody hut a
most consunmnte actress could have
simulated her frank sincerity. lie had
jumped too quickly 10 the small sum
in-addition conclusion. She did not
know the story OF the absconding bank
cashier
II don't know why you should feel
that way" he said. eager, now, to run
where he had before been afraid to
walk
"I do. And believe you wanted To
shame me. believe you gave up your
place ut the dam and took hold with
daddy more to show me what an incon-
sequent little idiot | was than for any
other reason. Didn't you. renllyf"
He laughed In quiet ecstasy at this
newest and most adorable OF the
moods
Honest confession Is good for the
| aanI. 1 iII no k..StaA s.\nUs Iaut
that for frankness, II you can
| II can't" she admitted, laughing
back at him. But now you've accom-
pllshed your purpose, I hope you are
not going TO give up. That would be II
little hard on colOnel-daddy."
"oh, no; I'm not going TO give up
until l have to-"
Does that mean more than II saysr'
"Yes. I'm afraid 1t does"
She was silent for the length of time
that IT took the flaming crimson In the
western sky to fade TO salmon. The
colonel had mounted the steps and was
coming toward them. The young wom-
an slipped from the hammock and
stood up
'Don't go" said Smith, feeling as II
he We're losing an opportunity and
leaving much unsald that ought to be
said. But the answer was Il quiet
good night" and she was gone.
Smith went back to town with the
colonel the next morning physically
rested, to be sure, but in n frame of
mind bordering again upon the sar-
Ionic. one thing stood out clearly
he was most Enthusiastically in love
with Corona Baldwin.
Hence there was another high re-
solve not To go to Hlllcrest again until
he could 20 as n free man; resolve
which, it is perhaps needless to say
was broken thereafter as often ns the
'olonel asked him to go. Why, in the
last resort, Smith should have finally
chosen II cnnfidant in the person of
William Starbuck, the reformed cow
puncher he scarcely knew. But 1t was
10 Stnrbuck that he appealed for adj
vice when the sentimental situation
had grown fairly desperate.
I've told you enough so that you
AN understand the vise-nip of 1t
Billy" he said to Starbuck one night
when he had dragged the mine owner
up 10 the bathroom suite in the Henhra
tiouse, and had told him just little,
enough to merely hint at his condition
You see how II stacks up. IN ~ =