Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-06-19
CHAPTER VII.
spun-Gold Hair, Blue Eyes and Vari-
GUS Encounters.

opuI-SOi0 F1diTy DUO Eyes anu VdFi-
Gus Encounters.
She was quite unaware of his pres
ence, and vet he was directly in her
path, though some distance away. Her
head was bent; her mien was thought
full, her stride slow and aimless.
She was slender, graceful and evil
IDENTIFY quite tall, although she seemed
a pigmy among the towering giants
that attended her stroll. Her hands
were thrust deep into the pocket of
a white duck skirt. A glance revealed
white shoes and trim ankles in blue.
She wore no hat. Her hair was like
spun gold, thick wavy and simmer
Ing in the subdued light.
Suddenly she stopped and looked up.
He had a full view of her face as she
gazsd about as If startled by some I'M
expected. even alarming sound. For
second or two he held his breath,
stunned by the amazing loneliness that
was revealed to him. Then she dis
covered him standing there.
In a flash he realized that he was
face to face with the stranger of the
day before. He took two or three i'm
pulsive steps forward, his hand going
to his hat-and then halted. Evident
ly his senses had deceived him. There
was no smile in her eyes-and yet he
could have sworn that it was there an
instant before. Instead there was a
level stare.
II am sorry if startled" he be-
gan.
The figure of man appeared as II
discharged bodily from some magic
tree trunk, and stood directly in his
path--a tall, rugged man in overalls
was he, who held a spade in his hand
and eyed him ininically. Without an
other glance in his direction the first
and more pleasing vision turned on
her heel and continued her stroll,
sauntering off to the right, her fair
head once more bent in study, her
back eloquently Indifferent to the goze
that followed her.
who do you want to seer" inquired
the man with the spade
Before Barnes could reply hearty
voice accosted him from behind. He
whirled and saw ODowd approaching
not twenty yards away. The Irish
mans face was aglow with pleasure.
+ ~ knew couldn't be mistaken in
the shape of you," he cried, advancing
with outstretched hand. you've goi
the breadth of dockhand in youI
shoulders and the trimness of prize
fighter in your waist"
; They shook hands. 81 fear I an
trespassing," said Barnes. His glance
went over his shoulder as he spoke
The man with the spade had been swal
lowed up by the earth! He could no.
have vanished more quickly in an!
other way. Off among the trees were
intermittent flashes Of blue and white
II am quite sure you are" sale
O'Dowd promptly but without trace
Of unfriendliness in his manner. BE
dad, loving him as l do, l can't hell
saying that Curtis is bally old crank
Mind We, I'd say it to his facet Otter
do, for the matter of that. OF course,
he went on seriously "he is slcl
,nan, poor devil. You see I've know
him for q dozen years aDd more, IN,
he likes me, though God knows why
unless it may be that l once did hi
son good turn in London"
Sufficient excuse for reparation
should say" smiled Barnes.
81 introduced the lad to me ONLY sis
ter" said ODowd, land she kept hir
happy for the next ten years. N
doubt / also provided Mr.. Curtis wit
three grandchildren he might neve
have had but for my graciousness.
A look OF distress came into his merr
eyes. "By Jove. I'd like nothing bel