Cleveland County herald., 1919-07-03
CHAPTER VII.
SpaH-Gofd Hair, Blue Eyes and Vari-
 ous Encounters.


 She was quite unaware of his pres ence, and yet 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 evi- gdently quite tall. although she seemed pigmy among the towering giants that attended her stroll. Her hands were thrust deep into the pocket of 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 tEe spbdued light.
 Suddenly she stopped and looked up. He had full view of her face as she gaxed about as if startled by some un- -sxbActed, even alarming sound. For second or two he held his breath, stunned by the amazing loveliness that was revealed to him. Then she dis covered him standing there.
 Tn a flash he realized that he was face to face with the stranger of the day before. He took two or three im- pulsive steps forward, his hand going to his hat-and then halted. Evident iy 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 level stare.
 'T am sorry if l startled" he be- gan.
 The figure of man appeared as If 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 inimically. Without an other gla Zee 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 gaze that followed her.
 "Who do you want to see?" inquired the man with the spade.
 Before Barnes could reply hearty voice accosted him from behind lie whirled and saw O'Dowd approaching, not twenty yards away. The Irish mans face was aglow with pleasure.
 'T knew I couldn't be mistaken in the shape of you." he cried, advancing with outstretched hand. You've got the breadth of a dockhand in your shoulders and the trimness of prize tighter in your waist"
 They shook hands. "I fear l am 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 not } have vanished more quickly in any other way. Off among the trees were j: intermittent flashes of blue and white.
 T am quite sure you are," said : O'Dowd promptly but without trace of unfriendliness in his manner. "Be- dad, loving him as I do, I can't help saying that Curtis is bally old crank. Mind ye, I'd say it to his face-I often do, for the matter of that. Of course, . he went on seriously, "he is 6 sick man, poor devil. You see I've known him for dozen years and more, and he likes me, though God knows why, unless it may be that I once did his son good turn in London"
 sufficient excuse for reparation, should say" smiled Barnes.
 T introduced the lad to me only sis ter.' said O'Dowd, land she kept him happy for the next ten years. No doubt I also provided Mir. Curtis with three grandchildren he might never 2 nave had but for my graciousness.' look of distress came into his merry eyes. By love. I'd like nothing bet