Phoenix tribune., 1919-05-31

gtzeu ABOUT as II S[drIle0 Dy some uh-
expected, even alarming sound. For a
second or two he held his breath,
stunned by the amazing loveliness 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.
81 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 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 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. He
whirled and saw O'Dowd approaching,
not twenty yards away. The Irish
mans face was aglow with pleasure.
81 knew 1 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 a prize
fighter in your waist"
They shook hands. 81 fear 1 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
intermittent flashes of blue and white.
'T am quite sure you are" said
O'Dowd promptly but without a trace
of unfriendliness in his manner. BE
dad, loving him as I do, 1 can't help
saying that Curtis is a bally old crank.
Mind We, I'd say it to his facet often
do, for the matter of that. OF course"
he went on seriously, "he is sick
man, poor devil. You see I've known
him for a 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, I
should say" smiled Barnes.
81 introduced the lad to me only sis
ter" said O'Dowd, "and she kept him
happy for the next ten years. No
doubt also provided Mr.. Curtis with
three grandchildren he might never
have had but for my graciousness."
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 teatlme, I'm sure-but I'd
no more think of doing it than I'd con-
slider cutting off 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 up
with men he can't endure So long
as we occupy the only available rooms,
he argues, she can't stuff them full
of objectionables. Twice a year she
comes for a month, in the late fall
and early spring"
"Why does he continue to live in
this out-of-the-world spot? He is an
old man, take 1t, and ILL.,"
"You wouldn't be wondering if you
knew the man." said O'Dowd. "He is
a scholar, a dreamer, sufferer. He's
not a 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 trifle dazed and distraught.
fright you are" agreed O'Dowd !;
"the queerest streak in the world. It's
his notion of simplicity"
"Green Fancy. Is that the name he
gave the place or does it 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 if 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 delib-
erately conducted from the grounds.