Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-07-16
suddenly She Stopped and Locked Up

that attended her stroll. Her hands
were thrust deep into the pocket of
q 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
.sazed about ms II startled by some un.
expected, even alarming sound. For q
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 q flash he realized that he was
face to face with the stranger of the
i1y before. He took two or three i'm
pulsive steps forward, his hand going
to 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 1t was there an
Instant before. Instead there was
level stare.
II am sorry If I startled" he be-
gan.
The figure Of q 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 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 sect" inquired
the man with the spade.
Before Barnes gould 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.
II knew ! 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
fighter in your waist"
They shook hands. II fear I am
trespasslng," 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. OF among the trees were
intermittent flashes Of blue and white.
II am quite sure you are" said
1O'Dowd promptly but without trace
of unfriendliness In his manner. "Be-
dad. loving him as I do, can't help
saying that Curtis Is bally old crank.
Mind ye, I'd say 1t to his face-I 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 dozen years and more, and
he likes me, though God knows why,
unless 1t may be that I once did his
son q good turn in London"
Sufficient excuse for reparation,
should say" smiled Barnes.
81 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 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 e. III
of tea-it's teatime, I'm sure-but I'd
no more think of doing 1t 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
ms up here once or twice q year-that