The Washington times., 1919-03-29
A Wonderful New Novel

nXeo on the water where the taut
line cut it at forty-five degrees.
At the same time two men in
red runabout speeding westward
caught sight of the sharp turn by
the bridge which the ruins OF the
paper mill had hidden. The man
driving the car might have made it
even then had he not seen Ruhan-
nah in the center OF the bridge. 1t
was instantly all of: so were both
mud guards and one wheel
,, So were driver and passenger
aoundering on their backs among
the rank grass and wild flowers.
RUhannah, petrified, still fast to her
I FISH, gazed at the catastrophe over
her right shoulder.
A broad. short, squarely built
man of forty emerged from, the
weeds, went hastily to the car and
did something to it. Noise ceased;
clouds of steam continued to ascend
from the crumpled hood.
The other man, even shorter. but
simmer, sauntered out of q bed o.
milkweed whittier he had been
catapulted. He busted with his
elbow a gray felt hat as he stood
looking at the wrecked runabout;
his comrade, still clutching a cigar
between his teeth, continued to ex-
anime the car.
Hell" remarked the short,
thick-set man.
Thunder BOOms Again.
IT'S going to rain like it, too
added the other. The thunder
doomed again beyond Gayfeld hills
What do you know about this"
growled the thiek-set man. in utter
disgust. DO we hunt for a garage,
or what?"
It's up to you, Eddie. And, say!
What was the matter with you?
Don't you know a bridge when you
see one?"
That damn girl" He turned
and looked at Ruhannah, who was
dragging the big, tapping pickerel
over the parapet by main strength.
The men scowled at her in ST.
lence, then the one addressed as
Eddie rolled his cigar grimly into
the left corner OF his jaw.
Damn little skirt" he observed
briefly. 1T seems to worry her a
lot what she's done to US"
Il wonder does she know she
wrecked u.s." suggested the other.
He was a stunted, wiry little man
OF thirty-five. His head seemed
slightly too large; be had a pasty
face with the sloe-black eyes, hut
ton nose, and the widely chiseled
mouth OF circus clown.
The eyes OF the short-thick.set
man were narrow and gTayish-
green in a round, smoothly shaven
face. They narrowed still more as
the thunder broke louder from the
west
Ruhannah, dragging her FISH over
the grass, was coming toward them;
and then the man called Eddie
stepped forward to bar her progress.
Say, grille" he began, the cigar
still tightly screwed into his cheek.
lis there a juice mill anywhere near
US, d'y'know?'
What said Rue.
"A garage"
Yes; there is one at Gayfeld."
How far. girlie?"
Rue flushed. but answered
'It is half a mile to Gayfield."
The other man, noticing the color
in Ruhannah's face. took of his
pearI-gray hat. His language was
but his instincts were better.
Thank YOU" he said-his COM
panion staring all the while at the
girl without the slightest expires
sion. lis there a telephone in any
OF them houses. miss?'-glancing
around behind him at the three edi-
fees which composed the crossroads
called BrookholloW.
No" said Rue
1t thundered again: the world
around had become very dusky and
silent and the fash veined a rapidly
bIackening west
IT'S going TO rain buckets" said
the man called Eddie. II you live
around here. can you I~t us come
into your house till Us over, girl
er MISS"
Yes
I'm Mr.. Brandes-E Ed Erandes. Of
New York --" speaking through
cigar-cIutching teeth. This is Ben
StuH. OF the same. It's rain
ing already. Is that your house,"
Il live there" said Rue, nodding
across the bridge. You may go
in"
Rae Walks Ahead.
She walked ahead, dragging the
sh; Stull went to the car, took
Two suitcases from the boot:
Brandes threw both Overcoats over
his arm. and followed in the wake
Of Ruhannah and her fish
NO Saratoga and no. races to-
day, Eddie" remarked StulL But
Brandes' narrow. grey-green eyes
were following Ruhannah.
It's a pity" continued Stull.
"somebo didn't learn you TO drive
a car before you ask your friends
joy-riding."
"Aw-shut up" returned Brandes
slowly, between his teeth.
They climbed the flight or steps
to the verandah, through a rapidly
thickening gloom which was ripped
wide open at intervals by lightning
So Brandes and his shadow, Ben
ME StulI. came into the home OF
Ruhannah Carew.
Her mother. who had observed
their approach from the window,
opened the door.
Mother" said Ruhannah. here
is the fish l caught-and two gen
tlemen."
With which dubious but innocent
explanation she continued on toward
the kitchen, carrying her fish.
Stull offered a brief explanation
to account for their plight and
presence; Brandes, listening and
watching the mother out OF green
ish, sleepy eyes, made up his mind
4fTaen