The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-08-05


shoulder. and that his kisses were as
welcome to her as eyer mine had been.
Then he set her down again, and
found that this had been their part
ing, for indeed In another hundred
PAGES they would have come in view
of the upper windows of the house.
She walked slowly away, with a wave
back once or twice, and he stood look
ing after her. waited until she was
some way off, and then down l came,
but SO taken up was he that was
within hands touch of him before
he whisked round upon me. He tried
to smile as his eyes met mine.
IT saw you," gasped, and my
throat had turned so dry that 1 spoke
like man with a quinsy.
did you so?" said he. and he gave
a little whistle. "Well, on my life,
Jock, I'm not sorry. was thinking
of coming up to West Inch this very
day and having it out with you. May
be its better as it Is"
you've been fine friend" said I.
"Well, now, be reasonable. Jock"
said he, sticking his hands into his
pockets and rocking to and fro as he
stood. LET me show you how 1t
stands. Look me in the eye and you'll
see that 1 don't lie. It's this way. I
had met Edie-Miss Calder, that is
before 1 came that morning, and there
were things which made me look upon
her as free, and, thinking that, let
my mind dwell on her Then you said
she wasn't free but was promised to
you, and that was the worst knock
I've had for a time. 1t clean put me
off, and I made fool of myself for
some days, and it's a mercy I'm not
in Berwick Jail. Then by chance I
met her again-on my soul, Jock, 1t
was chance for me-and when I spoke
of you she laughed at the thought. 1t
was cousin and cousin, she said, but
as for her not being free, or you being
more to her than friend. it was FOOLS
talk. So you see, Jock, I was not so
much to blame after all, the more so
as she promised that she would let you
see by her conduct that you were mis-
taken in thinking that you had any
claim upon her. You must have no.
ticed that she has hardly had a word
for you for these last two weeks"
laughed bitterly. "It was only last
night" said l, "that she told me that
/ was the only man in all this earth
that she could ever bring herself to
love-"
Jim Horscroft put out shaking
hand and laid it on my shoulder, while
he pushed his face forward to look
into my eyes.
"Jock Calder" said he. II never
knew you tell a lie. You are not Try
ing to score trick against trick, are
your Honest, now, between man and
man."
Its Gods truth" said l.
He stood looking at me. and his face
had set like that of man who is hav-
ing a hard fight with himself. 1t was
a long two minutes before he spoke.
"See here, jock said he, "this
woman is fooling US both. D'you hear.
man?-she's fooling rs both. She loves
you at West Inch, and she loves me
on the brae-side, and in her devils
heart she cares a whin blossom for
neither of us. Let's join hands, man,
and send the hell-fire hussy to the
right-about."
But this was too much. I could not
curse her in my own heart, and still
less could stapd by and hear another
man do 1t. not though 1t was my old
est friend.
"Don't you call names ~ cried.
"Achi you sicken me with your soft
talk. TIL cal her what she should be
called"
"Will you, thought" said l, Juggling
of my coat. Look you here, Jim
Horscroft, II you say another word
against her I'll lick 1t down your
throat If you were as big as Berwick
castle. Try me. and see"
He peeled of his coat down to the
again.
'Don't be such a fool, Jock" said
he. 1.-Two old friends mustn't fail out
over such a-well. there, ] won't say
it. Well, by the Lord If she hasn't
nerve for tenr
looked around. and there she was,
not twenty yards from us, looking as
cool and easy and placid as we were
hot and fevered.
81 was nearly home." said she,
"when saw you two boys very busy
talking, so came all the way back
to know what it was about"
Horscroft took run forward and
caught her by the wrist. She gave a
little squeal at the sight of his face.
but he pulled her toward where was
standing.
'Now, Jock, we've had tomfOelery
enough" said he. Here she is. Shall
we take her word as to which she
likes? She can't trick US now that
we're both together"
II am willing" said I.